Sturtz Stuff

What was the world like at the time of Jesus’ birth? Answer: The world was ruled by the Roman Empire. They ruled everything. How did the Roman Empire come to rule the world? For starters the Roman general Germanicus. He is known for killing people all across the Rhine area. For 50 miles around the Rhine area he killed women, children, the old and the young. From the General Germanicus point of view only the total annihilation of the population would end war. How did Roman conquer the world? Well now you know. The Romans killed, murdered and beat nations and people groups into submission. Another Roman general named Pompey conquered the Eastern part of the Roman Empire in 64 BC. Because of his great conquest an inscription was placed in a temple in Rome in his honor. The inscription boasts that Pompey took 12 million subjects in surrender in 1,500 towns. [1] How did the Roman Empire rule the world? They dominated, destroyed, intimidated and killed anyone who attempted to stand in t...

If you’re considering making some New Year’s resolutions this year, consider this: like other exercises of raw willpower, most New Year’s resolutions fail miserably. According to research, 80 percent of those who make resolutions on January 1 have given up by Valentine’s Day. Nutrition experts say that two-thirds of dieters regain any weight lost within a year, and more than 70 percent of people who undergo coronary bypass surgery fall back into unhealthy habits within two years of their surgery.                 “Most of us think that we can change our lives if we just summon the will power and try even harder this time around,” says Alan Deutschman, the former executive director of Unboundary, a firm that counsels corporations on how to navigate change. “It’s exceptionally hard to make life changes, and our efforts are usually doomed to failure when we try to do it on our own.”     ...

Perhaps you are familiar with the story of Samson. Maybe when you hear the name Samson you think of long hair or his love affair with Delilah. If the story of Samson is familiar or not it is found in the Book of Judges starting in chapter thirteen.  Act 1 The Birth of Samson (Judges 13:2-5) This is the beginning of the story of Samson. Before he is even born his is given a job description. Samson is to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the Philistines. By the way the name Samson in Hebrew means “light”. Samson is to be a light that leads the Israelite people to victory over the Philistines. The Philistines are a formidable opponent due to their large navy, horse drawn chariots and enhanced armaments. Because of these advantages the Philistines have been able to invade some of the territories claimed by the Israelites as they settle into the Promised Land. Keep in mind that the story of Samson occurs before Israel has a King. Without a King there is no organized centr...

In the Book of Numbers chapter 22 the nation of Israel has been on a 40 year tour of the dessert. They are headed for the promised land of Canaan. Israel is entering Canaan from the East and is in the plains of Moab. The plains of Moab are a 10 mile stretch along the rift valley that goes up into the hill country of Jordan. The Israelites are there waiting to enter into the land of Canaan. The King of Moab is a fellow by the name of Balak. Balak is not convinced that Israel is simply going to leave him and his Kingdom alone. He is worried because Israel is powerful and has heard of their recent victories in battle. Balak wants to figure out a way to get the upper hand on the Israelites. In Numbers 22:4-5 we read about Balak’s plan “So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said: “A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and...

This is post from the blog of  Larry Hurtado . Larry Hurtado is a retired professor from  Edinburgh. He has spent decades focused mainly on the origins and development of “devotion to Jesus” in earliest Christianity. Click here to read this post on Hurtado's own blog.  Scholars commonly see in 1 Corinthians 15:1-7 material of an early “pre-Pauline” confession that focuses on Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and appearances to select witnesses.  But there are continuing disagreements over what kind of event is referred to in vv. 3-5 where Jesus is described as “raised on the third day,” specifically whether this refers to a resurrection/transformation of Jesus’ mortal body or some other kind of event, e.g., a “spiritual” one that left his mortal body in the grave.  I’ve just read a new study of the matter that seems to me pretty effective in guiding exegetes to the correct answer:  James Ware,  “The Resurrection of Jesus in the Pre-Paul...

1 John 2:26-27 " 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him." As you read the letter of 1 John it becomes clear that there is some kind of a massive controversy that is brewing in this early Christian community. There seems to be some pulling and tearing at the fabric of unity within this early church community that 1 John is addressing. We don’t have the various perspectives of those involved yet we do have John's responce. Thus John says, in the above passage, that “ I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. ” By the way, the word astray in Greek is where we get the English word for planet. In John’s time a planet was a wondering body. So Joh...

David Lipscomb was an  American minister, educator and leader in the Restoration movement. In 1855 David Lipscomb, along with Tolbert Fanning , started to publish a magazine called the Gospel Advocate . The Gospel Advocate became an influential publication within the Restoration Movement. On April 28, 1898 David Lipscomb wrote about the "spirit of war" on the eve of the Spanish-American war. Lipscomb's statement still rings loudly today as he calls for Christians to reflect and consider the "spirit of war” in light of the Spirt of Jesus. Here is part of his editorial statement in the April 28, 1898  Gospel Advocate  (p. 269): War is disastrous to all prosperity and good of a people.  It may for a time create activity in business in preparing for and caring on a conflict, but it must result permanently in more taxes and less to pay with.  The people pay all the cost of war.  But the material injury produced by war is the least harmful of its e...

1 John 2:1-6 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. It is a quiet evening and you are relaxing at home. One of your favorite meals has been prepared and you are just about to sit down and enjoy your meal along with family and friends. All of the sudden someone starts ringing your doorbell. Your dog starts to bark and you were so startled that you just about dropped your plate full of food. Whoever it is stops ringing...