I recently thought about the apartment where I grew up. Childhood memories started coming to the surface of my consciousness—like how my three brothers and I would often stack up chairs and other furniture to build two forts facing each other, and engage in mock wars using rubber bands and paper bullets. (Of course, we …
While reading Genesis 47, the last statement of the chapter caught my attention: “Israel [Jacob] worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff” (Genesis 47.31 NIV). I find the NIV’s translation interesting and significant. In its context, Israel’s action offers a powerful picture of one who is unrelenting in his worship of the …
An altar is a structure on which offerings are made (such as sacrifices) as an act of worship and devotion to a deity. It was a focal point of worship in ancient religious practices. It was at the altar that the worshiper was given access to the one worshipped. When God called Gideon to lead …
“When you allow fear to subside in the light of God’s promises, you are not denying your realities, you are celebrating your certainties.” –Arun S. Andrews I recently came across this quote in a Twitter account I was following. I started thinking about how life can bring so much perplexing realities. In light of the …
In sharing my intention to work toward developing a healthier and stronger body, I am often given the advice to work on my core. But what, exactly, is the “core”? I had a general idea of what it was, but I decided to do a little reading. Here’s one explanation: It refers primarily to “the …
“Tune our hearts to sing Thy grace.” My attention was recently brought to this line in the hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. It got me to asking, “What does it mean to have my heart tuned to sing God’s grace?” Perhaps we may start with the idea of “tuning.” Serious guitar players (or …
September 11, 2013 marks the 12th year since the coordinated attack on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. While many such terrorist attacks have been launched all over the world, none have affected the American psyche more than the events popularly referred to as “9/11.” The terrorists behind …
I’ve been wearing glasses for years now. Without them it’s quite a task to read. But I still haven’t gotten completely used to them. And they can be a hassle. Sometimes I catch myself attempting to scratch an itch around my eye and end up hitting my glasses instead. Sometimes I forget where I put …
“Just do it.” Perhaps the Nike slogan has an insight that followers of Christ could use in the task called discipleship and service. There are those who have pointed out that when we overthink a course of action, there is a tendency either to end up doing nothing, or to flub the task. My …
The words “Your Amazing Body” is on the cover of the latest issue of Reader’s Digest. Inside, one would find articles that highlight the wonder of the human body as well as advances in the field of health and medicine. One segment entitled “The Amazing Body Tour” presents some remarkable facts about the human body. …
