Evil and its enforcer, power, has been around long before man employed both to consolidate empires. Cain killed Abel to gain power over the living reminder of his own disobedience. Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph into slavery to gain power over the living reminder of their supposed unfair treatment and over their father’s love and estate.…
When you think of Thanksgiving you think family, food and football. Let me suggest a fourth focus: creature features. The Book of Proverbs, found in the wisdom literature of the Bible, offers insight into the human condition. From my youth on I have asked God for wisdom, knowledge and a good understanding. I have…
Recently, on my daily train ride into the city, I had, for me, a ‘typical’ conversation with those standing in the vestibule. The subject: going to church. A fellow passenger brought up the fact that he attends to a certain church. Another passenger then mentioned that she attends a Catholic Church. I mentioned that I…
Part One: A Feast for the Eyes Part Two: Persia Meets Reality and Esther Part Three: Haman and A Star is Worn Part Four, Conclusion: Who Remains Silent in Times Like These? “The entire story of Israel, on one level at least, is the story of how Israel’s God is…
Part One: A Feast for the Eyes Part Two: Persia Meets Reality and Esther Part Three: Haman and A Star is Worn We begin this post with an understanding of Mordecai’s world view: “Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the…
Part One: A Feast for the Eyes Part Two: Persia Meets Reality and Esther As you will recall from Part One, King Xerxes put on a six month display of his kingdom’s wealth (c. 482 B.C.) Most likely he wanted to show off his ability to conquer and to accumulate the wealth of the conquered…
Part One A Feast for the Eyes The account of a courageous woman named Esther as recorded in the Old Testament book by the same name, brings together the elements of anti-Semitism, ethnic ‘cleansing’, an assassination plot, of sexism, of civil disobedience, of speaking truth to power, of actions one woman takes to save her people,…
Where to begin after the past week’s events? How about a headline like this? “Gotham’s Mayor of Mayhem Bill de Blasio throws the NYPD under the bus! The Joker throws his card on the table.” Wait! There is more. The op-ed page tells it like it is! “Gotham’s Mayor speaks pseudo-conciliatory words meant to shame…
Kingdom Venturers 