David Holsted

My algorithm is ~60% people complaining about the OKC whistle right now. I understand why it annoys Thunder fans, but their most common responses ("why would the league rig things for small-market OKC?!" and "look where we rank in free-throw attempts!") misses the point. The reaction is more about the difference in the way the Thunder are allowed defend and the way their opponents are. And no one (at least not that I've seen) has come out and said the league is intentionally rigging games for OKC. That is, as the Thunder fans seem to think, ridiculous. But anyone who watches with a shred of objectivity can see the difference. It's a product of a couple things. First, for decades, the NBA has allowed more physicality from players who establish a defense-first reputation early in their careers (think back to Bruce Bowen). The Thunder have several of those players. Second, OKC is incredibly consistent (one of their team strengths!) about holding, grabbing, hacking, embellishing contact from offensive players from opening tip to final buzzer, and that's a tactic that certainly isn't exclusive to the NBA. They employ the "if we just foul everyone all the time, the refs can't call all of it," strategy to stunning effect. None of that is to suggest OKC is cheating or undeserving of its success. The Thunder are an incredibly talented, perfectly built, well-coached, well-oiled machine, led by one of the greatest guards in NBA history. They're almost certainly going to win their second straight championship. But it's not hard at all to see why people have a hard time watching them play.

Read the book of Enoch.

Nabeel was a gift whose message about Christ continues to influence countless people around the globe.

耳の悪い78歳の叔父と話をしていて、補聴器捨てたんだよ、というのでびっくりしてたら、Appleの AirPodsを耳に入れて普通に会話ができるのでさらにびっくり。補聴器なんて比べ物にならないくらい自然に会話ができるのです。叔父、おしゃれなのでAirPodsの方が似合うし、ストレスが減ってよかった。

Sola Scriptura Geniuses are celebrating Easter this Sunday. Easter's date, however, isn’t in the Bible. The date was set by a Church at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Easter will be celebrated this Sunday because of Catholic Tradition. You’re welcome, Protestants.

Genesis – Abraham’s Trust was Tested – a Foreshadow of Jesus: When Isaac was about 30, God tested Abraham (and Isaac). God told Abraham to take Isaac on a 50-mile, 3-day journey to Mount Moriah, which today is the site of the Temple Mount, and to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham trusted God and did as he was asked. Isaac, carrying the wood for the sacrifice, asked, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Isaac offered no resistance, and when Abraham lifted the knife to pierce his only son, God stopped Abraham and provided a ram as a substitute. God honored Abraham for his trust and obedience, promising that his singular, male descendant will lead to blessings for all mankind. That descendant is Jesus. · At the time of this test, Isaac was about 30 years old. This was a test of Isaac as well. He could have easily overpowered his older father. Isaac chose to trust God and submit to his father’s will. · The Bible makes it clear that this was a test. God never endorsed human sacrifice - except the sacrifice of His only Son to reconcile mankind to God. In the account of God testing Abraham and Isaac, we can see powerful patterns for God’s sacrifice of His only son, Jesus: · the sacrifice of an only son, miraculously conceived · a substitutionary sacrifice of a ram, foreshadows the Lamb of God (Jesus) · sacrifice by the father’s hand · the son carrying wood, the means of sacrifice · father and son going together willingly · son submitting to the father’s will · 3 days after being condemned to death, the son arose from the altar alive · sacrifice at the Temple Mount · the ram’s head caught in thorns is like the crown of thorns placed on Jesus - thorns are part of the curse of the Fall of mankind NOTE: We look for and find patterns in the Old Testament because it is written in and by an Eastern culture. Eastern thought tends to follow analogic thinking, which is based on established patterns. These patterns are also referred to as types and foreshadows. Foreshadowing of Jesus and the Plan of Salvation occur throughout the Old Testament.

Festivals – God’s Instruction to a Redeemed People Foreshadow God’s Plan of Redemption: Spring Festivals: · Passover o Passover commemorates a substitutionary protective sacrifice. o Passover foreshadows Jesus’s crucifixion as the Lamb of God. · Unleavened Bread (Matza, bread without yeast) o Matza commemorates the beginning of Israel’s redemption journey. o Matza foreshadows Jesus’ death and burial without sin. · Firstfruits o Firstfruits celebrates the beginning of the harvest. o Firstfruits foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus was crucified on Passover, buried as the first day of Matza began, and was resurrected on Firstfruits - the exact biblical days! But that's not all!! Summer Festival: The Festival of Weeks was a summer festival: · “Weeks” commemorates Moses receiving Torah instruction on Mt. Sinai and telling Israel to write God’s instruction on their hearts and minds. · “Weeks” foreshadows the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We know Weeks better by its Greek name, Pentecost, where God sent the Holy Spirit to write God’s instruction in our hearts and minds. Again, this was the exact biblical day! But that's still not all!!! Fall Festivals: There were also three Hebrew festivals in the fall, and each appears to foreshadow a part of God’s Plan of Redemption: · Day of Trumpets is a call to sacred assembly for God’s people. · The Day of Atonement is the day that God’s temple was cleansed and God’s people forgiven. · The Festival of Tabernacles commemorated Israel’s entry into the Promised Land after years of wandering. These appear to foreshadow: · The trumpet call as Jesus’ returns · The final cleansing of God’s people and the end of sin · Our entry into the final Promised Land! The Hebrew festivals are amazing!!!!