The Shadow of Christmas Seen in the Order of Melchizedek
Christmas is about light. We celebrate the light of the world being born into the darkness and the Dayspring on high who guides our feet to peace. The wise men saw his star in the night sky, and the light from the heavenly hosts blinded the shepherds. Lights decorate our trees and neighborhoods, and candlelight […]
20 Bible Verses on Showing Kindness to Others
Whether you’ve experienced it online, in person, or both, we are constantly surrounded by messages of criticism and unkindness. In many contexts, sharing harsh opinions on others’ appearance, talent, and ineptitude is a favorite pastime and an entertaining sport. Some of us enjoy watching a verbal takedown or feel a sense of pride when we […]
20 Bible Verses About Becoming Like Christ
When Peter and John healed a man who had been lame since birth at the Beautiful Gate, the rulers, elders, and scribes recognized them as uneducated men. What gave them away? Was it their Galilean accents or their less-than-fashionable robes? We don’t know for sure, but something about the two men’s appearance, boldness, and eloquence […]
How to Arm Yourself with the Mind of Christ
It was our last day of class, but we had to pass our final. Our instructor entered the hospital classroom with a ten-pound bag of ice, a large mixing bowl, and a devilish grin. I sensed she enjoyed knowing what was coming while we curiously looked on. She didn’t say it out loud, but we […]
“Jesus is Lord” the Rallying Cry of the Ages
At pivotal historical moments, rallying cries have inspired men and women to gather courage and fight against tyranny and oppression. On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry, part preacher and part fire-brand orator, called on the Second Virginia Convention to raise militias to fight the British. After his spellbinding speech, the assembly was silent for several […]
20 Bible Verses About Trusting God When We Cannot See
Rarely a day goes by when I don’t feel some level of anxiety. My trust in God is threatened as I sort through reasonable and far-fetched fears. In those moments when I’m anxious, I’m unsure which is which—my fears all seem plausible or inevitable. Plus, my worries can cross borders at lightning-fast speed. One minute, […]
How to Set Your Hope Fully on the Grace
When our kids were little, we taught them not to fight—at least, we tried to teach them. Sibling squabbles were as omnipresent in our home as the laundry. As soon as one fight resolved, another soon followed. I was often the referee, blowing the whistle, wishing there was an instant replay, and assigning penalties as […]
20 Bible Verses About Having the Right Attitude
Life is full of reasons to complain. From sun up to sun down, we constantly face how easy it is to complain and how difficult it is to maintain the right attitude. Your body hurts, the weather is uncomfortable, the news is depressing, your job is unsatisfying, your bank account is low, and the list […]
Why You Need a Christian Writing Community
Writing for God’s glory and the good of others is a holy endeavor. In his book The Storied Life, Jared Wilson writes, “To see writing as a spiritual act is to look at art itself as a function of the imago Dei. And only human beings bear the image of God.” When we offer something […]
The Living Stone Still Offends
The earliest known depiction of blasphemous graffiti is the “Alexamenos graffito,” which dates back to 200 AD. Scratched into a stone wall in Rome, it shows a young man worshipping a crucified, donkey-headed figure. The Greek inscription translates, “Alexamenos worships his god.” Public Domain If that wall could talk, I’m sure it would tell of […]
