I Timothy 6:3-21 Dear RTB’ers, Paul shares two reflections on wealth in today’s reading. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. I Timothy …
Author Archives: Fred
December 22 / I Timothy 5:1-6:2
I Timothy 5:1-6:2 Dear RTB’ers, I remember growing up in a small Catholic community and attending a Catholic school in a small Southern Illinois town. We had Mass every morning – all schoolchildren attended – and the only others present (as I recall) were older women who were there almost every day. Today’s fifth verse …
December 21 / I Timothy 4:6-16
I Timothy 4:6-16 Dear RTB’ers, Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (vv. 7-8) I asked a question several …
December 20 / I Timothy 3:14-4:5
I Timothy 3:14-4:5 Dear RTB’ers, Only eight verses today. Before reading I wondered what content could be so “important?” as to warrant only eight verses. Only three verses in and I can see the blessing of this shortened reading – Paul’s “mystery of godliness” benediction: He was manifested in the flesh,vindicated by the Spirit,seen by …
December 19 / I Timothy 3:1-13
I Timothy 3:1-13 Dear RTB’ers, Back on track, with an early-morning post. Only two church officers are mentioned in today’s reading, overseer and deacon. Many scholars ascribe the overseer office to be that of our modern-day bishop, even back then one individual overseeing a number of parishes. Then to find deacons, we go back to …
December 18 / I Timothy 2
I Timothy 2 Dear RTB’ers, Finally, after nearly four months away Carol and I returned yesterday evening – after one of our longest travel days ever! But that was then, this is now. I sent a personal note to John, thanking him for stepping into the void that I created, my Sunday-Tuesday absence. Mostly I …
December 14 / Micah 4:8-5:15
Micah 4:8-5:15 Dear RTB’ers, Yesterday’s readings had mixed messages from Micah – judgment and condemnation in chapter 3, then deliverance in chapter 4. Today he starts out sensitive, then drops a bomb on Judah’s leaders, that they are going into exile in Babylon. Their actual exile would be hundreds of years down the road (586 …
December 13 / Micah 3:1-4:7
Micah 3:1-4:7 Dear RTB’ers, Another travel day, so another delayed post, this time packing and leaving our 3-month time in Nitra, now two nights in Bratislava, with a missionary pastor and his family whom we met twenty years ago. Good memories! Yesterday Micah seemed to take the entire people to task, saying that Judah was …
December 12 / Micah 1-2
Micah 1-2 Today was a very busy day, as we were packing to leave our dormitory home tomorrow. Mostly it was “throw and go”, but it was still quite stressful. What to take, what to leave behind, who could use this or that? But now we’re mostly ahead of it and will be driving to …
December 11 / II Corinthians 13
II Corinthians 13 Dear RTB’ers, Yesterday’s comment – that is, John’s post on “Rearranging II Corinthians” – was enough comment for today’s first ten verses. Let’s look at Paul’s closing: Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one …