Hannah longs to have children but is childless. Adding to her misery, she’s harassed by everyone around her. Though, she is her husband’s (Elkanah) favorite wife he dismisses her infertility and fails to protect her from verbal assaults from his other wife, Peninnah, who endlessly torments her. Then, when she prays in earnest, Eli, the […]
Acts Bible Study: Day 2 Today’s passage: Acts 1:9–26 Focus verse: So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. (Acts 1:23) After Jesus tells his followers to wait for the Holy Spirit, he rises into heaven. Though Jesus tells them to wait, he doesn’t say to do nothing. They spend […]
Palm Sunday Once an area church invited nearby congregations to participate in a joint Palm Sunday service for the Blessing of the Palms. Our church was one of them. That phrase was an unfamiliar one to me, but with millions of exact matches in an online search, it’s likely known to many within the Christian […]
Clean, Faith-Friendly Fiction Series Debuts Across Multiple Formats with Two Sequels Planned for 2026 Christian young adult fiction author Peter DeHaan announces the release of The Curious Gift, the highly anticipated first installment in The Curious Book trilogy. This new release is now available in ebook, audiobook, and paperback formats, offering readers multiple ways to experience this inspirational […]
A Devout Believer Obadiah (4) is a devout believer of God. (He is not the prophet by the same name, who lives much later.) The Bible contains only one story about this Obadiah, who serves as palace administrator for the evil King Ahab. During the time of Ahab, king of Israel, there’s a three-year drought, […]
The Traitor Sells His Master For a Few Coins Today’s passage: Matthew 26:14–16, Mark 14:10–11, and Luke 22:1–6 Focus verse: “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” (Matthew 26:15) Right after the woman anoints Jesus’s head, preparing him for his burial, we read of Judas deciding to betray […]
Barak Insists Judge Deborah Goes with Him The book of Judges is a colorful read about some strange characters. Except for Judge Deborah, all the other judges in this book are male. That makes Deborah unique. Perhaps that’s why I like her so much, even more so than the better-known Gideon and Samson. Passing on […]
Acts Bible Study: Day 1 Today’s passage: Acts 1:1–8 Focus verse: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” (Acts 1:4) Acts picks up where the book of Luke ended. As with many sequels, Acts opens with a review of what happened in the first […]
Don’t Seek a Return on Your Sunday Morning Service The prevailing attitude in developing countries is one of self-centered pursuits. Most people persist in fulfilling the self-serving perspective of WIIFM (What’s In It For Me). This often applies to going to a Sunday morning service, hence WIIFM church attendance. Most people go to church with […]
A Good King Asa is the king of Judah. He’s the son of Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, the son of David. This means Asa is King David’s great-great-grandson. He reigns for forty-one years. Scripture says he does what is right in God’s eyes. And he remains fully committed to the […]