Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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As spring approaches many individuals have an itch, it's time to start mucking through possessions. My friends and I helped another person in need of this kind of service, sifting through a lifetime of collections. Our community benefited from this as we set up an event to give back needed clothing items for free. I would venture to guess many readers have made some type of spring-cleaning plans. Letting go of items can be challenging for some but this often is necessary. Letting go of unnecessary traditions or practices can also be...
Who in the world is Melchizedek and why does this matter? Well, in only three books of the Bible, a very big book that happens to have been edited over 10,000 times, more than any other book in the World, this side of eternity, do we find Melchizedek mentioned—Genesis 14, Psalms 110, and Hebrews 5-7. Melchizedek is controversial, should I say. I will say, I probably won’t be settling the matter. However, this specific debate gets us sidetracked from the entire premise presented throughout the Epistle of Hebrews; Jesus is the greatest and hig...
The Epistle of Hebrews demands attention from serious people in search of, God, eternity, and truth. Jesus is more than a Jewish invention of conflict. In fact, Jesus is given a distinction that surpasses anyone in history—high priest forever. In chapter six the author also describes Jesus as “our forerunner.” The Greek word prodromos best translates, I’m told to our “reconnaissance man,” a term that entered the conversation during the Napoleonic wars. In essence, Jesus goes before us so that we in turn can follow him: “We have this hope as...
Has someone made you a promise and failed to follow through? Have you ever broken a promise? If we are honest I would presume all of us can answer “yes” to both questions. The simple truth is we are broken people living in a broken world; however, we have hope. Perseverance and grit are Christ-like characteristics to develop throughout the course of our life. Although we have no way to know exactly, most reckoning suggests that by the time this letter was penned, the larger following of Jesus was already in the thousands. In this document con...
Have you ever had a frank and candid talk with someone that you had to prepare for? Perhaps it fell to you to bring something to a friend’s attention, and you did not know how your friend would react. Well, in the Letter to the Hebrews, I kind of think that the author’s name was “Frank.” LOL. Hebrews has had more than its share of attention over the past decades, even centuries. While the entire theological community is in upheaval, it’s clear the author delivers multiple warnings regarding persevering in one’s faith. He obviously has their t...
Debate among Christians can be healthy and useful. Of course, staying within the fundamental structure of core Christian doctrine is essential, including the deity of Jesus Christ, the fall of mankind, salvation through repentance and grace, and biblical authority. In addition, I recognize flexibility with practices and teachings that do not compromise core truths: views regarding the return of Christ, methods of water baptism, and physical healing, to list a few. The Letter to Hebrews is not only a rich study of Old Testament law and practice...
Theological debates have long been part of church history. Some scholars and even amateur scholars are well acquainted, prepared, and ready to battle different viewpoints within Christianity while others sit on the sidelines and ask “is this even necessary?” I simply contend that we must be Biblically balanced, recognizing our own personal opinions or presumptions with a key provision: God’s Word is the final authority and our theology must fall in line with the proper understanding and context. We should never try to force the Bible into...
Have you ever had a break in your train of thought? I’m not referring to one of those forgetful moments either, those occur for a variety of reasons. I’m talking about a moment when you pause from your line of reasoning by taking a short Segway to communicate another valuable thought. Well, Bible authors have written in a similar fashion often, all for an important purpose. We find this to be the case in the later verses of Hebrews 5 continuing into chapter 6. “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you becau...
Priesthood order has long been part of church history, dating directly back to the family line of Aaron (Exodus 28). The Old Testament is marked by a rich history of Levitical Law, customs, and traditions which hold true to this day for Jewish and other religious observers. “Priests” are generally understood to be one who is an agent between humans and God; they often perform certain rites and administer specific sacraments. The Epistle of Hebrews takes an in-depth view of the priesthood order and customs, one which is worth our con...
Christian organizations and city government, both businesses that I know best, strengthen their purpose by reviewing, and at times rewriting, their mission statement. From this then flows, among other things, planning, then long-term goals and disbursements. At times entities can get off mission. It might seem an oversimplification, but drawing back to the Bible, and Christ’s very simplicity has helped the church not just a few times. I’m a strong proponent of Biblical values and find that the Epistle of Hebrews makes a firm case for per...
Have you ever complimented someone for being a great person? What about speaking to others highly about another individual? We all have a certain person we admire, which is fairly standard. Dating back for centuries the Jewish people have looked up to Moses as one of the greatest leaders of all time. “Moshe Rabbeinu,” Moses, our teacher is their title for him. Known for standing up to Pharaoh and demanding he let the Jewish people go, he is revered for parting the Red Sea and securing their escape. Is there anyone greater? The author of Heb...
The Letter to the Hebrews provides a clear review of Christ all in one spot! You might like to get your Bible out and read it. It is not long. In 2013 authors Steven Skiena and Charles B. Ward wrote Who’s Bigger? Where Historical Figures Really Rank, (Cambridge University Press), is a book examining a wide scope of data on who are in fact the most influential people. The top five included; 5-Abraham Lincoln, 4-William Shakespeare, 3-Muhammad, 2-Napoleon, and 1-Jesus Christ. Written some time close to the Destruction of the Temple in AD 70, Hebr...
