Catalog of Articles

The following is a current listing of studies that I have made in the last few years and that have been written up in article form.  While I don’t claim to have complete understanding of any of these topics perhaps my study will help you in your own study.  I feel compelled to make available what I feel God has been gracious in revealing to me.  Feed back and constructive criticism is solicited.

"GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES"    
    How many times have we heard the familiar passage "God helps those who help themselves?"  We hear it quite frequently, don't we?  In order tofully understand that passage let us turn to it.  You all know where it is located don't you?  Maybe it is in the book of Hezekiah or possibly Phillips 66:1.  No, that's not right. Look as we may we won't find that passage in the Bible.  Although often quoted and stated this phrase doesn't come from the Bible nor is it even Biblical in origin.

     Isaiah prophecied that Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come to "magnify the law."  (Isa. 42:21)  Did Jesus come to "keep the law" in our stead so that we don't have to keep it?  Did He "fulfill the law" by keeping it perfectly and it is no longer necessary to keep it?  What does "magnify the law" mean?  And, what "law" was Isaiah talking about?  This study will answer these questions and more.

     Most of us would not normally associate the word "fire" with the Creator Himself.  Our first thoughts would probably be Hellfire, the Lake of Fire,or Sodom and Gomorra.  It may be surprising to many, if not most of us, that the word "fire," and its attributes of "light" and "heat" speak more of the Creator and His goodness than of a destructive force against His enemies.

    This article is part of a ongoing study of divine healing.  A primary thing we absolutely need and must have to obtain healing is an understanding of faith. 

    Why does it seem strange, foreign, and unreasonable to some to believe and expect God to heal us of sickness?  Especially if we KNOW the God we worship and serve.

    Is it God’s will to heal us?  Was it only for the early N.T. church?  Can we know God’s will regarding healing?  Has God’s will changed?  What does the Bible tell us?

    Many have gone to the “elders” and were anointed and prayed for.  They have waited and begged God to heal and yet they didn’t get better.  Some have assumed God isn’t healing today, that perhaps He wants them to remain ill.  Some conclude that it is God’s fault that we aren’t healed.  What are the reasons more people aren’t healed?  This study looks at a number of reasons why we aren’t experiencing more healings within the Body of Christ.

    Could it be that our tradition of a sermon by the “professional” has kept most of us from striving and obtaining the spiritual maturity and growth we should have?

    Isn’t preaching and teaching the same thing?  We have ministers standing in pulpits every week “preaching” sermons to their congregations.  They generally feel they are “teaching” God’s Word.  Most consider themselves “preachers.”  But, is “preaching” and “teaching” the same thing, according to Biblical usage?  This study looks at the numerous Greek words that are translated “preach,” “preached,” “preacher,” “teach,” “taught,” etc.

    A study of the timing of the Egyptian Passover.  Was the lamb killed at the beginning of the 14th or near the end?  When did the Israelites begin their trek out of Egypt?

    Did Jesus indicate by these instructions that we are to partake of the bread and wine only once a year?

    There are numerous ideas and controversy over the correct date and time to observe the Passover.  Whatever the belief and conclusion drawn they are all based on the premise that Christ’s last supper with His apostles was the Passover observance.  What if that premise is not accurate?

    The only place the term “Lord’s supper” is mentioned is in 1 Cor. 11.  Does it refer to Passover or taking communion?  What does the Bible have to say about the “Lord’s supper?”

    I followed the teaching and practice of the Worldwide Church of God in regard to Passover observance for many, many years.  However, after studying the subject for myself I have come to different conclusions and celebrate and observe Passover much differently.

    Is yeast, baking powder, baking soda and even beaten egg whites leaven?  Does leaven picture being “puffed up?”  What is to be put out of our houses?

    Most of us have assumed the Israelites were in Egypt 430 years.  But were they?  What does the Bible reveal?

    Are there problems with the Jewish calculated calendar (often referred to as the Hebrew Calendar or “God’s Sacred Calendar”)?  Does the Bible give us any information on how to determine a calendar or who should “calculate” a calendar?

    Many have taught that “the Jews” were given the responsibility for preserving the O.T. Scriptures and the calendar.  Romans 3:1-3 does not say that.

    How often have we heard that “we” have “the truth?”  What is “the truth?”  Is it a body of doctrinal beliefs?  It is the knowledge of the Sabbath and the Holy Days?

    Deuteronomy 16:16-17 has been used repeatedly to “prove” we must give large “holy day offerings.”  But, what do these verses REALLY tell us when looked at in context?

    What does the Bible mean when it speaks of “rule” and “ruling?”  This study looks at the 7 or 8 different Greek words translated “rule.”

    This study takes an honest look into the Scriptures regarding the long accepted teaching regarding “tithing.”  What does the Bible say?

    Speaking of Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedec it says Abraham “gave him tithes of all.”  Did Abraham habitually tithe?  Did he tithe on his “increase?”  What does Genesis 14 really say?

    Genesis 28 records Jacob’s statement regarding giving God a tenth or a tithe.  Did Jacob tithe from that day forward?  What does Scripture truly reveal?

    In our “Church of God” tradition we have looked at the story of the two goats of Leviticus 16 on the day of Atonement.  The goat that was killed pictured Jesus Christ, we were told.  The “live goat,” it was explained, pictured Satan.  Is this explanation Biblical?  What do the two goat picture?

    What did the writer of the book of Hebrews mean when he said “come boldly unto the throne?”  (Heb. 4:16)

    Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America a number of church leaders began advocating joining the military.  Is this a Biblical thing to do?  What does the Bible tell us?

    God is not going to cast millions and billions into a fiery inferno for all eternity.  But, neither is He going to annihilate any of His own sons and daughters.  The wonderful truth of the Scriptures is that He is going to bring ALL to salvation.

    A verse by verse study of this passage reveals a wealth of understanding about God’s wonderful plan of salvation.

    The Pharisees accused Jesus and His disciples of doing what was “not lawful to do upon the Sabbath.”  Was this accusation true?  Was Jesus and His disciples truly doing what was “unlawful?”  Were they profaning the Sabbath?  Were they breaking the laws regarding the Sabbath as contained in the Torah?  In this study we will examine the account and come to understand what was happening and what Jesus was teaching.

    John, in his gospel account, appears to say that Jesus broke the Sabbath.  John 5:18 states,  “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”  Can we accept John’s statement at face value or is there more to the story that we need to understand?  In this study we will look at the story of Jesus healing the infirm man and what the circumstances were that generated the statement made by John that Jesus broke the Sabbath.