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. 294) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer must have a good reputation with outsiders Paul lists that qualification as a requirement, as opposed to merely a good idea. You know; that's all a church needs is to install a new officer only to find out later he's his neighborhood's worst nightmare. The new...

. 293) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer must not be a novice, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the Devil. According to Ezek 28:12-19, the Devil's fall was due to his insufferable superiority complex; roughly defined as a sort of master-race mentality. ● Rom 12:3 . . By...

. 292) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer must manage his own family well, and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) There's respect, and then there's "proper" respect; which has to be nurtured...

. 291) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer must be free from the love of money That is a very, very important qualification because he'll be afforded many opportunities for embezzlement. I would highly recommend that a prospective church officer's background be checked before proceeding with the...

. The conventional Christian doctrine of Hell isn't developed in the old testament except possibly for Isa 66:23-24 wherein is written: "Yahweh says: From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before Me. And they will go out and look upon...

. "We who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (1Thess 4:17) I was a young paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division during the Cuban missile crises. My unit was fully armed and equipped, ready to be in the air within...

. To the best of my knowledge thus far; Jesus is on track to return to Jerusalem seven years after the rapture to set up the theocratic kingdom predicted in the old testament, and of course everyone unified with him will return too. Well; I for one plan on taking some time off to visit all the...

. 290) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer must be gentle, non contentious A good church officer isn't what might be called shrinking; but rather, he's an affable, lenient, courageous man who selects his conflicts carefully. For some people, every disagreement is an act of war: they're assertive...

. 289) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer must not be pugnacious Webster's defines pugnacious as militant, defensive, warlike, combative, pushy, assertive, intimidating, scrappy, and belligerent. Some men are natural-born bullies and others are ready to "take it outside" at every challenge. With them...

. 288) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer, must not be addicted to wine Church officers aren't forbidden alcohol; just too much alcohol. "No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments." (1Tim 5:23) A "little" wine can lead to a lot for...

. 287) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer, must be apt to teach "apt to teach" is from a Greek word that basically means instructive, i.e. didactic. That word is tricky. It's sometimes translated "able to teach". That's okay I guess, but I suspect it also refers to role models, i.e. people whose manner...

. Re: Your spiritual rebirth story - An event, or a gradual experience? Back in the decade of the 1960s, while still a young guy in his twenties, I came to the realization that even if I managed to live a pious enough life to make the cut for Heaven, I was pretty sure I couldn't keep up the...

. Re: Your spiritual rebirth story - An event, or a gradual experience? My mother was Catholic. My aunt and uncle were Catholics, their son is a Catholic, my eldest brother-- now deceased via cancer --was a Catholic priest 50+ years and ended his career as a Friar. My father-in-law was a...

. 286) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer, must be hospitable The Greek word translated "hospitable" basically means fond of guests. In other words, church officers shouldn't be hermit types, or friendless loners preferring solitude. Not that there's anything wrong with hermits and loners; it's just...

. The Holy Couple's Private Life It's remarkable the number of sincere people I encounter online who believe Joseph shared a life with Jesus' mom with no intention of ever having any children by her. In other words; they actually believe that Joseph was celibate in his own home; and...

. 285) 1Tim 3:2 . . An overseer, must be respectable The Greek word translated "respectable" basically means orderly, viz: decorous. Webster's defines decorous as marked by propriety; viz: correct; and exhibiting good taste in conduct, language, or appearance. A decorous person is-- among...

. One of my favorite ridiculous mantras during the Covid crisis was "Follow The Science". Well it turns out that the advice tendered by Dr. Anthony Stephen Fauci, a notable USA medical expert, was basically a siren's song. There were folks well below his status whose advice was much better. _

. On June 28, 2024, The US Supreme Court overturned a long held opinion so-called the "Chevron Deference Doctrine" which was basically an argument from authority, i.e. a logical fallacy which supposes that someone's position, or their credential, makes their views more important and/or more...

. Jeconiah's Curse Back in the old testament, a curse was leveled upon a really bad king in Solomon's royal line to David's throne that reads like this: ● Jer 22:29-30 . . O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord! Thus said the Lord: Record this man as without succession, one who shall...

. ● Rom 12:1-2 . . Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing and perfect will. For safety's sake, it's very important for Christians to find out what...