Daniel 1:1–8 Daniel was keenly aware of the temptation to yield to the pressures of the culture around him. After all, he was a long way from home, and who would really know if he, for instance, changed his diet? Yet he chose to resist the pressures and not to give in to them. He […]
-Read More“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). Growing up, I could not wait every year to sit in front of the television and watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” These were two of my […]
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A fun question to ask someone as you get to know them is whether they consider themselves an introvert or an extrovert. In essence, the answer to that question provides some insights as to how that person is refreshed. An extrovert is refreshed when they are around other people… the so called “energy in the […]
-Read MoreImagine a nation wracked by killer plagues, divided by cultural factions, rife with corruption and immorality, and all too eager to blame and persecute Christians. A nation whose rulers have rejected almighty God and enthroned themselves. Did you think I was talking about our country and our times? Actually, I’m thinking about Rome during the […]
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2021 marks the 400th anniversary of a special American tradition. Four centuries ago, during the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims sat down with their new Native American friends and celebrated the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts. What a great tradition – where we gather together to recount the Lord’s blessings. I love the statement from […]
-Read MoreI am not a Facebook aficionado. Being both old and old fashioned, my preferred human interaction involves being able to smell the other person’s breath. I would much rather be “in your face” than on your Facebook. So it was somewhat out of character to open a message from Mike Garland, a former co-worker, to […]
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Genesis 3:1 We had a really good start. Life began in a perfect paradise. The climate was never too warm and never too cold. We had no aches or pains, heartache or worries. We lived in perfect peace and harmony in the midst of a perfect garden. And we had dominion over everything except the […]
-Read MoreWhat if we’ve completely missed God’s intended purpose of Thanksgiving? What if this is the year we should “do it right” but missed it? There are great mandates to celebrate by remembering what God has done for us, and yet so often we celebrate the “celebration” and forget the intended purpose. The Lord’s Supper is […]
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There are many ways for Christians to “give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Since we celebrate Thanksgiving this month, let us focus on one of the best ways to witness to the truths of the Gospel – Thanks-Living, by which […]
-Read MoreAt God’s direction, Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiled people of God in Babylon which said, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7). They would return to their […]
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