Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | September 29, 2018
5 Fingers is Handy Who can, without singing the song, name all the apostles? How about naming all the books of the NT without that same musical method? My only hope for remembering the Minor Prophets would be singing. Sadly, I can’t remember the song to remember the books! Singing is a common mnemonic device […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
Would you say this is an accurate assessment: Most churches consider themselves like the Philippians, Thessalonians (1st letter), Smyrnians, and Philadelphians, wherein correction is not needed. The sad reality is most churches in the 1st century needed correction, which is why so many letters were written. They also needed encouragement and information, but correction was […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
In the beginning the earth was formless, void of life, and covered with water. “Then God said….” (Gen.1:3). Because God said, then came light (Gen.1:3), separation (Gen.1:4,7,9), life (Gen.1:11ff), and organization (1:14-19). “Then God said”…that’s the key. God is the only one powerful enough to overcome darkness, nonexistence, and chaos. Why does the Bible begin […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
There is a parenting technique called “natural consequences.” Basically you allow your child to suffer what naturally follows bad decisions, instead of bailing them out, or giving an unrelated punishment. This is seen in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15). I thought of that when reading Jeremiah 8. Here God applies a posthumous […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
Both my father and uncle were in the Army. When I was young, I heard my father give my uncle a good ribbing: “Do you know what cadence we marched to?” Seeing my father smile he cautiously said no. “It went something like this: The first week they separate the men from the boys. The […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
Then God Rested (requested follow-up to “Then God Said”): “Then God rested” (Genesis 2:3). God needs resting? As a young one I was confused. As a not so young one I was confused. Then I learned to see this not from my perspective, but of those to whom it was written. In Ancient Near East […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
I don’t know if one chapter can be the most important, but Acts 2 is one of the most important. What does it show? 1. How to rebuff objections – use scripture (vv.15-16). 2. God fulfills prophecy (vv.17-21; 25-28,31). 3. God is Sovereign (vv.23,36). 4. The focus of our preaching – All that is said […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
One method of teaching sinners how to respond to God’s merciful grace is using this following mnemonic five finger plan: HEAR – Romans 10:17. BELIEVE – John 1:11-12; 3:16; Acts 8:36-37; Romans 10:9-10. REPENT – Acts 2:38; 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9. CONFESS – Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37. BE BAPTIZED – 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 22:16; […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
John 11:33 [HCSB] “When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved.” Do you see the phrase, “angry in His spirit”? Many translations read, “deeply moved in spirit” instead. The Greek is made up of two words: “to engage in” and […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
Galatians – An Exodus Story: Words often tell more when seen through a historical lens, even an unstated OT motif. I wonder if this is true in a book telling a familiar story reminiscent of Israel’s exodus, only for them to quickly turn away. That book is Galatians. Paul writes that God raised Jesus from […]