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Jesus and the Peace Treaty: Insights from Isaiah 53

Jesus and the Peace Treaty: Insights from Isaiah 53 ISAIAH 53:1-12 (ESV): “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of…

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The Symbolism of 'Smitten' in Isaiah 53:4

The Symbolism of ‘Smitten’ in Isaiah 53:4 ISAIAH 53:1-12 (ESV): “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of Sorrows and…

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Isaiah 53: A Closer Look at the Rejected Messiah

Isaiah 53: A Closer Look at the Rejected Messiah ISAIAH 53:1-12 (ESV): “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of…

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Grief and Redemption: Insights from Isaiah 53

Grief and Redemption: Insights from Isaiah 53 ISAIAH 53:1-12 (ESV): “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of Sorrows…

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SONGS WE SING: "Days of Elijah"

SONGS WE SING: “Days of Elijah” Part of worshipping God is singing.  It has always been that way.  The Bible isn’t a songbook, but there are at least 185 songs in the Bible.  There are songs about battles, coronations, funerals, cities being sacked, and seas splitting up.  There are songs that praise God for His attributes.  150 of those songs are in the book of Psalms, but there are also two…

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Despised and Rejected: Insights from Isaiah 53

Despised and Rejected: Insights from Isaiah 53 ISAIAH 53:1-12 (ESV): “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of Sorrows…

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My 2025 Reading Journey: Daniel Boorstin's The Image

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Understanding Isaiah 53: The Arm of God Revealed

Understanding Isaiah 53: The Arm of God Revealed ISAIAH 53:1-12 (ESV)“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of Sorrows…

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My 2025 Reading Journey: Atteberry & Allin

For this week’s post about my journey through my own personal library, I will highlight two books! I have so many books in my library that it is high time I make sure I have read each work on my shelves! The first book I will highlight is Mark Atteberry’s “The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do” (2006). The second book I will highlight is Dana Allin’s “Simple Discipleship” (2018). The first is…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: The Augsburg Confession

The Augsburg Confession (1530) The Augsburg Confession (1530) is a foundational document of the Lutheran Church that outlines its core beliefs. The section that grabbed my attention as I read was the last section which focused on various practices and reforms within the Church. It made me appreciate how much the reformers laid on the line to reform the Church and move Christendom in what I would…

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My Reading Journey 2025: They Smell Like Sheep

They Smell Like Sheep by Lynn Anderson They Smell Like Sheep: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century by Lynn Anderson (1997) is a guide to effective and authentic spiritual leadership in the local church. The emphasis is shepherding God’s people with a servant’s heart. I found the book to be pretty comprehensive about the position of elders in the local church. The metaphor of shepherding is…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Luther's 1529 Small Catechism

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Luther’s 1529 Small Catechism I found the introduction to this creed (also called a catechism) absolutely astounding. As Martin Luther traveled among Christians, he noted that the average person in the Church knew “absolutely nothing about the Christian faith.” He berates in the introduction of the creed/catechism that because the affirmed Christians did not know the basics…

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My Reading Journey 2025: Confessions of St Augustine

My Reading Journey 2025: Confessions of St Augustine Saint Augustine’s Confessions is a famous work of Christian literature that combines autobiography, theology, and philosophy. Written in 13 books, it chronicles Augustine’s journey from a life of sin and spiritual confusion to his eventual conversion to Christianity. Books 1-3: Childhood and 20s. Augustine begins with a profound reflection on…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Ten Theses of Berne

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Ten Theses of Berne As a student of religion, Christianity, and a person with two degrees in Bible (BA, MDiv), I have a working knowledge and a passing familiarity with most things about the Bible and Church. I stumbled upon this short creed and have never heard/read about it before now. If I have, I have completely forgotten it. It is important because it outlines the…

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My 2025 Reading Journey: Starting Small Groups by Jeffrey Arnold

My 2025 Reading Journey: Starting Small Groups by Jeffrey Arnold Starting Small Groups: Building Communities that Matter by Jeffrey Arnold (Abingdon Press: 1997) is an intensely practical guide for church leaders and lay church leaders who want to create and sustain thriving small group ministries. Arnold emphasizes the importance of small groups in fostering community, spiritual growth, and…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Chalcedonian Creed

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Chalcedonian Creed The Chalcedonian Creed, formulated at the Council of Chalcedon (cal-seh-don) in 451 AD, is an important document in Christian theology. It addresses key questions about the nature of Jesus Christ emphasizing that He is both fully divine and fully human. As with the Athanasian Creed, this is an essential Christian doctrine that separates normal Christians…

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My 2025 Reading Journey: Charles L. Allen Books Reviewed

My 2025 Reading Journey: Charles L. Allen Books Reviewed The very first books on my bookshelf… yes it is in alphabetical order by author, were inherited books from a pastor I served with for many years. He seemed to like them very much as he had several copies of each of these books by Charles L. Allen (1913-2005). I kept one copy of each of the following books and gave away the rest. I read…