For now, this blog will be my last one.  I am taking a “temporary” leave of absence from blogging.    

As most of you probably know, the difference between a PhD degree and all other degrees is that a PhD degree is awarded for original research–research on a new subject or about new materials relating to a subject that has been written about earlier. I did that at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, being awarded a PhD degree in 1963 for research I did relating to the Old Testament and later Jewish literature prior to the time of Jesus (materials that were written during the Intertestamental Period, the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament).

Some additional materials have come to my attention that would continue my earlier research through the life of Jesus–through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. As nearly as I can determine, this is original material that no one has delved into. It is a major undertaking, especially for an eighty-two year old man, whose Hebrew and Greek are a little rusty, but it is a scholar’s dream. I will not be working alone, but I will be the lead person. I estimate that it will be a full-time task that will take at least eighteen months–possibly longer–to complete. My wife and four children are very supportive of my taking on this academic endeavor about a religious subject that has been grossly misunderstood.

At this point in time, I prefer not to comment on the subject matter of this material, but from time to time I will keep you informed as to my progress.  For now, I will say a temporary “Goodbye.”

In this current age of technology and science, it is difficult for us to realize that one of the most important incidents reported in the Bible for understanding the Christian faith is about an evil spirit referred to as “Satan” or “the devil.”  The particular incident I am referring to is Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan for forty days, related to us in Matthew 4:1-2, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-2.  (FYI: “Satan” is the Hebrew proper name of the supreme leader of evil spirits opposed to God; “the devil” is the Greek rendition of the original Hebrew proper noun; both mean the same.) Read more…

Throughout the world at the present time, there is an activity being carried on that has been in existence in some form since the beginning of civilization.  However, since World War II it has been on a steady increase, and now we find it in just about every direction we look.

Yes, in just about every direction we turn our heads we see people building.  Buildings—of all different sizes and shapes, constructed of all types of materials, and for a variety of purposes—are being built.  And there is one thing that all of these buildings must have in common to pass inspection: a solid and secure foundation.

If a building doesn’t have a good foundation, it won’t make any different how much money is spent on it or how well it is built.  It will not be long until the windows begin to jam, the plaster cracks, and the floors buckle.  One must have a secure and solid foundation upon which to build.   

What we have been saying about buildings is also true of people—we must have a solid and secure foundation for our lives.  There was an Episcopalian clergyman I was acquainted with who wore a size “tipple D” shoe.  His foot was so big he was fondly referred to as “Reverend Footsie.”  But this is not the kind of foundation I am referring to: I’m thinking about the foundation to man’s soul, the foundation to one’s very house of life. Read more…

Year after year Christians around the world celebrate Christmas by focusing on the story of the first Christmas as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew (1:18-25) and Luke (1:26-38; 2:1-20): the story of Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus.  We concentrate on the same details each year: that Mary was a young woman, had not been intimate with any man, yet gave birth to Jesus as a result of God’s selection of her to be the mother of the Messiah, and that she gave birth to Jesus in a stable; and that Joseph was a carpenter by trade, kind hearted, a devout Jew, a good father to Jesus, and a very caring wife to Mary.  The purpose of this week’s article is to look at some aspects of Mary’s and Joseph’s lives less often written or talked about.

We do not know exactly how old Mary was. Read more…