The Dave Aldon Blog

Do you ever miss “the good old days” or feel like life was better in the past? Do you miss the times when you were a child, and life felt simpler? Do you read about history, maybe about ages hundreds or thousands of years ago, and feel like times were better or more noble? You’re not alone in having theseContinue reading “Nostalgia and The Last Question in the Bible”

I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me? – Matthew 3:14 This week I had the pleasure of having my artwork chosen for the second year in a row to be displayed at my church. This year, my church’s “Call to Artists” is an opportunity to create artwork in response to our current series on theContinue reading “The Objection of John”

Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. – 1 Chronicles 4:10 When you encounter genealogies in the bible, doContinue reading “What’s the Point of Boring Genealogies in the Bible?”

I like asking interesting questions about the Bible, and I like trying to answer them using scripture. The problem with this is what if I’m wrong? What if I convince myself that I’m right? What if I put all the right scripture together to back up my answers, but completely miss the point? This happened while I was preparing myContinue reading “What Can Witchcraft Teach Us About the Bible?”

One icy cold, frozen day in 2017, I woke up around 4am. I had a job to do: drive my parents to the airport for an early flight. My dad and my oldest sister bought a Saab 95 a few years prior, a great car that they were kind enough to let me use during my last years in college.Continue reading “What My Father Means to Me”

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” – Isaiah 43:25 What happens if someone wrongs you, and they die before you can forgive them? What happens when someone is a victim of sexual assault, or physical abuse, or infidelity, or lies, or sin; and at the endContinue reading “Should We Forgive the Dead?”

Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen. ‭- Isaiah‬ ‭28:11‬-12 Speaking in tongues is the least understood, least talked about, and, according to Paul, the least importantContinue reading “Speaking in Tongues in the Old Testament”

Detracting from my usual content, this post will explain a piece of artwork that I created in response to my church’s first “Call to Artists” program, focusing on our current series on Genesis. This piece was chosen by my church’s art committee and was on display for a few months. I thought of the most impactful passage we covered, andContinue reading “The Drumroll of Death”

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5 Pictured above are Myrrh trees, and behind them are some pivotal elements surrounding the answer to the question in this blog post. During Christmas, we often recite theContinue reading “Why did it have to be Myrrh?”

“Among those who approach me, I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people, I will be honored.” – Leviticus 10:3 Why is communion so dangerous? Paul says the following: So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. –Continue reading “Moses & Communion”

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” – Matthew 3:11 Fire is used to describe some integral elements of Christianity in the Bible: Baptism, God, communion, sacrifice, tribulation, and much more.Continue reading “What is Baptism by Fire?”

They did not remember the abundance of God’s steadfast love… Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. – Psalms 106:7-8 Do you feel like it’s hard to remember important things? Do you keep getting distracted from positive goals that you have? Can you recall the last sermon you heard in church? Do youContinue reading “The Warfare of Forgetfulness & Dementia in the Bible”

“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” – John 19:10 Have you been in a situation where you have no advocate? No friends to help you? No one to look out for you? Have you had a job where everyone around you takes everyContinue reading “Who is the Pontius Pilate in Your Life?”

Are you worried about the election? Were you worried about the last one? Does thinking about the future of your country make you uneasy? Does it make you depressed? Argumentative? Sad? Or does it make you happy, at ease, glad, or even vindictive? If so, this message is for you. Two Sides to the Election Coin There are two perspectivesContinue reading “Dealing with Election Results in the Bible”

Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. – Malachi 2:15 What’s the purpose of marriage? To find happiness? To stay in love? To have kids? These objectivesContinue reading “The Purpose of Marriage”

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. -Proverbs 25:28 The world is a dangerous place. There are diseases, corrupt politicians, false teachers, murderers, liars, pain, addiction, and fear. How can Jesus expect us to navigate such a broken world? Aren’t we vulnerable to all of these terrible things? Aren’t we vulnerable to evil?Continue reading “Are You Vulnerable to Evil?”

And yet, through all of this weakness, Jesus’ denial of his divine nature was not a great loss for the trinity, as some might think. Instead it is the very condition demanded of him, for without this denial, he could never be the son of man.

