In 1973, Richard Nixon embarked on his second presidential term, only to be tangled in a web of scandal. Weary of war, our last troops came home from Vietnam, closing a chapter of conflict and strife. An oil embargo sent shockwaves, quaking the economy of our nation. In those winds of change, a sanctuary […]
Jesus: King, Commander, and Redeemer
July 24, 2023 by
Consider, “Who is your God?” This differs from the abstract “Who is God?” Well, doesn’t the capacity to comprehend God transcend our meager knowledge? So how can we answer this question? To understand God is to realize He exceeds the limits of our ability, of our learning and reciting of facts. Ponder trying to portray […]
Isaiah 55:10-13: Home, Sweet Home!
July 16, 2023 by
Growing up nestled in the embrace of a nurturing home leaves you sheltered in love with a trove of cherished memories. Such a loving place becomes a sanctuary and harbor for our hearts. Joy still resonates as the air holds onto the lingering mirth of earlier laughter. Threads of affection lace each corner, woven into […]
Matthew 11:25-30:Easy, the Yoke; Light, the Burden
July 9, 2023 by
In the grand expanses of our globe, creatures of towering might lend their strength to the rhythms of life. Draft animals, the unsung heroes of hard labor, help shoulder the burden of man’s toil. In tasks dwarfing our abilities, they till fields, pull carts, and bear heavy loads. Beneath the burning sun, horses, oxen, and […]
Matthew 10:34-42″ The Sword of Peace
July 2, 2023 by
Clashes and violence fill our planet, where hatred is as common as the air we breathe. Tune into any news channel, and what greets you? Headlines brim with tales of turmoil. Reports of strife and enmity. Turbulence engulfs—in stark contrast to the virgin-born Christ-Child, whose birthday we celebrated a few months ago. Here we stand […]
John 11: Lazarus, Arise!
March 26, 2023 by
Two sisters, whom Jesus loves, send word and beg Him to hurry their way. Lazarus grows ill and soon may breathe his last. Despite the urgency, time still runs in its continual coursings. Swift, the sickness rushes in, so slow is the Lord of mercy. So things appear to this family, awash in their anxiety. […]
Bread of Life
March 22, 2023 by
Bread is a daily delight, a culinary pleasure awaiting each bite. A basic part of our everyday nourishment, its goodness fills our bellies and warms our hearts. Oven-fresh bread takes hold of our senses, capturing us and stirring our hunger. Toasted for breakfast, our mornings may, likewise, include flaky pastries. Bread lingers to bring joy […]
Ephesians 5:8-14: From Shadowed Unbelief into the Clarity of Truth
March 19, 2023 by
“What is truth?” someone scorned Jesus hours before His crucifixion. Our Lord recognized the Roman Governor came to “bear witness to the truth,” but further taught, “everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37-38). Pilate doesn’t care. Cynical and annoying, he ponders the possibility and power to unearth actual truthfulness in […]
Light Shining in the Darkness
March 19, 2023 by
God’s first creation is light. God spoke and light, at once, shone into the black empty void (Genesis 1:2). After, He separated the light from the darkness, marking days and creating time. After Adam’s fall, sin shattered this peace in a rebellion against God, who brought this world into existence. Bereft of sparkle and life, […]
Romans 5:1-8: Requiescat in Pace
March 12, 2023 by
The grass is soft and unstirring, a soundless bed of sorrowful green. Etched on headstones in this old cemetery is “RIP,” an homage to the Latin phrase, “requiescat in pace.” In English, we use matching initials, chiseled in stone, to express the same sentiment: “rest in peace.” Words we write, speaking of the dead, each […]