Dear Editor, At the January Town Council Meeting, I voted in favor of the proposed Rec Board Amended Resolution for several reasons. At our previous special meeting, there was overwhelming support from around our community to make collaborative improvements to the facility. In addition, the efforts proposed include a plan to pursue more funding options, larger representation to give input on the board itself, specific organizations are not left out (existing or future) and there will be future input by the public on the project. That Complex...
At the beginning of winter not long ago, fishermen Jose and Ezequiel went to sea off the Mexican coast as was their routine, but that afternoon a storm pounded their small vessel and had its way with them. They survived, but a day and a half later the men were far adrift and captive to the will of nature. Without a compass, they were left to survive the elements. Ezequiel died almost exactly four months after they set out. Jose continued to drift day after day. For several days he spotted ships that might rescue him, but no one ever saw him....
The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of twenty-seven New Testament writings with no clear author. Students have debated its scholarship for centuries. Many suggest Paul, and whoever the author was, his knowledge of the Old Testament was extensive, especially the first five books of The Law. Fundamentally, Hebrews is recognized as being inspired by God according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which is a vital benchmark of canonization. Two prominent themes are woven through Hebrews; the superiority of Jesus Christ and perseverance in Christ. According to...
Fear as a subject, I have come to comprehend, has graduating degrees. But, the Christmas season has had a positive effect on my mood: Reading through God’s word I am encouraged by both gospels Matthew and Luke: Have no fear. Acknowledging our fears is a step towards discovering the very peace of Christ. Working out this column I looked at fear from the eyes of three individuals, Mary, Joseph, and King Herod. “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin…The angel went to...
Christmas is in the air with school plays, business parties, and church, and community events. Last-minute decisions are being made about travel, or what will be served during the day’s celebration. Here in the Whitehall valley, there is no question about having a “white Christmas” this year, and honestly, I prefer the typical warmer weather we are accustomed to. Most importantly, I am grateful because the message of Christmas is for every day of the year—Jesus came to save us from our sins. Confusing messages have abounded regarding Christm...
Our lives circle around tradition, especially this time of year. Over at least the last decade most, maybe all, adults agree tracking consumers has become excessive. It is my opinion that this creates a slippery slope where we lose value in some of our most precious Christian teachings. By no means am I being a Scrooge, we surely can celebrate different holidays, but let’s keep the true meaning in focus. As Americans most of us are accustomed to a Christmas tree, some go all natural and trek out into the woods dragging that tree through the f...
Well-known poet Maya Angelou has said, “Everyone grows old but not everyone grows up.” It is one of those understated facts that on Wednesday you might find humorous and on Thursday it irks you. There are some adults that never grow out of their youthful patterns, and some even try to relive their passions vicariously through their children. Age does not guarantee maturity. I like to think that Maya Angelou would enjoy me saying that the Christian sojourn is aided by learning from the Bible. Peter, a steady disciple of Jesus, closes his letter:...
I hope you had a great time with your family and friends this Thanksgiving. Traditions comprise a large portion of our daily lives, many without much thought or effort. Certainly, Thanksgiving dinners involve much effort, but I’m referring more to our attitude or disposition. Are we motivated by genuine gratitude, or do we pass out thanks carelessly? Most of us say “thank you” without much thought or emotion. It’s customary to thank the waitress when she brings the meal to the table. Are we thankful when the wait is long for that meal? Likewis...
I would liken grace to a nicely knitted lifeline, that which saves us from our sin and self. Grace encompasses many virtuous strands such as love, mercy, forgiveness, humility, self-sacrifice, and more. Another virtue that the Bible ties to grace are generosity. God is the one who extends His grace to us so that we can practice sharing grace with others. Our radical generosity reflects God’s radical generosity. The early church practiced generosity remarkably Acts 4:32-35, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any...
We often use idioms to make a point clear. A “pickle” refers to a difficult situation or a quandary. Most likely you have escaped by the skin of your teeth a time or two from a pickle you’ve created yourself. I have. Leaders learn what to do through experience. Preparing for a recent sermon I turned to the Martyr Stephen, and studied God’s Word. The Bible provides us with examples in which people displayed quality character when encountering difficult circumstances, one being Stephen. Acts records how the church was growing in spite of intense...
Montanan men and women going back to the pioneer days have put a premium on self-reliance. As such, even modern Montanans shun outward appearances of weakness. So, we consider weakness as a handicap, something that keeps us from reaching our goals. Weakness, as a characteristic, goes against an early American standard. Work hard and you are supposed to be rewarded. How often do you see weakness celebrated? Never. The Biblical perspective on weakness is unconventional. God often chose the humble over the proud or the frail over the strong;...
Certain people leave lasting impressions on us, don’t they? I have been taking some time to research the character quality of grace from the Bible’s perspective, and I have been recalling personal examples. The exercise has been off and on for over a month. We are inspired by those who are positive, often aiming our life in the same direction. Likewise, we also watch those who display negative attributes, affirming that such a quality is something we do not want to emulate. Who is it that inspires you? The late preacher Billy Graham said, “When...
Life is often likened to a long-distance race. The high school and college activity of “track and field” dates to the ancient Greeks. In Montana, the high school athletic association added cross country, a totally different type of athletic event, that caught on quickly and is extremely popular. Saint Paul told a great deal about human nature, comparing life to a race. Maybe his main point was “pace yourself accordingly.” It would be a mistake to view our faith as a short race or sprint. Life challenges face us all, and I’d say right now anxie...
