DEUTERONOMY 5:28–33 He provided the builder with explicit specifications because he needed an underground water tank and understood exactly how he wanted it built. He was displeased to see that he had not followed his directions when he examined the project the following day. He had altered the strategy and, by extension, the outcome. His … [Read more…]
1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 The children’s minister announced a game called imitation, where children named creatures or persons and had to act out their actions. Chicken was chosen, followed by an elephant, a football player, a ballerina, and finally Jesus. Despite initial hesitation, a six-year-old smiled and accepted acting like Jesus, causing the congregation to applaud. The … [Read more…]
JOHN 7:53–8:11 Religious leaders could not have known they were bringing an adulterous woman within a stone’s throw of mercy when they led her towards Jesus. Discrediting Him was their aim. They might argue that He was violating Mosaic law if He urged them to let the woman go. The masses that followed Him would … [Read more…]
ISAIAH 37:9–22, 33; PHILIPPIANS 4:6 How do you handle your concerns? Which way do you turn them—upward or inward? As Assyrian King Sennacherib prepared to destroy Jerusalem, he sent a message to King Hezekiah, stating that Judah would be like all conquered nations. Hezekiah shared this message in the temple in Jerusalem, praying for help from God, … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 6:25–34 The boy shook his father awake because he was very thirsty. His father got up in the middle of that dry night and gave him some water from a jar to drink. He was the epitome of a caring parent, and he demonstrated it that evening and throughout his life. He gave what … [Read more…]
PROVERBS 22:1–12 During a hotel stay in a small town, a man noticed a church service with a large crowd, both young and old. He assumed it was a funeral, possibly celebrating the life of a local hero, a wealthy businessperson, or a famous personality. “It is a remarkable attendance for a funeral; it must … [Read more…]
ISAIAH 55:6–13 Many people rely on technology daily but often lack understanding of its functions. Despite their inability to comprehend microchips, hard drives, Wi-Fi connections, and full-colour displays, they still benefit from technology by turning on their computers, working on Word documents, and accessing their devices. God is beyond our understanding, and His thoughts and ways … [Read more…]
JOHN 1:1–8; MATTHEW 5:16 Vaclav Havel was the first elected president of Czechoslovakia in 1989, overcoming his political prisoner status. His funeral in Prague in 2011 was marked by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who praised Havel for bringing light to dark places. Havel’s introduction of light in Czechoslovakia’s political arena exemplifies the work of … [Read more…]
ROMANS 12:1–8 Marshall McLuhan’s 1964 statement “the medium is the message” predicted how our thinking is influenced in the digital age. Nicholas Carr’s book, “The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains,” highlights how the media supply the stuff of thought but also shape the process of thought. The Net is chipping away at … [Read more…]
ROMANS 16:1-4,13,21–23; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11 In 2015, Hunter, aged 15, carried his brother Braden, aged 8, for a fifty-seven-mile walk to raise awareness about the needs of people with cerebral palsy. Braden weighs sixty pounds, and Hunter needed frequent rest stops to stretch his muscles. Hunter said that the people along the way helped him the … [Read more…]
RECENT COMMENTS: