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Rebuilding the Temple Building projects can be hazardous to church leaders! The danger doesn’t come from falling bricks or loose boards but from discouragement. About 20 percent of pastors who lead their church through a construction program leave within two years of its completion. There may be good reasons for this. New circumstances in...

Righteousness and Justice It seems like more people than ever before are talking about justice. Once the province of social activists, a few religious leaders, and some politicians, justice is now a primary concern for many. But what exactly do we mean by the word? Everybody agrees that justice is important. We do not agree on what justice...

From Fasting to Feasting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a diagnosis often given to those who experience a wide range of reactions after going through a tragedy, disaster, or terrifying event. Those who suffer from PTSD can spend years dealing with the consequences of a traumatic event and must often seek counseling. No doubt, those who...

Judgment on the Nations A popular Christian radio station advertises itself as “positive” and “encouraging.” A majority of contemporary worship songs are upbeat. Many churches advertise themselves as “the friendly church.” None of this is necessarily bad. Visitors might hesitate to try a church that promises, “We will make you miserable!”...

The Arrival of the King When the president travels by motorcade, streets and expressways are blocked. Secret service agents are positioned at strategic locations on overpasses and bridges. The goal of these measures is not only to make certain there is no delay but also to limit access to the president. When Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem...

Seek the Lord I was just a few feet from the mall bookstore, trying to muster up the courage to go inside. I needed a job but was afraid to ask. “Go ahead and ask,” my wife urged with a smile. “The worst they can do is say no.” The assistant manager grinned widely when I nervously inquired whether the store needed any part-time help. “Can...

Our God Is a Consuming Fire Last year damaging wildfires swept through several states. During one of them, Nicole Jolley feared for her life. Flames surrounded her car and filled it with smoke. She called her husband on her cell phone, convinced she was speaking to him for the last time. “Nick, I’m gonna die, and I’m not gonna make it out...

The Parable of the Shepherd Shakespeare’s play Hamlet contains a play within the play. Hamlet hopes the story will cause his unsuspecting uncle to betray himself, showing that he was complicit in the murder of the king. “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King” Hamlet declares. Some of the prophets acted out parables...

Judgment on Jerusalem’s Enemies Anne Rice, a well-known author and an atheist, wrote a series of books about the life of Christ. In the first, entitled Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, she includes an author’s note which explains how and why she had been drawn back to God. She wanted to understand a historical mystery: the survival of the Jewish...

City of God Every year magazines like Money, Kiplinger, and U.S. News & World Report publish lists of the best places to live. They make their choices based on a variety of factors, including income rates, crime, taxes, and even the number of days of sunshine per year! If such a list were made during the thousand-year reign of Christ, one...