The Greek word nikao, meaning “to conquer,” appears twenty-eight times in the New Testament. Luke uses the word once, Paul twice; John accounts for the other twenty-five. The first and only use in his Gospel comes near the end of Jesus’ Upper Room Discourse, His final words of instruction and comfort to the disciples before … Continue reading Victory in Jesus
God’s Great Love—Not Just for Spiritual Giants
Alex Trebek hosted Jeopardy! for 37 years. His successor did it for one week. After Trebek passed away nearly a year ago, the Jeopardy! world waited eagerly for the show to reveal their choice for a new host. That announcement finally came on August 11, 2021. To many people’s surprise, a relative unknown (at least … Continue reading God’s Great Love—Not Just for Spiritual Giants
3 Dangerous Responses to God’s Word
“I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” With these words, Paul begins his long journey toward Rome to make a defense before Caesar, the epilogue to the book of Acts not preserved for us in Scripture. Luke keeps the story moving through … Continue reading 3 Dangerous Responses to God’s Word
3 Unthievable Treasures
I love a good heist movie, in which, without firing a shot or even carrying a gun, thieves break into some supposedly impenetrable vault and get away with millions of dollars. It’s not that I celebrate grand larceny, but I do appreciate the genius behind the capers. In every case, the thieves successfully pocket a … Continue reading 3 Unthievable Treasures
Avoid the “Us vs. Them” Trap
Everywhere you turn today, people are split into to two groups: us vs. them. Good guys vs. bad guys. Conservatives vs. Liberals. Vaxxers vs. Anti-vaxxers. Tolerant vs. Intolerant. CNN vs. Fox News. You’re either with us or against us; there is no third option. The Bible separates people into just two categories as well: those … Continue reading Avoid the “Us vs. Them” Trap
The Horn of My Salvation
“The great beasts clash horns, each trying to assert his dominance over the other.” I imagine this read by an English or Australian voiceover actor, while the picture shows two mountain goats or rams interlocked in a battle for supremacy. However, it could just as easily summarize the action in one of Daniel’s visions. In … Continue reading The Horn of My Salvation
Be Faithful
In their city stood a temple dedicated to the Roman Emperor Tiberius, a constant reminder to the believers in Smyrna of the spiritual battleground on which they lived. Likely because of this temple, the Romans made Smyrna the seat of their “Caesar-cult” and did everything possible to squelch the testimony of Christ in the city.[1] … Continue reading Be Faithful
Waiting Like a Watchman
The Andy Griffith Show received a lot of air-time in my house growing up. To this day, I can quote lines and remember episodes that I haven’t seen for twenty years. One episode involved an elderly security guard at the ironically named Mayberry Security Bank. Fans of the show will probably recall Asa, snoozing in … Continue reading Waiting Like a Watchman
A Song for All My Days
I live with a toddler who is currently obsessed with one particular song from one particular movie. I’m convinced that he would listen to this song on repeat for days at a time if his father and I would let him. Requests for “Mack Song” (aka "Life Is a Highway" from Cars) come in the … Continue reading A Song for All My Days
Endurance Is a Team Sport
Running, biking, swimming, skiing—the sports that require the most physical endurance are individual. Though they may include a team element, the actual competitions require one person to undergo a grueling test of their own personal stamina. When it’s race time, the athlete must find the grit within himself to persevere. He may be able to … Continue reading Endurance Is a Team Sport
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