Dr Paul Allen

English: An image of Psalm 23 (King James' Version), frontispiece to the 1880 omnibus printing of The Sunday at Home. Scanned at 800 dpi. Français : Illustration du Psaume 23 (version autorisée par le roi Jacques), en frontispice de l'édition omnibus du Sunday at home. Version numérisée à 800 dpi. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “ Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” ( Jeremiah 15:16 ) People today seem always to be looking for fun or entertainment, but it is significant that “fun” is never mentioned in the Bible , so it is evidently not considered to be a very significant part of the Christian life. The word “entertain” is used to speak of hospitality, and such activities as “play” and “reveling” only receive condemnation. (“Playing” is appropriate for children and animals, of course.) Christians, however, have something far better than worldly fun—they have ...

Philemon (New Testament person) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Does Christian brotherly love really work, even in situations of extraordinary tension and difficulty? Will it work, for example, between a prominent slave owner and one of his runaway slaves? Paul had no doubt. The apostle writes a “postcard” to Philemon , his beloved brother and fellow worker, on behalf of Onesimus —a deserter, thief, and formerly worthless slave, but after his conversion in Rome , now Philemon’s brother in Christ . With much tact and tenderness, Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus back with the same gentleness with which he would receive Paul himself. Ordinarily, a runaway slave would be treated harshly; but Paul carefully reminds Philemon that, in Christ, he is now a fellow heir to the grace of God. Any debt Onesimus owes, Paul promises to make good. Knowing Philemon well, Paul feels confident that brotherly love and forgiveness will carry the day. Philemon was likely one of Paul’s converts and ha...