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  • Jesus and Health Care | Posted by Mart De Haan on Mar 13 2010

    I have no interest in using this space to argue the partisan issues or perspectives of the current national health care issue.
    What I would like to talk with you about is whether fair and affordable health care for everyone is something that followers of Christ should be concerned about.
    Are we responding with the wisdom of [...]

  • 20/20 on Who? | Posted by Mart De Haan on Feb 13 2010

    Two passages of the Bible that are often used to emphasize the importance of Scripture may be doing something more.
    Example One: When, after eating no food for 40 days,  Jesus resists Satan’s temptation to turn stones into bread, he quotes Moses as saying “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that [...]

  • The Misused Name | Posted by Mart De Haan on Jan 26 2010

    One way to break down someone’s faith may be to quote Jesus’ promise that… the Father in heaven will give us any thing we ask in Jesus name (John 16:23).
    Many of us have discovered the hard way that ending our prayers “in the name of Jesus” doesn’t necessarily make a difference in whether we get [...]

  • To Do or Not to Do | Posted by Mart De Haan on Nov 19 2009

    Another combination of statements that could look like a contradiction shows up in the Sermon on the Mount.
    First Jesus encourages his followers to “let their light shine before others” so that others can see the good that they do (Matt 5:16).
    But then a few statements later the Teacher begins an extended emphasis in which he [...]

  • Letterman Without a Laugh | Posted by Mart De Haan on Oct 02 2009

    Long time, late night host and comedian, David Letterman told his audience last night that he has had sexual relations with members of his staff. CNN story.
    The story needs to be made public, he said, since he had appeared earlier in the day before a Grand Jury to give testimony in an extortion case.
    Letterman said [...]

  • Blasphemy Day | Posted by Mart De Haan on Oct 01 2009

    An online CNN article yesterday recognized the first organized “Blasphemy Day.” Marked by the slogan “Nothing is Sacred,” and part of a “Campaign for Free Expression, the day was set to coincide with the 5th anniversary of a Danish’ newspaper’s publication of cartoons that so offended followers of Islam.
    The sponsoring group claims 100,000 international members [...]

  • The Geico Gecko | Posted by Mart De Haan on Sep 11 2009

    A Science article by Henry Fountain in the New York Times yesterday tells an interesting story about the little Gecko whose animated likeness has been  so cleverly used in the TV Gecko/Geico Insurance commercials.
    According to the author, “Like some other animals, the gecko can perform a neat trick when threatened by a predator: it can [...]

  • What’s Happening Here? | Posted by Mart De Haan on May 21 2009

    Oh no. I remember my sense of alarm when I heard someone talk about the New Testament discrepancy between two different accounts of Jesus feeding thousands with a few pieces of bread and fish.
    Then I discovered something else. Both accounts were described in the Gospel of Matthew  in two consecutive chapters, with a summary to [...]

  • Another Look at Paul and Jesus | Posted by Mart De Haan on May 15 2009

    Since our recent discussion about “why Paul didn’t quote Jesus” I’ve spent more time thinking about the question. Since what follows is about 3 times longer than a post of “reasonable length” you may not have time for it now. But I hope that, if not now, when you have a chance you will see [...]

  • The Mysterious Third Feast of Israel | Posted by Mart De Haan on Apr 12 2009

    Moses asked Israel to remember their Exodus Passover on the 14th of the Hebrew month of  Nisan (Lev 23:5).  He said the next day (the 15th) was to begin  seven days of Unleavened Bread and called the first day a no-work/Sabbath (vv 6-7).
    Moses went on to say that, once Israel was in their promised land [...]

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