The Bible Sex and You reveals the hidden elements of sex during the biblical period by highlighting what was once permissible but later forbidden in Christianity. Marriage, sex, birth control, abortion, divorce, homosexuality, fornication, adultery and masturbation are each analyzed from antiquity in an attempt to reverse numerous 2,000 year old misinterpretations. The Bible, properly understood, could be the best sex text of modern times. (Length: 154 pages)
In Mishnah and the Words of Jesus, Dr. Blizzard presents comparisons between the words of Jesus and the words of rabbis prior to, contemporary with, and following Jesus, recorded for us in the Mishnah, Order Nezikin, Tractate Avot, or the Chapters of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot).
Probably anyone who has ever focused on the teachings of Jesus in any depth is aware that he was a product of the religious milieu that emerged in the 1st century of this present era. The four gospels preserve for us the largest and the best corpus of material relating to the ideas and methods of teaching of the rabbis of that period. As we compare the words of Jesus with the other rabbis of his day, we can begin to understand where some of the ideas originated, the way they were thinking, and the themes upon which they were teaching.
In the teachings of Jesus, there is one underlying and overriding theme, a theme on which Jesus consistently dwells, a theme that serves as the foundation upon which biblical faith is built. That foundational theme is summed up in the Hebrew word tzedakah, the word frequently translated into English as righteousness. Tzedakah is the outstanding, overriding, and yet simple, theme of Jesus.
Biblical faith is not so much man always directing his attention upward toward God but, rather, through acts of tzedakah, reaching out to others, meeting them at the point of their need and assisting in making them whole. Principles of biblical faith are not directed upward. It is not something one does for God. It is directed outward toward one's fellow man, but in so doing, at one and the same time, one performs the will of the Father.
Throughout Mishnah and the Words of Jesus, Dr. Blizzard points out how the Sages echo one another and how it all harmonizes completely with the words of Jesus. (Length: 64 pages).
In Tithing Giving and Prosperity, Dr. Blizzard explains the ancient origins of tithing, giving, and prosperity from the historical and biblical perspective. He brings to light the laws and customs of tithing throughout history – through to present day.
Dr. Blizzard clears up many misperceptions: that the acquisition of material possessions equals prosperity, that one must give in order to receive, that tithing is a requirement of modern day Christianity. His study reveals that tithing was strictly a Jewish practice; its basic purpose was as an act of charity (tzedakah) to support the poor and those in need; it was not practiced outside the land of Israel; after the destruction of the Temple, the practice of tithing ceased in Judaism, although acts of charity continued as a replacement for the sacrifices of the Temple, and more.
Citing multiple scholarly works in Hebrew, Greek, and English, Dr. Blizzard builds the case for attaining biblical prosperity – free of coercion.
Prosperity means to be safe, to be secure, to be at ease or rest; it means to have peace – to have shalom – to be whole, to be complete – a wholeness and completeness through God who lives and dwells within. Once one understands what real prosperity is, it becomes of much more value than the mere accumulation of material possessions. Real prosperity is Life! Life with God and in God. (Length: 58 pages).
In The Mountain of the Lord, Dr. Blizzard presents a historical view of the Mountain of God (the Temple Mount), the individuals associated with it, the structures that occupied the site, as well as the present condition and future implications. Perhaps no other spot on earth is considered so sacred or is surrounded by so much tradition and/or legend as Mount Moriah – the Holy Mountain, the Mountain of God, the "Mountain of the Lord." Dr. Blizzard describes the First and Second Temples in detail – their location, construction, furnishings, and inner courts – citing biblical and historical sources throughout.
A vivid picture emerges as he explains the political, economic, and social forces that led to the rise and fall of the Temples, their destruction, and the building of the Dome of the Rock and El-Aqsa Mosque.
In conclusion, Dr. Blizzard considers these important questions: Does anything remain of the Temple? What happened after the destruction of the Temple? Where was the Holy of Holies really located?
The Mountain of the Lord paints an intriguing picture of the intertwined history of Israel, Jerusalem, and the many religions that have battled for the Temple Mount. (Length: 48 pages).
