A GENTLE ATTITUDE
In aeronautic terminology, “attitude” refers to the angle of an aircraft in regard to a reference point such as the horizon. It encompasses the yaw (i.e., the left-to-right movement of an aircraft in relation to its vertical axis), pitch (i.e., the up or down tilt of the aircraft’s nose in relation to its side-to-side axis), and roll (i.e., the rotation of the wings around its front-to-back axis) of the aircraft. In simplistic terms, a plane’s attitude refers to its…
David’s Mighty Men
“David’s Mighty Men” are real-life superheroes, and their true stories – the kind of stuff typically relegated to mere legend – can be found in both II Samuel 23 and I Chronicles 11-12. For example, Jashobeam killed hundreds of men with a spear at one time. When everyone else ran away, Eleazar struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. Benaiah took down a lion in the snow, and he killed an Egyptian…
For Such A Time As This
Have you ever wondered where God was? Life has so many disappointments and trials that sometimes it feels like He is nowhere to be found. Nothing is more disheartening than feeling like you are doing everything you can for the Lord, and all you get is heartache and adversity in return. When we feel like this, it is easy to think He does not care about what we are going through, or worse, some even question if there is a…
Are You Being Persecuted?
In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul declared that “all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted.” He didn’t say, “all who desire to live a godly life can be persecuted” or “all who desire to live a godly life may be persecuted.” He said, “all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted.” That’s definitive, not speculative. That’s stated as a guarantee, not as a possibility. And, even though the type and degree of persecution can…
Forgetting & Remembering
Two chapters in the first book of the Bible (Genesis 40-41) present an enlightening quartet of lessons on remembrance and forgetfulness. First, after interpreting the chief cupbearer’s dream favorably, an imprisoned Joseph asks him, “Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house” (Gen. 40:14). In a tragic note, the 40th chapter ends with these words: “Yet the chief cupbearer…
Declining The Invitation
In Luke 14:16-24, an invitation to a super-awesome banquet has gone out to many. This likely represents the “calling” of God – the Lord inviting others to share in His kingdom (fellowship with Him, eternal glory, an eternal inheritance, eternal life) while, at the same time, summoning them to partake in His holiness and to obey Him even when it is difficult. In the parable, three different people make excuses for spurning the invitation. The first two refer to business…
Emergency Alert
On Saturday, January 13, 2018, around 8:10 AM, residents and visitors of the state of Hawaii errantly received an emergency alert notification on their mobile phones which read, “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” Thirty-eight minutes later a follow-up message, canceling the original message, was finally sent which said, “There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm.” Apparently, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency…
Keep the Charge!
Nothing is more frustrating than a cell phone that will not keep its charge. As phones get older, the battery becomes more and more unable to maintain the power they once could. We all know the amazing feeling of that brand new phone and how it holds its charge forever. Not too long after, though, the phone is dead every couple of hours. What once was an innovative, advanced, top-of-the-line cell phone has now been rendered useless because of its…
The Sound Of The Trumpets
The Jews’ New Year’s Day (known as Rosh Hashanah) is a special day which serves as “a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets” (Lev. 23:23-25). Have you ever been listening to the radio or some random playlist, and a song begins which triggers a memory in your head? Maybe it takes you back to some joyful event from your early childhood, or maybe even something tear-filled, tragic, and painful from your teenage years? How many have been deeply…
There’s a Lot of That Going Around Lately . . .
An onslaught of runny noses, head congestion, sore throats, and even the flu is on a rampage this year as winter approaches. This time of year, our sick lists and prayer lists grow more and more in length. It is almost always met unanimously with the colloquial phrase, “Yeah… there’s a lot of that going around lately.” You’ll hear this phrase in church foyers and doctors’ offices everywhere. A phrase like this is not to diminish the individual’s situation in…
Prisoner Exchange
On Thursday, December 8, 2022, the United States government completed a prisoner swap with Russia to secure the release of one of our nation’s premiere female athletes. Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. Women’s basketball team as well as an eight-time WNBA All-star and one-time WNBA champion with the Phoenix Mercury, had been in Russian custody since February 17, 2022, and was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession. She was exchanged for…
O Jerusalem Jerusalem
In a span of three chapters – Matthew 21-23 – we encounter a fascinating collection of Jesus’s personality and character traits. He first rides into Jerusalem like aristocracy on “Palm Sunday” (21:1-11). Quickly transitioning from king to combatant, He then rushes the temple and takes no prisoners with his homemade whip (21:12-17). The next morning, He curses at a fig tree which lacks fruit (21:18-22). When interrogated with difficult questions, Jesus displays incredible wisdom and composure with His answers…