Why do people yell each other? Why are people violently confronting each other so much? Have you witnessed someone yell at a person over wearing/not wearing a mask? Maybe you’ve seen instances of this on social media, maybe you’ve seen the violence that can ensue over these confrontations. Should we try to stop it? Is it wrong? Where in theContinue reading “Dealing With Unfair Confrontations”

Monuments, statues, memorials, etc. frequently find themselves the center of heated debate. Should they exist to help us remember history? Should they be placed in museums if they‘re images of immoral people or ideas? Should they be destroyed because we disagree with what they represent? Where do Christians belong in this debate? It is impossible to avoid controversy No matterContinue reading “The Statue Problem in Christianity”

The most important question you could ever ask is…what are you going to eat today? Some people don’t know if they’ll eat today. Some have lots of options, can eat out, or can only eat what they have at home. And in times of trouble, it can be hard to find healthy options or food you’re used to. Food canContinue reading “Does God Eat?”

Easter was about a week ago, and it’s great to recognize the resurrection of Christ. But what about why it took three days for this to happen? Why did Jesus have to die to later come back to life? People usually answer these questions with the broad strokes: he had to die for our sins, he had to because heContinue reading “Good Friday in the Old Testament”

Found yourself working remote lately, or alone, or isolated? These aren’t new experiences in humanity. The good news is that this means we have positive examples to look to in scripture, and God has a purpose for our remote work, loneliness, or isolation. When You’re Really Alone Working remote for many people means that they’ll end up spending more timeContinue reading “Working Remote in the Bible”

Are your spouse’s parents annoying? Meddlesome? Quick to point out your flaws? Or are they really great, but non-Christians? The mentioning of in-laws can bring a swath of emotions to someone. And when they’re strong emotions, they’re usually negative. Some people have good relationships with their in-laws, some don’t. Either way, when you find yourself interacting with them, it’s goodContinue reading “Dealing with In-Law Advice”

Today I got afraid of failing, not doing good enough, or just disappointing myself. It stresses me physically and mentally, and I start worrying about everything. Everyone can feel this way, or worse for various reasons. But no matter the severity or circumstance we all have the same thing in common: what we see. What does everyone experiencing anxiety see?Continue reading “Dealing with Anxiety”

Post-traumatic stress disorder, something we often associate with war, can happen with anyone who has experienced a traumatic event. But PTSD is terminology that didn’t exist forever, but it’s real and has been experienced by people for thousands of years. How do we know this? Because people in the Bible have gone through the same difficulties, and show us howContinue reading “PTSD in the Bible”

In those days Israel had no king. – Judges 19:1 Thanksgiving is a time people often use to remind themselves what they’re thankful for. When I think about things I’m thankful for, I think about Judges 19. This is one of the most problematic chapters in the Bible because of how horrific, and seemingly godless the account is. And that’sContinue reading “Remember To Thank God”

Ascension day is a notable time in the bible. It’s when Jesus left us after the resurrection, and it triggered the Pentecost, whereby the Holy Spirit entered the disciples and us today. But everything Jesus did was nothing new, nothing we haven’t seen before in the Old Testament, which includes his ascension and the Pentecost. This is an important topicContinue reading “Ascension And Pentecost In The Old Testament”

Human sacrifice is regarded as an ancient, pagan practice. Something modern society has shed, and anywhere it’s currently practiced is in the most isolated and obscure of cultures. But this is naive, because human sacrifice is going on everywhere, and you’re guaranteed to know someone who has done it, if you haven’t already done it yourself. Now, surely I’m talkingContinue reading “Human Sacrifice In The 21st Century”

Sunday, Saturday, whichever. These days probably mean something to Christians or Jews. Usually it’s the day we go to church. Some call one or the other the Sabbath too. Not long ago no store would ever be open in the United States on Sundays. And even today not many are open on Saturdays in Israel. Why? Because it’s in theContinue reading “My Problem With The Sabbath”

What part of the Bible comes to mind when you think about exorcisms? Probably one of the several accounts of Jesus encountering a demon possessed man. These are wonderful examples that show us the physical and spiritual tole demon possession has on people, how afraid demons are of Jesus, and how obedient they are to God. So if these NewContinue reading “Exorcisms In The Old Testament”

You’re on your first date with someone and the waiter asks that question going on in everyone’s head: all together, or separate? You make eye contact with the other person at the table and the awkwardness begins to rise. Why does this happen and why is this a problem? It’s because you weren’t prepared for it, and the underlying issueContinue reading “Who Pays For Dinner In The Bible?”

