Caiaphas, James Tissot  (1836-1902) ——————— John 11:47-50 — The chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away […]
3309) Understanding Caiaphas Read More »
   (…continued) Jesus is enduring these forty days of suffering in the desert because God the Father Himself is putting him through it. Why would God do that? Part of the answer can be found in Hebrews 5:8: “Although he (Jesus) was a son, he learned obedience by what he suffered, and once
3308) The Temptation of Christ (2/2) Read More »
Above painting: The Temptation of Christ, Titian (1490-1576) In this brilliant depiction of the temptation story, Titian paints the devil as an innocent child, appealing to Jesus to turn the stone he is holding into bread. He is illustrating the fact that temptations can appear to be very innocent, as it says in II Corinthians
3307) The Temptation of Christ (1/2) Read More »
Above: Abraham Lincoln in 1860, before the Civil War; and in 1865, near the end of the war (age 56). ——————————————   This week we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our independence as a nation, and although we have much to worry about these days, we do also have much to celebrate. Our Constitution, democracy,
3293) The Greatest American Speech Read More »
   What made Abraham Lincoln the extraordinary man that he was? I believe there is an easy answer. He read the Bible. He not only read the Bible, he immersed himself in it, reading it over and over again, until his whole mentality, perspective on life, and language mirrored that of the Bible. His
3292) The Source of Abraham Lincoln’s Greatness Read More »
   (…continued) Four years later, Cleo’s husband John died.  John was a believer, but wasn’t one to talk much about his faith.  He wasn’t like Cleo.  He didn’t have anything picked out for his funeral, and we did not have long discussions about God’s love and promises.  He and Cleo went to church together,
3272) Cleo and John (2/2) Read More »
   Cleo was dying of cancer.  She was still strong enough to come to church and go to appointments, but the doctors had told her there was nothing more they could do.  The cancer would soon end her life.  She was 66 years old and her husband had just retired.  They had lots of
3271) Cleo and John (1/2) Read More »
   Three weeks ago, I told you about actor Max McLean, and provided a link to a video of his off-Broadway performance of The Gospel of Mark. The production is ninety minutes of McLean doing a dramatic reading of the entire Gospel of Mark, word for word, as it appears in the New International
3264) Hear the Word of the Lord Read More »
   On the one hand, low interest rates are good—for first home buyers looking at the interest on a thirty-year loan; on the other hand, low interest rates are bad—for retirees depending on the interest earned on their savings. On the one hand, a higher minimum wage is good– for those who receive it;
3259) On the Other Hand… Read More »
“When I became a believer, I didn’t know much about the Bible or the history of Christianity or what Christians believe.  I decided some years later that I would write the kind of book I wished someone had given to me when I began asking questions about Christianity.” –John Schwarz (1931-2021) ——————————-     John Schwarz
3258) A Good Book Read More »
