While living in California, my wife and I enjoyed attending the concert of my cousin Rachel who was a classical musical director at a church in Sacramento. On Christmas we sat in the audience of several hundred people and eagerly anticipated the evening. The musicians came out first and each sat in a designated seat […]
Cultivating Good Character
Judah was outraged when he heard Tamar, the widow of his deceased son, had become pregnant because of prostitution. He demanded, “Bring her out, and let her be burned!” (Gen. 38:24, NLT). What a shame to their family name! What an embarrassment for her! But this story exposes Judah’s poor character, not Tamar’s. Judah’s firstborn son […]
God, What Do You Want Me To Do With My Life?
That must have been choreographed,” someone said after my wife and I danced the first dance at our wedding. But our first dance at our wedding was not choreographed. I led, and she followed, which is the key to a good dance. When dancing, the lead provides the “picture frame.” The dance happens inside the […]
How Anyone Can Study The Bible
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t,” said the Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon. Navigating the Christian life requires you clasp your Bible and use it for guidance in relationships, work, and spiritual life. When you study God’s word, you obey God. He told his people, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. […]
What Is a Study Bible and Why Should You Have One?
What does the apostle Paul mean when he says ‘live a quiet life’ in this verse?” The question was posed by a person participating in a Bible study I was visiting as part of our church. The facilitator—a veteran of facilitating small group discussions—flipped his study Bible open to that verse, dropped down to the […]