PRAISE THAT IS MORE EXPRESSIVE

PSALM 150 Asamoah Gyan of Ghana and his teammates performed a coordinated dance step following Asamoah Gyan’s goal against Germany during the 2014 World Cup. A few minutes later, Germany’s Miroslav Klose scored and performed a running front flip. According to Clint Mathis, a US World Cup goal scorer, “soccer celebrations are so appealing because … [Read more…]

PAX ROMANA

ISAIAH 9:1-7 The cost of war is beyond anyone’s capabilities. 64 countries in the world were reportedly engaged in war at one point, according to a website. When will they end, and how? While we desire peace, justice must not be sacrificed. Jesus was born during a period of apparent “peace,” but it was actually marked … [Read more…]

PARADOGS

PSALM 143:7-12 The Allied troops during World War II needed the sharp senses of dogs to smell their way through minefields and to warn troops of impending danger as they prepared for D-Day (June 6, 1944). And a parachute was the only method to convey these animals to troops hidden behind enemy lines. However, dogs … [Read more…]

AKIN TO SHOOTING A FLY

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-6; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14 The rescue of the 33 Chilean miners trapped after an explosion in October 2010 was significantly aided by Macarena Valdes’ expertise in mapping underground mines. Drilling to pinpoint the precise location of the men was like “trying to shoot a fly from 700 meters away,” she claimed. Valdes’ mining knowledge … [Read more…]

THE BOOSTER SEAT

EPHESIANS 1:1-10 Because her little child was riding in a car without the necessary booster seat, a police officer stopped the woman. He could have issued her a ticket for a traffic violation. Instead, he requested the mother and child meet him at a nearby store, where he bought the required car seat. The mother … [Read more…]

SACRIFICE

GALATIANS 4:1-7 In the classic tale “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, Jim and Della, a young married couple who are having financial difficulties, are mentioned. Della’s treasured possession is her long, gorgeous hair, while Jim’s is a gold watch. In the spirit of sacrifice, Della sells her hair to buy a chain … [Read more…]

A TRUSTWORTHY SERVANT

JOSHUA 14:6-15; 1 PETER 4:11 From Monday through Thursday, a Mexican bricklayer constructs walls and fixes roofs. He works diligently and quietly. He was still using his hands to construct buildings at the age of 70, and he keeps on working to build God’s family. His life was often in danger. He has experienced death from falls … [Read more…]

WORRY-FREE

PSALM 37:1-9 Attempting to stay current with events has its drawbacks because negative news tends to sell better than positive news. It is easy to get too worried about the unlawful conduct of people, groups, or governments that we have no control over. David declares in Psalm 37 that there is no need to worry about … [Read more…]

A PLACE TO SHELTER

PSALM 61 Basically, public facilities are made by the government to improve the quality of life for the citizens. Among other things, these facilities include car parks, railroads, bridges, libraries, markets, and hospitals. The Agege train tracks in the Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria, are one of the resources that the homeless have … [Read more…]

WHEN TO AVOID REJOICING

EZEKIEL 25:1-7; MATTHEW 5:43-48; PROVERBS 24:17 There is a saying among the Akan people of Ghana that states, “The lizard is not as mad with the boys who threw stones at it as with the boys who stood by and rejoiced over its fate!” Rejoicing in someone’s misfortune is the same as contributing to their downfall … [Read more…]