We know that the Biblical details of Christ’s death and resurrection are central components of the gospel message. The early New Testament Church kept the Passover as a remembrance of Christ's death. The details surrounding His death and resurrection are also an anchor of our faith. To rehearse some of the timing around the events of the week of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, we need to begin with statements Christ gave us and the prophecies in the Old Testament that say He would be … [Read more...] about Time of Christ’s Death and Resurrection
Feasts of God
Expressions of Tribalism
It is difficult to escape the feeling that our world is becoming more divided by the day. For example, we are hearing more about political identity. While it has been quite customary to identify with some political party in terms of general policy, the term has now developed a sharper edge. Amy Chua writing in The Guardian newspaper notes: “When groups feel threatened, they retreat into Tribalism. When groups feel mistreated and disrespected, they close ranks and become more insular, more … [Read more...] about Expressions of Tribalism
Life After Death
The concepts of heaven and hell require that a person lives in some form after death. You don’t really die. Both heaven and hell are places where people live for eternity. If you wanted an expert in the field of going to heaven, I doubt you could do better than Billy Graham. He says: “Heaven for the Christian will be a place of glorious life that will never end. Joy inexpressible, limitless peace, pure love, beauty beyond description – that’s what heaven is. Greatest of all … [Read more...] about Life After Death
The Last Great Day, Rivers of Living Waters
What does the the biblical “Last Great Day” have to do with God's plan of Salvation? Who does it represent and when is this last prophetic day? Is God only interested in some select group of humanity? God is in fact concerned about all humans who have ever lived: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, . . .3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved … [Read more...] about The Last Great Day, Rivers of Living Waters
The Passover Effect
The world is thrashing around in a leaderless confusion, leaving masses of people to lead meaningless lives. The world doesn’t understand the purpose for our being on this planet. Few people know why they exist. Most don’t know why they are here or where their lives are supposed to be leading them. They may know what they want and what they don’t want from their leaders, but they don’t even know what good leadership looks like. “As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule … [Read more...] about The Passover Effect
Don’t Squander Your Opportunity
Some years ago, featured on a 60 Minutes program was a musical performance, “Alive & Kickin’”. The cast was all over fifty-five. Their stories were deeply compelling; overcoming drug addiction, renewing life after a criminal past, and family tragedy. These were individuals who, due to the vagaries of life, missed opportunities to sing and perform. They were castaways being given a second chance to find their voice. In a sense, God has given each of us a second chance to live a radically … [Read more...] about Don’t Squander Your Opportunity
Christmas: Does It Matter?
In a popular 1965 Broadway musical set in tsarist Russia, the main character insisted that tradition provided balance in the villagers’ lives and that, without traditions, their lives would be “as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.” Traditions are indeed comfortable and somehow reassuring. If we leave the security of the customs we have grown up with, we feel shaken and a bit unstable, as Tevye so eloquently said. Tradition plays a powerful role in the customs that various cultures embrace. … [Read more...] about Christmas: Does It Matter?