The Holy Spirit, Part 11

Moving along, we enter the book of Psalms. We come to the writing of David and find this passage. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me,” Psalm 51:10-11. This is the first mention of the Holy Spirit by the name we know Him from the New Testament. In what context is it used? David is pleading regarding his double sin of adultery and murder. He asks God to create a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit in him. He wants the guilt of his sin cleansed, and to walk in a steadfast faith once more, obeying the voice of his Lord. He had seen in his youth what had come of Saul, the king he succeeded.

Love with Expectations, Part 4

The final commandments fall in line after this. We shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness (lie), or covet. If we practiced love as the Bible defines it, then we would refrain from all of these, because our concern for others, and our willful desire to promote their good before our own would prevent it. Love’s expectation then is that we are intended to behave like God originally designed us to.

Love with Expectations, Part 3

The Bible is replete with the word “no”. There are more no’s than yes’s in the Bible. This also occurs with the idea of love. Let us turn to the Ten Commandments and consider them momentarily, Exodus 20. What have they to do with love, you may wonder? The first several commandments define the parameters of the relationship between men and God. The first is that humanity should have no other god before Yahweh.

Ode to Mother

On this, the fourth day of the fourth month in 2014, I am writing my 400th post. I just felt desirous to note this due to the overwhelming presence of 4's involved. That being said, I would like to dedicate this milestone post (for me) to my mother, whose birthday it is today.