Mysterious Disasters on the Ninth day of Av! Tisha b’Av – ninth day of the month of Av. The Jewish month of Av coincides with July and August. Tisha B’Av, literally means “the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av.” Mysterious and profound disasters happened on this date throughout the centuries.  There are different…

The Long Nose of God Moses When Moses came down the mountain (Exodus 32) he found the Israelites worshipping a golden calf.  In his anger, he cast the tablets which he received from God, and broke them at the foot of the Holy Mountain. After meting out a swift and severe punishment upon those who…

Arriving Early! “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirst for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.  So, I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better…

The Beauty of the Broken Wall The early days of the Church were far more complicated and messy than many of us realize. As 21st century Bible readers, we tend to look back on the struggles and controversies of the 1stcentury Christians the way a backseat passenger describes a road trip: “Not much happened until…

Shavuot: Judaism and the Church Shavuot, or the Feast of Pentecost, is one of the seven feasts described in Leviticus 23. Originally, Shavuot was an agricultural feast. Eventually, it became known as the day Moses received the Law from Mt. Sinai. Historically, the Jews would celebrate Shavuot by reading the Books of Exodus focusing on…

Women with “Fire” Paul was blessed to have godly women working with him in ministry.  Here is a list for you to peruse: Chloe, Priscilla, Phoebe, Mary, Junia, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Persis, Mother of Rufus, Julia, Olympas, Euodia, Syntyche, Nympha, Apphia, Claudia (I Cor. 1:11; 16:19; Romans 16:1, 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 15; Phil. 4:2;…

No Answer! Rabbinical Judaism offers no definitive answers regarding the afterlife. In the rabbinic tradition, it’s known by a number of names, including the yeshiva shel mallah, the school on high or the idea of continued learning.  The Hebrew word for skies, shamayim, also came to refer to heaven. Some refer to Gan Eden, a paradise for…

Life After Death: What Happens Next?  Dedicated to Grandma Johnson! You loved Jesus, life and you loved me. You showed me how to live and taught me about the hope of eternity in Christ Jesus. I look so forward to hugging you once again—and having red Jello with you in Heaven. Everyone will face the loss…

Risen Indeed/Passover! Resurrection Sunday Beloved, Christians throughout the world celebrate and rejoice in the glorious truth that Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4).”  The resurrection was God’s sign of approval and acceptance of Christ’s redemptive work…

Significance of Israel The significance of Israel is progressively realized as scripture unfolds the first telling of the land, people, and promise takes about 25 years of Abraham’s life. Telling In Genesis 12 when Abram was 75 and childless, the Lord said, “Go to the land which I will show you; and I will make…