Avoiding being labeled as “sexist” is very important these days.  The current emphasis on bias-free language has created difficulties for today’s writers.  Some traditional uses of the English language that have long been the cornerstones of good writing are no longer acceptable: for example, using “he,” “him,” and “his” to refer to a male or a female (if the finder returns my watch, he will receive a reward).  Because these pronouns are masculine-specific, they are now regarded as sexist.        

Good writers will find ways to achieve gender-neutral language, but it may take some thought. There are gender-neutral words that were used in the past, some as long ago as the 1700s, that in later years we stopped using: for example, Read more…

Not long ago I stopped by the office of a local school administrator.  She was not in her office, but her new secretary—on the job four days—was.  We talked a few minutes—you know, small talk—and then I asked if she had a card.  Having the direct telephone number and e-mail of a person’s secretary always makes it easier than going through the various voice messages and button-pushing so often required.  She replied, “Oh, Dr. Bradshaw, I am only a secretary.  I don’t have a card.  Being a secretary I will never have a card.”

Through the years, I have met other secretaries who do not have their own cards, but this was the first time I had been given that explanation for not having one.  What she said really bothered me—implying that being “only a secretary” she was not important enough to have a card.  I decided it was time for her to know the historical significance of being a secretary—that being a “secretary” was an honor, not something to apologize for.  So I said, “Let me tell you what being a secretary really means.”  And this is what I told her.  Read more…

Here we are at Easter weekend, celebrating the greatest miracle of all time: God’s raising Jesus from the dead.  This event led to the beginning of the Christian Church and the promise of everlasting life for those who unite in faith with Jesus.  But now, over 2,000 years later, people frequently ask: did the resurrection of Jesus really happen?  And what about all the other miracles attributed to Jesus during his ministry.  Did they actually take place?  Or were the miracle stories we find in the Gospels merely literary fiction—fictitious events inserted into the Gospels by their writers in order to promote their own religious faith?     

How do we know whether something really happened or is literary fiction?  Read more…

There had been all kinds of rumors about the man Jesus of Galilee.  He had left his home and spent most of his time with a band of twelve other men.  He appeared to have unusual powers.  Some claimed that he had healed their sick. Others said that he had cured their lame.  There were those who even claimed that he could cast out evil spirits.  

He was a man of considerable authority, yet he was very kind.  There were those who suggested he was the expected Messiah, the chosen of God, who would bring freedom and new life for the Jewish people.  But up until then, he had made absolutely no overture toward establishing a kingdom.  On the contrary, as pointed out last week, he had always dismissed large crowds.  But on the Sabbath of Palms, Read more…

Palm Sunday is only one week away.? Have you ever stopped to think about what Jesus did the week before the original Palm Sunday?? There were two ruling authorities in Palestine at that time: the political government that was definitely the ultimate authority, and the religious leaders, whose religious practices could be different from region to region.? Let?s take a detailed look at how things were in Palestine at that time and how Jesus responded to them the week prior to Palm Sunday.?

The Roman emperors had done a superb job of taking control of the more distant and border areas of the Empire, like Palestine, and of keeping peace in these more remote areas after taking them over?all without the use of force or weapons.? How did they do it? Read more…

The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14) starts out by these intriguing words: ?The kingdom of heaven is like . . .?? In the Gospels there are several parables that start with these words.? Most people are interested in these parables regardless of what they think the hereafter holds in store for them personally.? Just think?learning what heaven is really like!? This parable does just that. Read more…