First Love
By Debra Ayis, 20, Nigeria When I was a youth, You came to me. I opened my heart to Your love. But as fleeting as youth is, so is my love. The initial palpitation gave way to dryness; The exuberance fizzled off. Youth passed too quickly, Along with it my love waned. I grew further [...]
Let’s look at Paul’s letter to the Corinthians
Scripture applies to every generation and culture. But the words really come alive when we see them in their original context! Let's look at Paul’s letter to the Corinthians from the perspective of his original Middle Eastern audience.
What Is Real Love?
In a world where love means different things to different people, how can you know when it’s real? Author Bill Crowder examines 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to reveal the heart of Christ as the most definitive description of real love. Discover a love that endures all things when you open your heart to receive God’s unfailing love.
Israel: Crossroads of Eternity, Part II
The busy, modern streets of Tel Aviv, Israel, less than an hour drive from the ancient walls of Jerusalem, and only a few blocks from a Mediterranean harbor, are linked to one of the most important fish stories ever told—a fish story that helps us to see beneath the surface of the conflict in the region because Israel sits at the Crossroads of Eternity.
Runtime: 26 minutes
God & The Three Faiths of Jerusalem, Part II
The impulse to call upon the heavens in times of crisis is as old as human civilization. And nowhere is that religious inclination more evident than in the Middle East, the birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But what do these three faiths tell us about God? What do they have in common? What are their differences? "God & The Three Faiths of Jerusalem"
Runtime: 26 minutes
Knee-Deep In Daffodils
When the first flowers of spring bloomed in our yard, my 5-year-old son waded into a patch of daffodils. He noticed some debris from plants that had expired months before and remarked, “Mom, when I see something dead, it reminds me of Easter because Jesus died on the cross.” I replied, “When I see something alive—like the daffodils—it reminds me that Jesus came back to life!”
a new genesis
A couple of years ago, as I was driving our son Wyatt to kindergarten, our conversation turned to resurrection. Understandably, Wyatt was perplexed about what it meant and how it worked. Finally, he asked the question for which he most wanted an answer. “Dad,” he asked, “when God raises us from the dead, are we going to be really alive? Or just alive in our head?”
You Can Beat It!
The radio ad for an upcoming seminar sounded intriguing. The announcer said, “You can beat death—for good! Attend my seminar and I’ll show you how.” I wondered for a few moments what the speaker would claim could beat death and what his suggestions might be. Perhaps something about diet or exercise or freezing our bodies? After listening a little longer, though, I realized he had said, “You can beat debt—for good.”
true freedom
Many countries annually exercise their freedom to literally change time. I experienced this timely change when I was in the US a few years ago. During my visit in the spring, I witnessed Daylight Savings Time—a national law that calls for all clocks to be set back by one hour. It’s designed to save energy, and it also leads to lighter mornings for children who are heading to school. Interesting!
Shout Of Triumph
Recently I read about Aron Ralston, a hiker who was trapped alone at the bottom of a remote canyon. With scant hope of being found and his strength ebbing away, he had to take drastic measures to save his life. During a moment of excruciating pain, he shouted in agony and in victory, because he had freed himself and now had a chance to escape and live.
The Story of Two Kings: Herod & Jesus
At the center page of history, the small Jewish community of Bethlehem rested in the shadow of a man-made mountain. This looming fortress was built by Herod the Great, the notorious king of the Jewish people who tried to kill their long awaited messiah, after hearing rumors of his birth in Bethlehem. Mart De Haan and Jimmy De Young reflect on the contrast between Herod the Great and Jesus of Nazareth.
the rolling stone
Jesus was dead—witnessed by His executioners (Mark 15:37-39), confirmed by Pilate (Mark 15:44-45), and attested by two high-court judges who prepared His lifeless body for burial (Mark 15:43; John 3:1,19:38-39). Jesus was laid in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. The entrance was sealed by an extremely large, round stone (Mark 15:46). It would take many strong men to move the 1- to 2-ton door. This troubled the women who had gone to anoint Jesus’ body: “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mark 16:3). They had worried unnecessarily, however. For the large stone “had already been rolled aside” (Mark 16:4), the work of an angel (Matthew 28:2).
When I Remember that He Died for Me
By theepaphroditus “Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” (Hebrews 12:3 nlt) I am sure that for those of us who desire to live a holy life in a crooked and evil world, you have at some point in time feel very weak, tired, [...]
When I Remember that He Died for Me
By theepaphroditus “Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” (Hebrews 12:3 nlt) I am sure that for those of us who desire to live a holy life in a crooked and evil world, you have at some point in time feel very weak, tired, [...]
