/fairfaxs-website/image-f878f-i65ab.png "Fairfax Presbyterian Church")
1 You, LORD, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. Reading this passage, one might think that having earthly wealth is considered as a sign of God’s mercy to us; but I believe this passage has the same meaning as Proverb 30:7,8, and part of the Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew 6:21, Jesus has explained the meaning of the verse i...
Read MoreIn this book, the prophet Hosea is speaking to the people of Israel. They have strayed from God by being unfaithful, worshipping idols and trusting foreign powers. Hosea’s message is of contrasting doom and hope, discipline and love. In this passage, using poetry form, Hosea extols Israel to return to God. It was his intent to use the poetry/so...
Read MoreIn the early 1970’s my then-husband and I set out on a road trip from Los Angeles to visit friends in Socorro, New Mexico. We drove an old Citroën which was temperamental at the best of times. On that trip, it chose to break down at night as we drove through a barren, uninhabited stretch of mountains. We had an overcast sky, rare for the Southwest...
Read More"In that day, says the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away, and those whom I have afflicted. The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forevermore."
Read MoreI long for this day. The day, when people of various nations with various backgrounds and ideologies come together, desiring to learn God’s ways and walk in God’s paths. I long for this day. The day, when swords and other weapons used for destruction are transformed into tools for creating, building, nurturing, and fostering growth.
Read More"…for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind" (1 Corinthians 3:5) Dr. Harvey Alter was awakened by the persistent ringing of the phone at around 4:45 in the morning of October 5, 2020. By his telling of the story, he ignored the call the first and second time, annoyed at being disturbed. He got up to fi...
Read MoreSince the pandemic started in March, our Scripture Studies have included the Bible's Greatest Hits, 66 Top Passages from Genesis to Revelation, followed by 28 days of Bible Studies on "Waiting." I hope you have found guidance and inspiration in these reflections. On November 29, we will begin the Season of Advent, a period of 26 days which will pr...
Read More