A blog by Tom Sheepandgoats (aka Tom Harley)
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The End of War—When?
Humans can overcome physical limitations like flight and diving, yet struggle with self-rule, leading to corruption and conflict. A talk highlighted the only true solution to war is divine intervention: ending human governments, raising humanity to perfection, and removing Satan’s influence. Many faiths inadequately address this complex issue.
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Exploring Themes of Ecclesiastes in the Poconos
The Book of Ecclesiastes examines themes as the vicissitudes of life, that the swift do not always have the race, nor the strong the battle. This implies a certain “vanity” should one gloat too much over one’s accomplishments, as well as a certain “futility” brought on by the relative brevity of life. On a trip to the Pocono hills of Pennsylvania, I explored these themes…
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“There is a Generation Pure in its Own Eyes that has not been Washed . . . ”
“There are many capable women, But you—you surpass them all,” says the appreciative man to his wife. (Proverbs 31:29) Can the same be said of proverb writers and Agur? Just as Proverbs’ long series of one-liners nears ‘Been There – Done That’ status, the Bible book takes an abrupt turn and introduces Agur, who tops them all. Like this one: “There is a generation that…
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Jacob’s 12 Sons, Blessings to Each Over the Course of Two Watchtower Studies:
At first glance, the Watchtower Study for Sunday seemed it be something of a yawner. Jacob’s deathbed prophesy to the last eight of his twelve sons (the first four were last week), and for most he didn’t have much to say. At least it was blessings, the Watchtower conductor observed, and not ‘You kids are driving me crazy! You’ll be the death of me. In…
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Twelve Instances of Stupid—Back to Back
Twelve Instances of Stupid—Back to Back Huh! Twelve instances of ‘stupid’ in the Bible. As much as I have been through it, as many times as I have heard different ones cited, I never knew they were all in one place. The congregation has come around to Proverbs 26 for its weekly Bible reading. Proverbs 26–where all the ‘stupids’ are! One after another! Will I…
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A Ministry Approach to Recommend
Sometimes I call upon people in a door-to-door ministry to observe something to the effect that ‘The world is crazy. We are people who think the Bible helps; in that it uncovers a) why it is crazy, b) what hope lies in the future, and c) how best to live in the meantime.’ People are not always sure that ‘the Bible helps,’ but nobody disputes…
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Why Are Angels so Interested in Human Affairs?
It doesn’t make too much sense for angels to be so interested in the doings of humans. Don’t they have other things to do? Here Revelation 14:6: portrays them as all but overseeing the spread of Christianity: “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation and tribe…
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The Black Sheep of the Family
Then there was Frank, very much the black sheep of his family. His brother was one of the major power brokers of our area, his surname often attached to large financial projects. Yet here was Frank, hustling his way through a series of work-a-day jobs. How he came to be the black sheep I’m not sure. Was he that way before he went off to…
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Hymenaeus and Alexander, and Escaping the Control of Paul.com
If “shipwreck of faith” is the modern synonym for those who go “woke” from the Witnesses, what can be expected from that crowd—at least from some of them? The “shipwreck” passage itself provides an answer, where Paul counsels Timothy [today spun as though trying to “control” him] to “go on waging the fine warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, which some have thrust aside,…
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Replace “Woke” with “Shipwreck of Faith”
Out of nowhere comes a brand new definition of a very old word: woke. When applied to faith by someone who has left there’s, cannot one wonder why? There already is a fine phrase that means exactly the same thing: shipwreck of faith. “Woke” is not found in the Bible. “Shipwreck of faith” is. The two terms are synonymous. Plus, there are dozens of closely…