Tag Archives: culture

New Series: Getting the Parables Right

Posted on October 22, 2012 by ehurst

Working title: Soul Seeds: Jesus’ Parables (SSJP) — One of the readers commenting on the previous book asked if I could explain some of the parables. I wrote these lessons some ten years ago. I’ve decided to update them in … Continue reading →

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On Rituals

Posted on October 19, 2012 by ehurst

Our brains need help. We have a really tough time visualizing and organizing spiritual imperatives, and established rituals can save us some heartache. Rituals are symbolic acts; they are parables of action. By themselves, they mean nothing. God prescribed ritual … Continue reading →

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TMOC 8: Rolling with the Roles

Posted on October 14, 2012 by ehurst

In Hebrew language and culture, context is everything. Sometimes a person’s actions or words might be inappropriate because it was tantamount to assuming prerogatives from a role they couldn’t claim. A typical Hebrew response would be to correct impertinence by … Continue reading →

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TMOC 6: Messianic Expectations

Posted on October 13, 2012 by ehurst

(I debated including this, so I’d like some feedback as to whether my readers think it matters.) We simply cannot hope to understand some of the events and conversations in the Gospels without realizing just what the Jews had in … Continue reading →

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TMOC 5: Background

Posted on October 12, 2012 by ehurst

(Offered as the proposed fifth chapter to our Open Source book, The Mind of Christ.) In Western minds, there are two concepts typically regarded as mutually exclusive: God’s sovereignty and human free will. At the very least it requires mental … Continue reading →

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TMOC: Common Sense

Posted on October 11, 2012 by ehurst

(This is offered as a proposed fourth chapter of our book.) If you were born in Europe or the US during the past two centuries, your fundamental assumptions about reality are distinctly different from those the Bible. The West is … Continue reading →

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TMOC: Reign of Justice

Posted on October 11, 2012 by ehurst

(I offer this as a proposal for the third chapter in our book.) God portrays Himself consistently as a shepherd sheik. This is the fundamental image offered throughout the Bible, an Eastern potentate. He reigns absolutely over His domain. Unlike … Continue reading →

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TMOC: The Task

Posted on October 10, 2012 by ehurst

(This is offered as a proposal for the second chapter of our book.) If someone tells you Jesus was perfectly reasonable and consistent in His Hebrew logic, you would probably take that on faith. If we explain something of His … Continue reading →

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TMOC: Why Did He Do That?

Posted on October 10, 2012 by ehurst

We absorb God’s truth via His Spirit’s Presence in our souls. As one might expect, you learn the answers to your own soul’s questions. When it comes time to teach and share that truth, you need to know what questions … Continue reading →

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TMOC: The Adulteress

Posted on October 4, 2012 by ehurst

Let’s start thinking about what this proposed book should attempt to say. Surely you’ve read in John 8 about the woman caught in adultery. I’ll mention in passing this story is highly disputed among textual scholars. That is, you’ll find … Continue reading →

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