I appreciate those who contact me personally for putting into words what they fear retribution for saying. I don’t need support to do what’s morally right, but I appreciate it. Since I began writing reflections for the church I served during the Covid shutdown, I’ve shared my experience and asked questions to connect to yours. I have wisdom in a few things, but I’m only an expert in my experience; we’re all experts in our experiences.

One question asked from yesterday, was “Why is Hebrew and Greek important?” The First Testament (“covenant”) of the Bible was written in Hebrew – the language of the Jews. The 2^nd Testament was written in Alexander the Great’s Greek. Jesus spoke Aramaic. Every translation changes the original in some ways so understanding translations helps interpret the meaning. See how people radically change what Trump says with their “translations” — all in English.

I was also asked how I was taught to define fascism. The best answer came this week from Monday travels with Rick Steves we’ve enjoyed since the pandemic. Listen for yourself echoes of fascism today. Here’s Mondays show.

How do you translate and interpret Ephesians 4? — So Christ himself gave the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to equip people for works of love and service…. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.