There are verses in the Bible which seem so strange to us because we do not understand the culture when they were written. For example, Peter going “up on the housetop to pray” (Acts 10:9) seems so strange until we learn that the roofs of the houses were flat and a vital part of the lives of people in the first century.…

Have you ever cried out for someone, and there was no answer? In that moment when you needed them most, they were nowhere to be found. Anxiety, despair and the feeling of misplaced trust wash over you as you continue your fruitless efforts of communication with the one who was supposed to help. A similar display took place on Mt. Carmel in…

On the night before Jesus was crucified, He gathered with His disciples and instituted what the early church called “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20) or “the communion” (1 Cor. 10:16).  This is the most sacred of all feasts, for it commemorates the “body” and the “blood” of Jesus, which He willingly sacrificed on the cross for our sins (Matt. 26:26-28). Is…

God’s people had just returned from Babylonian captivity. They had no temple, no priesthood, no altar, and the city of Jerusalem was in ruins. This was far different from the glorious days of the past, and it would have been so easy to be discouraged. The holy city once had a population of hundreds of thousands, but the number of those who…

It seems it is difficult to be a father and not use stories or examples to pass on moral codes and life lessons. There are those stories that are intended to teach children to appreciate what they have. They typically start out, “When I was your age…” There are those stories that are conveniently remembered in the moment to enforce a truth…

Worship is an interesting subject to discuss, as there seem to be so many varied ideas about what is or is not acceptable in worship.  Some folks take a very open approach and suggest that “how” one worships really is not all that important, “as long as one is worshiping God.”  What do you think about that position?  Do you honestly believe…

Have you ever considered what difference it makes to the driver who ignores the signs at the four-way stop? The fact the signs are there makes no difference in his life. The same is true of the laws about speed limits, wearing seat belts, and dimming headlights to oncoming traffic. The laws have no impact on that person who chooses to ignore…

About 135,000 children are adopted each year in the United States. Of those 135,000, 59 percent are from the foster care system, 26 percent are from other countries and 15 percent are voluntarily relinquished for adoption. According to the 2014 adoption statistics, 50,644 children were adopted from the foster care system. There are over 100,000 still waiting to be adopted each year.…