Pray like an apostle. Does that seem like a tall order? The Apostle Paul’s prayers are a good model for us. At the beginning of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 Thessalonians, Paul describes his prayers of thanksgiving and petition. He repeats almost the same four basic things in each of these letters. Paul tells the Christians in these cities that he gives thanks to God for the faith they have in Jesus and their love…
Our president has lied continually about the results of the November 2020 election. Republican members of congress knew the president was lying to us, but most said nothing. On January 6, it became clear they knew the truth, because they had to either bow to the president or honor their oath of office. Thankfully, most honored their oath of office and chose to uphold the will of the majority of voters. Majority Leader Senator Mitch…
I highly recommend Bible class teachers read The Seven Laws of Teaching by John Milton Gregory. It was published in 1884 as an instruction manual for Sunday school teachers. The basis for the book is the concept that teaching has “natural laws which are as fixed as the laws of circling planets or growing organisms.” Therefore, Gregory argues, if these simple laws are adhered to, knowledge must be communicated. Even though this book was first…
I read a passage from the Old Testament and it made think about the different understanding God’s people had about life after death in the Old Testament versus the New Testament. Below is a fictional story inspired by an Old Testament scripture. Try to determine which Old Testament event inspired this story. Think about the differences and similarities in both life and life after death presented by each of the dreams. First Dream The night…
This is a time for new beginnings, so I hope you will find greater prosperity and peace in the New Year than ever before. Remember, for those who follow Christ every day is a day in which we can begin again. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who…
When someone does something to you, in word or deed, that really bothers you, what should you do? First, take the time to answer two questions. Was what was done motivated by kindness and not malice? Is there some truth in what was done that you need to take to heart? The New Testament book of James says, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and…
Conflict is one thing most of us hate. In fact, there are some people we would rather kill than have an open conflict with them. Isn’t that an extreme statement? Sadly, I think it is a true statement. We may not kill them physically, but we assassinate them in our heart and with our words to other people. William Blake, an 18th century English poet, wrote a poem that beautifully captures the process of unresolved…
Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope you have a wonderful day. I am thankful that Jesus, the Son of God became the Son of Man. Jesus became one of us and he shared in our joy and pain. He understands what it feels like to be tired, rejected, shamed, beaten, and unjustly accused. Every time Jesus was sinned against was an opportunity for him to respond in a sinful way, but he…
When you consider the magnificence of the natural world whether it be oceans, mountains, forests, fields, rivers or the stars, you may feel insignificant by comparison. However, remember you can see God’s greatest creation when you look at your spouse, children, friends, neighbors, strangers, and even when you look in the mirror. The psalmist expressed this same conflict of perspectives in Psalm 8. Psalm 8:3-8 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your…
Imagine that you are thirsty, your throat is parched, and your lips are brittle and bleeding. In fact, you are dying of thirst. You are surrounded by jars of fresh water, but you do not realize that water will quench your thirst and save your life. So you gorge yourself on salty pretzels and peanuts, hoping that they will satisfy. Sounds crazy doesn’t it, but that is how I envision Amos 8:11-12, if we apply…