Though Jesus warned us that the Tribulation would be preceded with wars, it doesn’t make them any less awful. What we are witnessing in Israel and Ukraine right now are tragedies. Entire neighborhoods and cities have been decimated. As a result, far more tragic than damage to structures, has been the injury and loss of […]
We first encounter Gideon in Judges 6, attempting to hide his harvest from the Midianites by threshing it in the recesses of a winepress. Because of Israel’s rebellion, God had allowed the Midianites to ravage their harvests and herds for seven years. Now God was ready to break Midian’s yoke and to use Gideon to […]
Gathered together for safety, no one slept that fitful night. It’s hard to describe how slowly the hours of darkness crept along. And yet, without sleep, everyone in the room experienced the same nightmare. The gruesome scenes of Jesus bloodied stayed at the forefront of their minds. In the quiet of those long hours, their […]
Bird migration is fascinating. Feather and fowl know what time of year to begin their journey. Whether migrating north or south, even though they fly hundreds or thousands of miles, they don’t get lost or sidetracked. (Can you imagine trying to drive from here to New York WITHOUT a map or compass? Oh yeah, and […]
When I was in high school and college I went out for wrestling. I know, it’s hard to believe now, but there was a time I enjoyed grappling. I didn’t know until years later that wrestling is also an activity of angels, though I doubt they have the same kind of rules and referees I […]
What do you picture in your mind when you hear the word, banner? A high school gymnasium with flags hanging from the ceiling depicting past state championships? A business name on some fabric blowing in the wind to attract customers? A billboard with an advertisement lifted high above the nearby traffic? These days banners come […]
We romanticize Americans as being rugged individuals who pick-themselves-up-by-their-bootstraps. It may be romantic, until you can’t get yourself back up after a fall. You’ve seen the commercials for the necklace with a button to push to notify emergency services when you’ve fallen and can’t get up. My mom had one. It gave us kids a […]
For people around the world, the Friday before Easter is called Good Friday. I doubt that any of the followers of Christ, watching the brutal torture of Jesus, would have thought, “This is GOOD.” In fact, it was the WORST Friday of their lives. Many followed Jesus because they assumed that He was the long-awaited […]
Moses plays a huge role in the early pages of the Bible. He courageously confronted Pharaoh when Israel was under bondage in Egypt. He was the leader of the children of Israel as they traveled through the wilderness for forty years. He had a special relationship with God, such that God spoke to him face-to-face, […]
Suddenly a bright light flashed across the bow, nearly blinding the captain. The other ship was on a collision course with his. Straightaway, he signaled to it, “Change your direction.” He quickly received a signal back, “You change your direction!” Put off, the captain sent another message, “This is Captain Palmer. I order you to […]