Some of the Psalms are a lament, while others are a rant. (Too many, for my taste.) However, there are also Psalms that celebrate God and affirm the Almighty. (I like those.) Psalm 144:2 proclaims God is our fortress, stronghold, deliverer, and shield. In short, he keeps us safe from harm and our enemies. But […]
In the developed world, especially the United States, size is celebrated. If something is big, we judge it as good. If it’s bigger, we applaud it as better. And if it’s the biggest, we acclaim it as the best. People equate size with success. Churches fall into this same trap. If a church is big, […]
Prior to his birth, Samuel’s father would give Samuel’s mother a double portion of the meat from his sacrifice. This showed his love for her and affirmed her, despite her being childless. She was doubly honored. Just before Elijah went up into heaven, Elisha requested to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He did; […]
One of the disservices of the modern era was dividing life into secular and spiritual, of splitting our existence, behavior, and reality into separate realms of activity. Premodern man had no such illusions; neither did ancient man before that. To them, everything was spiritual. If you don’t believe me, consider all the spiritual lessons and […]
Jesus Opens the Scroll In Isaiah’s prophecy, there’s a reference to words in a scroll. But no one can read the contents because the scroll is sealed. Later, God tells Daniel to take the words of his prophecy and seal it in a scroll until the end of time. In Revelation, God gives John a […]
On September 11, while others in the United States remembered the anniversary of a national tragedy, my wife and I celebrated the birth of our first grandson. I waited a long time for him, not with any sense of urgency but with much anticipation for the joy his arrival would bring. Now he’s here, and […]
Many people think that singing songs in church is worshiping God. They’re right, but there’s more. Other people call the entire church service, “worship,” as in “Our worship service is at ten.” I suppose they’re right, too. But there’s more to worship than a one hour a week effort. Ideally, everything we do, say, and […]
Writer Workshops by Local Author and Publisher are Well-Attended and Earn High Praise Mattawan, Michigan; October 25, 2013—Peter DeHaan spoke at the 2013 Breathe Christian Writers Conference on October 11 and 12, 2013, in Dutton Michigan. Conference attendance set a new record, with many attendees greatly anticipating Peter DeHaan’s two workshops. He opened with “Jumpstarting […]
What was the original purpose of Sunday school? Religious instruction, right? No, not at all. The initial goal of Sunday school was to provide basic academic instruction to poor children. Sunday school started as a philanthropic effort, not as religious instruction. Teaching underprivileged kids to read was a key means to empower them so they […]
In our society we value information and knowledge. We pursue it at great cost (just consider the price of a college education). In many situations, knowing the right answer is what matters most, and knowing more than someone else is the way to win. Many people who study religious stuff also pursue knowledge, often making […]