“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of … Continue reading –>
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to … Continue reading –>
As this week’s lesson talks about acts of inhumanity being sins against God, I would like to write about acts of humanity. Taking a walk in Texas, I came across a beautiful patch of Texas Blue Bonnet flowers and Indian Paint Brushes. Among the flowers I saw some litter. I thought to myself, as ugly … Continue reading –>
My father was a sculptor. His medium of choice was wood. He was also one of the most patient men in the world. Anybody who asked for a lesson would immediately find themselves situated behind a fresh piece of wood, holding a chisel. The very first thing my father would tell everyone is, “Always cut … Continue reading –>
The truth is, almost every single one of us knows that we need to change at least one specific behavior because it is harmful. Maybe it’s smoking, drinking, over-eating, or maybe it’s not exercising. Whatever the behavior is, we know, usually without any doubt, where that behavior will lead, and yet, we continue along our … Continue reading –>
It’s that time of year when the leaves spring back onto barren trees and flowers bloom back to life. Every spring reminds me of the second coming and resurrection. I believe God lets everything die in the winter and come back in the spring to demonstrate for us His re-creation and resurrection power. Just as … Continue reading –>
“Forgiving the unforgivable is hard. So was the cross: hard words, hard wood, hard nails.” William S. Stoddard “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 You probably remember a man named Ted Kaczynski – the Unabomber. He’s the man who used … Continue reading –>
Have you seen it? The head-bob and the eye-roll? You, the adult, have just said something that your teen has deemed – uh, less than intelligent or, at least, not pertinent to his or her current life situation. I hate to admit, though, that I have also performed that little operation as well. Usually just … Continue reading –>
This week’s Sabbath School lesson is about Hosea and the relentless love of God. For me, one of the key verses is Hosea 2:14, But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. I am so thankful for parents who understand this. I wish all parents … Continue reading –>
“The day of resurrection –” John Wesley sang, “Earth, tell it out abroad! The passover of gladness, The passover of God!” But that brings us no closer. What does that mean? The answer lies far, far away. Go back in time. Back a hundred generations, to the margin of the Roman Empire, in a little … Continue reading –>
