After World War II, national leadership in the United States began building a system of highways that could facilitate speedy transfer of military from any location in the country to any other place in the country. The Inter-State Highways had requirements for managing speed that included sharpness of curves and steepness of inclines. Initially, the access points were simply ramps, […]
Is it possible that the 120 believers who were gathered on Pentecost as described in Acts 2 were all clergy? At least 11 were apostles. If the Holy Spirit was OK with an apostle being chosen by means of winning a game of dice, there were at least 12 apostles (Matthias: Acts1:15-26). What about the rest of them? How many […]
Sadness, loneliness, discouragement – these come from the pain of feeling that things are not right in us or not right around us. Joy, peace, faith, courage, love – these come from observing the character of Yahweh and His power and His intent regarding the things that are not right in us or around us, and seeing His will coming […]
Religious people rarely experience freedom. Disciplined people frequently know freedom. Religion teaches us that we must make our own way, and hold our own line, and fear of failure keeps us engaged. Discipline teaches us that we must stay ready – for our God to bless us, and use us, and lead us to overcome our pasts and […]
ISA 26 Our city is strong because of God Our city is strong because our God Has raised Salvation up as a wall With a Gate named Jesus (first ending of chorus:) He will throw evil principalities Lower than the poverty they’ve caused – The poor will trample on their heads God’s Kingdom will enter through our gates Our souls […]
Peter and John were going to prayer when they passed a man they presumably had passed many times, who was over 40, but had never walked. The man was brought to the Beautiful Gate to beg each day. This day, Peter had no money, and it seems to have caused him to think differently than the previous times he may […]
It is difficult to act happy when we are sad and lonely. It is just as difficult to act sad when we are ridiculously happy. Why, then, is it so easy to act dark when we are light? Once, you were darkness. Now, you are light. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these […]
One evening long ago I was standing behind a pulpit. I was planning to speak to a congregation about the power of forgiveness. As I read the Scripture I was planning to expound on, the Scripture suddenly meant something different than what it meant in my mind when I planned my talk. The Scripture that changed in my mind […]
Far too many people have been tricked into “giving up their careers” to serve Jesus. The misinformation that the few who are chosen to actually serve Jesus are called out of the work they are good at, away from leadership in government and education and information and business has caused people to feel less spiritual for staying in their field, […]
Noah was called to save humanity from destruction. We are called to that same task. Our method is very different from his, though. His ark was gopher wood, and was designed to preserve a tiny remnant of humanity, leaving the rest outside the safe place to pay for their sin and be destroyed. Our Ark is the One Who paid […]