Every once in a while I'll hear a particular Bible verse or sets of verses repeated from different sources over one or two days. It is always meaningful to me; that is, the verse is a response to something I've been thinking about, or troubling me. I believe this is God's providence and I'm very thankful for His loving … [Read more...]
About Alf Cengia
When the Wicked Seem to Flourish: Psalm 73
When the wicked seem to flourish: Psalm 73. More and more we see wickedness around us and we might wonder about God's sovereignty and justice. At such times, read Psalm 73. Who have I in heaven but you? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you! This verse has been a favorite. But its context never … [Read more...]
Empathy for the Terrorists
Should we have empathy for the terrorists who killed Israeli citizens? Should we advocate for more humane treatment? These questions arise from an attitude I’ve noticed on a social media platform, and one Substack article called “Stop the Hangings.” The writer says they can’t stop weeping about the proposed hangings … [Read more...]
You Are What You Read
No doubt you've heard the saying that, "You are what you eat." It's also true that "you are what you read." You can get some insight into someone just by looking at the books they read. I confess that when I visit someone's house and they happen to have bookshelves, I'm inclined to get nosy. But Rosaria Butterfield … [Read more...]
Telos Theological Ministries
Telos Theological Ministries, and its online school, Telos Biblical Institute, are devoted to teaching the Word of God as the Word of God. Our motto is: “God Means What He Says!” The mission of Telos Ministries is to teach God’s people to believe what God says, and to think biblically. The mission of Telos Biblical … [Read more...]
Is it wrong to call Jesus a Jew?
Is it wrong to call Jesus a Jew? Several Christian social media influencers have recently downplayed or denied Jesus’ Jewishness. But it isn’t a recent phenomenon. There is a trend to call Jesus a Palestinian rather than a Jew. This comes to the forefront every Christmas and often driven by people like Palestinian … [Read more...]
Words and the Gaza Genocide
Words and the Gaza genocide: Words do things. Words matter. Words are vital in speech and writing. Picking out the right words enhances communication. However, using the wrong words in certain circumstances has a deleterious effect on the receiver, and often the subject of those words. Take this short phrase … [Read more...]
Eustace Becomes a Dragon
Eustace Clarence Scrubb was a character from C. S. Lewis' Narnian Chronicles. He was the Pevensie children's rotten little cousin - the sort of kid one doesn't like having around. He's introduced to us at the start of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader where we find him mercilessly taunting Lucy and Edmund Pevensie. Later … [Read more...]
The Blessed and Boundless God
The Blessed and Boundless God - a book by George Swinnock, and edited by J. Stephen Yuille. The book is published by Reformation Heritage Books (Paperback 170 pages). You can read a short biography of George Swinnock (1627-1673) at A Puritan's Mind. It also has some PDF format links to his works. His full set of … [Read more...]
The Importance of Regular Prayer Meetings
The importance of regular prayer meetings must not be underestimated. The saints of long ago who witnessed revivals regularly prayed together. This isn't to say that their prayers brought about revival. It is more complicated than that. But there was a definite connection. My small involvement in prayer … [Read more...]
