Flaming Arrows

Like I said in my last blog, I was moved into one of the Treatment units. This has taken a little adjusting on my part. One of the biggest things is the way I think. When you are living with the rest of the population you do not have to think about a lot of things. Now, though, I have to start thinking about everything that I say or do. A friend of mine said that it is all about risk versus reward. If a letter I write has a certain amount of risk involved with my treatment wi

As my last installment concerning the difference between obedience to the Old Covenant Law and New Covenant Grace I would like to relate a recent illustration that I think shows the difference perfectly. A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine who is part of the “Messianic” Believers group here in prison was asked to give a brief teaching on the bread and cup. Normally when men are asked to teach on The Supper, they immediately go to the Passover Meal. I understand the reason

A boy of about eight and a little girl of about three were sitting at the dinner table and the little girl was bawling her eyes out. The little boy asked the girl, “Did you have your nap today?” In between screams she said, “Noooo!!!” Children live under rules because there are adults that know what is best for them and their health. Once they grow up and move out on their own it is up to them to make sure they get enough rest to stay healthy and no longer the responsibility

This past month the President signed another Executive Order to allow illegal aliens the right to obtain a driver’s license. Some would call that totally arbitrary and an abuse of power. You know what I call it? Grace! What if the one who is in control of what goes on in this country decides to change things? He does it and it is done. What if God does the same thing? We have talked about the “New Covenant” a lot lately but what I think people do not understand is that it is

So, this last week I talked to a friend of mine and we got to talking about representing Jesus in this lifetime. He had a view that we should be living as if we were going to take over the Garden of Eden again. He wanted a lifestyle that reflected that relationship with God. I disagreed. I think that we have a much higher and better calling than the Garden. We have way more privilege than that, in my opinion. Let me explain. First of all, Adam and Eve only had fellowship with

Recently, my younger sister came to visit me. We have not seen each other in over twenty years. We write and send each other birthday cards, but we have not talked on the phone or seen each other since the early 1990's. She decided to take a vacation and came from California to spend three days with me. As the time for our visit drew close, I felt the anxiety build. Much like preparing for a for a school reunion, a vacation, or another special event, my emotions started to bu

I have a few friends who have a chosen faith affiliation of “Messianic Jewish.” They are not Jewish by birth but, for some reason, they feel that it is necessary to worship according to the Jewish customs and feasts that are in the Old Covenant. As they prepare for the autumn feast days I am reminded that they are the shadow of everything that Jesus Christ accomplished for the New Covenant believers. Do not get me wrong, my friends believe that they are saved by faith in Jesu

Last week I mentioned that I was studying in Acts chapter 21 and there were two lifestyles that were mentioned there. It is my belief that Paul, being a Jew by birth, devoted himself to keeping the Law. This was not done to be made righteous or for salvation but for his own conscience. We can see this in Acts 21:17-24 where he purifies himself to show all of the other Jews that he "walks orderly, keeping the Law” (verse 24). Then in verse 25 he says that the Gentiles were onl

I was thinking today, who would I relate to most in the New Covenant? I mean, Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God in parables and stories to the crowds prior to His death and resurrection. I would want to be after that. This leaves out Lazarus, Bartimaus, and a host of others. So, after the resurrection, who can I rerate to the most? Apollos perhaps. He was versed in the Old Testament but he still needed more revelation. Timothy (my namesake) perhaps. Half Jew and half Gree

With our celebration of Independence Day on Friday I was thinking about the nation of Israel and their independence. I was thinking about how God chose them and displayed His power to protect them. That is when it hit me. Israel was blessed when they obeyed the commandments of God. I think that this is the biggest difference between the Old and New covenants. Throughout the Old Covenant Scriptures it says "If you obey my commandments" then it adds the blessing which is always