faith – Darkened Glass Reflections

Men and Women of God: VIII. Bishops and Priests and Deacons, Oh My!

1 Timothy 3:1-7 lists the qualifications for an “episkopos,” translated as either a bishop or overseer. In this post, I take a brief look at the early origin of some church leadership titles.

September 13, 2026

Men and Women of God. VI: Intercessory and Corporate Prayer

Prayer extends beyond just ourselves and God. We pray for others, including those we may not like, and we pray with others.

August 2, 2026

Men and Women of God. V: Avoiding Shipwreck

“This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to…

July 19, 2026

Men and Women of God. III: Following the Law

Laws do not usually reward good behavior. They are designed to discourage and punish bad behavior. St. Paul knew this. Timothy needed to recognize this. We need to remember it. (Thoughts about 1 Timothy 1:8-11.)

June 21, 2026

Men and Women of God. II: Timothy’s (Im)Possible Mission

1 Timothy 1:3-7 introduces Timothy’s mission. Paul is instructing him to confront false teaching and restore order to the churches. He introduces the Christian’s charge to live by “love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

June 14, 2026

A Few Thoughts About the Trinity (Revisited)

This is part of walking by faith: We trust God and believe Him to be Who He says He is, even when we do not fully understand it. When I was a small child, I had faith that my mother and father were my parents, long before I learned what that meant or how we…

May 31, 2026