If you read the Bible—especially the New Testament—it’s pretty easy to come away with a bad impression of Samaritans. In fact, most of us would probably rank the Samaritans just slightly better than the Pharisees when it comes “disliked” groups of people in the Gospels.
Yet, are these portrayals accurate? The short answer is, not exactly.
JUC has been everything I had hoped it would be and so much more. This place is probably the best-kept secret for Biblical study in the entire world—and I miss it already.
Growing up in suburban Cincinnati, sacrifices were not part of everyday life. They were something I read about in the Bible or learned about in Sunday school. I had never experienced a sacrifice and all that it entailed—that is until last Thursday evening at sunset.
Does God place things in our lives—whether they be obstacles, hardships, or other limitations purely for our own protection or to better enable us to bless others?
Perhaps without these restrictions we would not live into the calling that God has for us.
It’s never our weaknesses that cause us the most problems. It’s our strengths.
When we think about decisive battles for the Israelites, Jericho always comes to mind. Yet, there is another battle that was far more significant; and most of us probably don’t even know the name.
What do you do when the “Facts in the Ground” don’t align with your understanding of the Biblical Text?
Traditions have a funny way of morphing over time. Sometimes, the original meanings get lost or adapted to fit new circumstances. They end up taking on a life of their own. Such is the case with the Christmas story.
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the most impact. It’s the thing you least expect that touches you in a way you never imagined.
Semester #1 is in the books. Classes are done; papers submitted; and finals taken–for better or for worse. It has been an amazing experience.
