May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Galatians 6:14 One of the most recognizable images in the US is the “HOLLYWOOD” sign in Southern California. People from all over the globe come to “Tinseltown” to gaze at cement footprints of stars and perhaps catch a glimpse of celebrities who might pass by. It’s hard […]

Before you were born I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:5 In 1986, John Piper nearly quit as minister of a large church. At that time he admitted in his journal: “I am so discouraged. I am so blank. I feel like there are opponents on every hand.” But Piper didn’t walk away, and God used him to lead a thriving […]

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. James 1:5 On April 4, 1968, American civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated, leaving millions angry and disillusioned. In Indianapolis, a largely African-American crowd had gathered to hear Robert F. Kennedy speak. Many had not yet heard […]

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.  Colossians 3:23 In 1878, when Scotsman Alexander Mackay arrived in what is now Uganda to serve as a missionary, he first set up a blacksmith forge among a tribe ruled by King Mutesa. Villagers gathered around this stranger who worked with […]

It was written by an 8-year-old, Danny Dutton of Chula Vista, CA, for his third-grade homework assignment.  The assignment was to explain God.  Wonder if any of us could do as well?” EXPLAIN GOD……. One of God’s main jobs is making people.  He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of […]

I had wondered as a young man, as to why should I should suffer disappointment, or sorrow, or tribulation? What have I done that God should send me these trials? Was He displeased with me? I am positive all have these questions. Each day, I learn of someone’s neighbors wife or husband or child has the same cancer that my mother in […]

In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6 I grew up in Oklahoma where severe weather is common from early spring through the end of summer. I recall one evening when the sky boiled with dark clouds, the TV weather forecaster warned of an approaching tornado, and the electricity went out. Very […]

The Lord is good and his love endures forever.   Psalm 100:5 Psalm 100 is like a work of art that helps us celebrate our unseen God. While the focus of our worship is beyond view, His people make Him known. Imagine the artist with brush and palette working the colorful words of this psalm onto a canvas. What emerges before […]

From my good friends at RedState, I am reminded that while most of us are quite familiar with the events of what happens during the Easter or Paschal Triduum, but what those three days between the end of Lent and Easter Sunday. We know that Holy or Maundy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper. Good Friday commemorates the […]

It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  Mark 2:17 Health clubs offer many different programs for those who want to lose weight and stay healthy. One fitness center caters only to those who want to lose at least 50 pounds and develop a healthy lifestyle. One member says that she quit her previous fitness club […]

Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.   John 20:27 One detail in the Easter story has always intrigued me. Why did Jesus keep the scars from His crucifixion? Presumably He could have had any resurrected body He wanted, and yet He chose one identifiable mainly by scars that could be seen and touched. […]

On George Washington’s tomb is engraved the Scripture, John 11:25, where Jesus told Martha: “I am the Resurrection and the Life; sayeth the Lord. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.” Martin Luther remarked: “Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not […]

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace.  Ephesians 3:7 A woman from Grand Rapids, Michigan, fell asleep on the couch after her husband had gone to bed. An intruder sneaked in through the sliding door, which the couple had forgotten to lock, and crept through the house. He entered the bedroom where the husband […]

I will strengthen you and help you.   Isaiah 41:10 No one could have mistaken the ancient Babylonian soldiers for gentlemen. They were ruthless, resilient, and vicious, and they attacked other nations the way an eagle overtakes its prey. Not only were they powerful, they were prideful as well. They practically worshiped their own combat abilities. In fact, the Bible says […]

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.  Luke 24:31 Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), an Italian artist, was known for his fiery temperament and unconventional technique. He used ordinary working people as models for his saints and was able to make viewers of his paintings feel they were a part of the scene. The Supper at Emmaus shows an […]

By Scott Lamb /  Washington Times (1) “Goodnight John Boy”–Earl Hamner Jr., “The Waltons” creator, dies at 92 (2) Gov. Pence signs new abortion restrictions into law (Indy Star) The measure, House Enrolled Act 1337, would make Indiana only the second state to prohibit a woman from seeking an abortion because her fetus was diagnosed with a disability such as Down syndrome. It […]

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, . . . “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”   Matthew 27:46 Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky said, “The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” With that in mind, I read an online article describing “The Top 8 Deadliest Prisons in the World.” In one […]

They went to a place called Gethsemane.  Mark 14:32 If you visit the village of Capernaum beside the Sea of Galilee, you will find an exhibit of ancient olive presses. Formed from basalt rock, the olive press consists of two parts: a base and a grinding wheel. The base is large, round, and has a trough carved out of it. […]

[Christ] went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands.  Hebrews 9:11 The vintage cabin, expertly constructed from hand-hewn logs, was worthy of a magazine cover. But the structure itself was only half the treasure. Inside, family heirlooms clung to the walls, infusing the home with memories. On the table sat a hand-woven egg […]

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 In our family, March means more than the end of winter. It means that the college basketball extravaganza called “March Madness” has arrived. As avid fans, we watch the tournament and enthusiastically root for our favorite teams. If we tune in early we get a chance to listen […]