Live for now. Follow your truth. Your story is your legacy. Falling in love with yourself isn’t vanity, it’s sanity. All these sayings have one dangerous thing in common: perspective. Perspective is how you see everything in life, including yourself, and more importantly, God. Perspective is one of many things that make us human, but the good thing is thatContinue reading “Are There Good And Bad Perspectives?”

In many allegories, movies, or hypotheses about Jesus’ younger years, a very particular idea tends to sneak in. It’s the idea that Jesus, while a young boy, learned that he was God through some journey, revelation, maturity, or whatever. These ideas may even go so far as to say that he learned he was God at the time he beganContinue reading “Did Jesus Discover That He Was God?”

What comes to mind when you think about communion? Probably what you eat and drink, and the verses from the Lord’s supper where Jesus talks about what communion is all about. These are all great things, but I want to add more value to them by drawing on acts of communion found in the Old Testament as well. Nothing inContinue reading “Communion in the Old Testament”

Baptism is undoubtedly a controversial topic within various denominations in Christianity. But when we ask ourselves when baptism started, I’m 100% sure it’s always John the Baptist that comes to mind. Today we’re putting a stop to this, because the New Testament neither invented anything new, nor abolished anything old, but fulfilled every law and prophecy that came out of the OldContinue reading “Baptism in the Old Testament”

When I was younger I thought I could fix things. I thought there was a way that I could get people to stop doing wrong, a way that I could stop all the pain. If only us Christians could figure it out! If only we could do something about all the evil in the world. These thoughts bled into otherContinue reading “The Verse that Changed My Life”

If “God hates sin but loves the sinner,” then why did he always punish sinners and not the sin? Because that very common statement just isn’t supported by scripture whatsoever. There are countless little sayings like this that exist with the sole purpose of cushioning tough messages that really have simple, encouraging explanations. So today we’re tackling this one, “GodContinue reading “Who Does God Hate?”

Pity, sympathy, empathy, and compassion are words we use to describe different degrees of emotion we can experience when being around pain in others. They’re all very different emotions, and God has them too, but in a far more interesting way. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. –Continue reading “How God Responds to Pain”

Today we turn to how God doesn’t treat his people different from others. This message is simple, but will illustrate how God loves everyone and has his eyes on all nations, wanting everyone to be saved. We’ll use the Jews in the old testament as an example of this, among other powerful scripture. This small topic is important to understandContinue reading “The Impartiality of God”

As we get closer to celebrating Christmas, we often turn to the New Testament for relevant scripture and stories surrounding the arrival of Jesus. But recently a lot of things that stick out to me in scripture are the details we often overlook in order to get to the “good” parts. So what’s overlooked in New Testament stories about JesusContinue reading “Gabriel in the Old Testament”

Temptation comes from many sources, which people mostly attribute directly to Satan. But if that was the only source, then Adam and Eve would have probably never sinned. So where else do sinful decisions come from? There are many things described negatively in the Bible, and one in particular is spoiled in the title of this post: our heart. InContinue reading “Don’t Listen to Your Heart”

People pray in many different ways, whether it’s more formal, written and practiced, or casually and in a conversational manner. Either way, it’s how we consciously communicate with God. But because God knows our thoughts and desires before we tell them to him, what’s the point of praying? Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. – MatthewContinue reading “Why Bother Praying?”

How do we know we’re saved? What do we have to do? There’s a lot of opinions on what it takes to receive salvation, so today we’re throwing that all out and instead looking at what examples are in the Bible. This will serve as a message to us for encouragement, because people like to complicate salvation in particular, andContinue reading “The bare minimum for Salvation”

He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. – John 19:30 When Jesus died, he stayed that way for three days before coming back to life. What was it like during these three days? We know through example, because the Old Testament contains people who experienced pieces of Jesus’ struggles to come. This isContinue reading “Have you ever felt dead?”

God is always talking. Sometimes people hear him, sometimes they don’t. There’s a lot of stories out there about people hearing God or knowing what his plan is for them. But what about when you don’t? What about when you feel like God isn’t saying anything? I believe there’s two things to consider when this happens: you can’t hear anything because there is sinContinue reading “How Does God Communicate With You?”

’s often that works of literature are heralded as creative and original by how similarly creative and original their story is. For example, a simple glance on Goodreads’ list of most original books contains countless novels that nearly everyone has at least read or heard of. What made them unique? In general, it was their story. Now you might be thinking that this article is about how to make a creative story, however, I’ll be taking a different approach. There’s already thousands of articles and even books on how to create creative stories, so I don’t want to add another to the pile.