A few years ago, as I read through the Bible, I discovered some interesting animal facts that I’d never noticed before. Do you know, for example, which animals were present when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness? We all know Satan was there to tempt Jesus, and you might know that angels were there to comfort him. But Mark adds a twist to his gospel by including animals in his description. “The...
Right from the very beginning, God has used all races and ethnicities in his plan of redemption. It’s important to learn the history behind the spreading of the gospel message and the men and women who often risked their lives to tell others about Jesus, but few resources tell these powerful stories, especially for children. However, a new book from pastor and The Urban Perspective founder Jerome...
The first step in getting past decision anxiety is to stop using the old ways we’ve tried to find rest. Sometimes the things we lean on cannot hold us. In 2 Kings 18:21 we read these surprisingly wise words spoken by an enemy of God’s people: “Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt...
How do we deal with the devastating disappointments that infidelity brings? One response is vengeful anger, mirroring the country song about a woman who dug her keys into the sides of the man’s car and carved up its leather seats. Sadly, that song reflects not merely understandable anger but calculated revenge. For other sinned-against spouses, the response remains more inward. Some are crushed...
We, who have God and conscience on our side, have a majority against the universe. Frederick Douglass A friend once described theology as trying to fit the ocean into a teacup. I like that. While we can’t fit the ocean into a teacup, we can fit ourselves into the ocean. In the same way, our theology can’t fully capture God. But our theology can and should be big enough to capture us. It’s sad...
