Tag Archives: perspective

An Ox Named Jake

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Don Merritt

Last week while at Mount Vernon, I followed the path out of the woods an came upon George Washington’s Experimental Farm down on the Potomac shore. As I was walking along looking for possible photos, I came upon an intriguing … Continue reading →

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Feeding and Not Knowing

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 8:1-13 Parallel Texts: Matthew 15:32-16:4 Once again, we are near the Sea of Galilee with Jesus, the disciples and a very large crowd of people. Apparently they have all been there for quite a while, because Jesus feels that … Continue reading →

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Hearing and Speaking

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 7:31-37 Parallel Text: Matthew 15:29-31 After some days in the region of Tyre, Jesus and the disciples moved on in the direction of Sidon, crossing into modern-day Syria, making their way finally to the eastern shore of the Sea … Continue reading →

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Demons, Dogs and Foreign Scenes

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 7:24-30 Parallel Text: Matthew 15_21-28 A quick reading of this text will tell us that Jesus heals someone’s daughter, but quick readings don’t always yield the whole story, for there are those times when we are better off slowing … Continue reading →

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To Be Defiled

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 7:1-23 Parallel Texts: Matthew 15:1-20; John 7:1 This is a great story… we could spend a week going over it piece by piece! A group of Pharisees have come up from Jerusalem and in our first glimpse of them, … Continue reading →

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A Stroll on the Lake

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 6:45-56 Parallel Texts: Matthew 14:22-36; John 6:15-21 After feeding the five thousand, a murmur went through the crowd: “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”  Jesus knew they were about to seize Him and make … Continue reading →

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Feeding the Crowds

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 6:30-44 Parallel Texts: Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14 Mark jumps back to Jesus and the disciples, who have just returned after their journey through Galilee, giving us the impression that Herod’s musings about who Jesus was had gone … Continue reading →

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John Has a Bad Day

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 6:14-29 Parallel Texts: Matthew 14:1-12; Luke 9:7-9 The real “meat” in this text is found in verses 14-16, the part most commentators discuss and teach is in 17-29, unfortunately. Thomas Jefferson had a painting of John’s head on the … Continue reading →

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Weekly Podcast: June 23, 2014

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Don Merritt

Let’s Keep it in Context This week’s podcast is all about context. Along with understanding presuppositions, context is the most important element is interpreting and understanding any spoken  or written discourse. This applies to literature, law, scientific writing, politics and … Continue reading →

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A Saturday Morning Walk

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Don Merritt

From East to West and Back Again This morning dawned bright, clear and beautiful in Rock Island, Illinois.  The air was surprisingly cool and dry with a slight breeze and barely a cloud in the sky.  I thought today would … Continue reading →

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