In all great fishing stories, the fish has to get better every time the story is told. After a few repeats the fish becomes unbelievably big. As we look back to the accurate events recorded in the book of Jonah, we have to ask ourselves if it can really be true. The first fact we … Continue reading Was It Really that Big?
Books
Encouragement
Encouragement. We all need encouragement. Hopefully, we like to encourage others. That mutual encouragement is part of what God designed the worship service to accomplish. Look at the exhortation in Hebrews 10:24-25, "let us consider one another to provoke one another unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the … Continue reading Encouragement
Development of a Practical Theodicy Through a Biblical Theology of Habakkuk
Development of a Practical Theodicy Through a Biblical Theology of Habakkuk By D. L. DeBord, M.Div. A theodicy is an attempt to establish that God is righteous despite allowing evil, pain, and suffering to exist in the world. John Hick, in his theodicy, popularized the concept of the present world as a “vale of soul … Continue reading Development of a Practical Theodicy Through a Biblical Theology of Habakkuk
Remember the LORD of Hosts
God is often (around 242 times) described as the LORD of hosts in the Old Testament. The CSB translated this phrase יְהוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת appropriately as "the LORD of armies." The phrase refers to the angelic "army" which stands at the ready around the throne of God (1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 18:18; Psalm 148:2). God … Continue reading Remember the LORD of Hosts
The Family
How great it is to be part of God's family! The blessings from our Father are innumerable. We will never exhaust them. We will never comprehend them. How great it is to be a Christian! Being a Christian is possible because God wants to be with us. God spoke the universe into existence because he … Continue reading The Family
IS THERE RIGHT? Proverbs 23:23
A few years ago it was the debate over what color the dress was, and now the debate is what sound is being made—Laurel or Yanny? It’s Laurel by the way 😊. Both these questions bring the discussion of what is real? What is truth? Is anything right? Are we responsible for knowing, believing, … Continue reading IS THERE RIGHT? Proverbs 23:23
Who Made God? הָיָה and Divine Aseity
Who created God? Have you ever wondered? Been asked that question? It is a hard question to ponder. We often argue that nothing comes from nothing, and that everything which is must be created. So how can we say that God is eternal--He has no creator? How can we say that God wasn't made? When we … Continue reading Who Made God? הָיָה and Divine Aseity
Knowing and Marveling at God
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 1 CHRONICLES 29:11 We can know there is a God. There is sufficient evidence … Continue reading Knowing and Marveling at God
Appraising Women
The news is filled with how women should be treated. This should be a theological question rather than a "social" or "political" question. In order to understand the value of women or men, we must go back to the Designer and Creator who brought them into existence. Moses' narration of creation reveals that both men … Continue reading Appraising Women
Concursus Divinus
“God stands above all human choices and works through human freedom to bring about His own providential goals.”[1] “Theology is mystery.” Of all the great theological mysteries, none is quite so puzzling as the way in which God works with and through mankind. Perhaps the debate is caused by two groups (with noted variations … Continue reading Concursus Divinus
Donnie's Dogmatics 