Parts of Speaking Publishing

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” From an article on the ruins of a monastery in Kayala, Egypt:    Among the finds, one mural depicts two deer surrounded by vegetal motifs within a circular decorative frame. Deer are a surprising choice. Egypt’s native large mammals lean more toward   adapted desert species   like ibex, foxes, and gazelles. However, for communities shaped by the Bible, the deer likely evoked Psalm 42:1 (above). Deer are not efficient panters like dogs: They primarily cool down through their skin and by seeking shade or water. Panting signals physical need and desperation—it signals a deer in trouble. In this context, the deer in the monastery’s mural symbolizes spiritual longing, thirst, and dependence on God. The monastery’s presence in the transitional desert–delta landscape makes the choice of deer especially evocative. For a deer, an animal of streams and shade, to be in this landscape means it has found s...

 Luke 's version, chapter 17 (NIV) 45  When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling.   46  “It is written,”  he said to them,  “‘My house will be a house of prayer’ [ a ] ; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ [ b ] ” 47  Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.   48  Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. Matthew's version, chapter 21 (NIV) 12  Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.   13  “It is written,”  he said to them,  “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ [ a ]  but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ [ b ] ” 14  The blind and the lame came to him at th...

This is John's account, which does not include how Jesus got the donkey and focuses on how the event moves to the next conflict. It also points back to how central the raising of Lazarus is.  John 12:12  The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,  13  took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed   is   He who comes in the name of the   Lord !’ The King of Israel!” 14  Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it;   as it is written: 15  “Fear   not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” 16  His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and  that  they had done these things to Him. 17  Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called La...

  Christ Our Cornerstone 19  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  20  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,   21  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,  22  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. I memorized this years ago and it's still in my brain. The focus is not individual, but together: what God is doing over history with those who believe Him. He is building a dwelling place for Himself. Reference Revelation 21:20. 

I participate in a small group Bible study with our pastor that he has with a group before the sermon as part of his sermon preparation. It is deeply important to me. We studied Colossians 1:15-23.  Colossians 1 has many parallels with Ephesians 1. These were sister churches, Gentile mostly, that did not have any outstanding moral problems. Scholars believe there was an early version of Gnosticism in Colosse (which I have seen from a distance standing in the streets of Laodicea). which explains the emphasis on Christology. As one participant said last night, it's like Paul was talking about the Colossians and just set it aside to say how awesome Jesus is. The pastor said it might be an old hymn or parts of it. It is so poetic that that seems reasonable.  I need this passage today due to a family issue yesterday. I have taken out the verse markers. This is the English Standard Version translation. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creatio...

, , , r emember  that you were at that time separated from Christ,  alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to  the covenants of promise,  having no hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:12, ESV).  Yes, remember what and who and how and where you were.  Having no hope and without God in the world.  I have recently read The Stranger by Camus, again, and this time I got it. I was really shallow before and now I'm only a normal amount of shallow. It is definitely about a man who is a stranger to the covenants of promise and who has no hope in the world and is without God. The problem is, he is okay with "the benign indifference of the universe," as the famous line goes. He accepts it, and that's the point. I don't think most people do, and they search for something to give them meaning. I fear our version of Christianity is too thin to give anyone meaning, but thankfully, God is bigger than my opinion. Many past atheists are comi...