THE BOOK - THE KING OF KINGS
“The King of Kings” is my main joy in retirement. I have always been interested in the history, especially of the classical world and technology. Behind my desk at the Jail I had archaeologist’s renditions of the Temple Jesus saw, instead of "religious pictures". Many people say it's all a matter of faith and all beliefs are equally valid. They are half right. Believing what is actually wrong does not make it right or make it work.
The God of the Bible is fundamentally different from all other religious deities. He claims He acts in History and the Scripture are the record of what He has done, the message He has announced to His creation. If you would read the writings of other religions, you would see that for yourself. Some are filled with wild stories, myths, legends, that remind me of the stories of "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter". Some especially Hindu and Greek philosophy are supreme human thought.
We are in between two positions. On the one hand, All is by Faith alone. There is no evidence for “scientific absolute proof”. But that does not mean there is no evidence, no rational claims. Many ignore the fact that there is no evidence, scientific proof the God of the Bible and His record is not True. In order to have all by Faith Alone God hid all the “proof” but there is no “proof” for any alternative. Taking a very good look at the evidence is very worth while. I enjoy trying to see how the bits and pieces left in history might have been originally assembled.
I was born in Cincinnati in one of the founding families of the The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, with many Pastors and teachers. Family legend said the Kohn branch were originally Jewish. The name means “priest, son of Aaron”. I wanted to be an aeronautical engineer or teach science before I was called into the Ministry. After graduating from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, I served parishes in rural Iowa and suburban Baltimore before I was offered the position as Chaplain at Baltimore City Detention Center. I believe evil, sin and Satan are real, so the dark side there did not surprise or disturb me. I was constantly impressed how many and how often inmates and staff were gracious and pleasant under difficult conditions. Many were better Christians than I.
Pastor Stephen H Funck