You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. Leviticus 23:15 The seven weeks between Passover and Pentecost are known as the Counting of the Omer. While we usually count down the number of days to an event, this counts up the number of days since Passover. This parallels the growth seen in the grain fields. Reaping a Harvest This is the time of year that the grains in Israel ripen and are harvested. Besides seeing small gardens, if you are like me, your life […]
Category Archives: Other
What Was Jesus’ Life Mission?
If someone asked you why Jesus came to earth, how would you respond? Maybe you’d include some of the points found in the Nicene Creed: [Jesus], who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the […]
He’s a Wonderful God
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;yes, I will remember your wonders of old.I will ponder all your work,and meditate on your mighty deeds.Your way, O God, is holy.What god is great like our God?You are the God who works wonders;you have made known your might among the peoples.You with your arm redeemed your people,the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah Psalm 77:11-15 When we think of the Passover, one of the big pieces that usually comes to mind is the ten plagues God brought upon Egypt. While we describe them as plagues, God describes them differently when he […]
Palm Sunday’s Hidden “Easter Eggs”
No, this isn’t a post about hunting for Easter Eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny. Instead, I’m referring to secrets hidden in various forms of media that reference other media sources as in-jokes or plot connections. An example is an Egyptian engraving of R2-D2 from Star Wars hidden in a scene from one of the Indiana Jones movies. In our culture, these are often just for fun; however, the hints recorded in the Bible are for more serious intent. Hinting the Text If someone quotes a line from a movie, those who know the film well instantly are drawn back […]
Holier than Thou?
Some view the season of Lent as a “holy” time of year, leading up to Holy Week. “Holy” is a word we don’t usually use in everyday life but only in a religious context. Does the word “holy” draw up negative or positive connotations for you? What words do you pair with it? Perhaps you think of the Holy Bible, holy communion, holy matrimony, or maybe even “holy cow!” What is holiness? Because of our cultural changes over time, many do not understand what the biblical meaning of holiness is actually about. A simple definition is someone, somewhere, or something […]
Spring, A Season Of Change
We are now over halfway through our journey through the season of Lent. A few years ago, during the pandemic, I wrote about this 40-day period of “spiritual quarantine” we call Lent that leads up to Easter. This time I want to focus on a different aspect of Lent: “lent” comes from the word meaning “spring season”. This week marks the official beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. As I write this while snow is still falling here in Michigan, it can be difficult to imagine warmer weather on its way. The land of Israel has its seasons too. […]
What God Finds In My Heart
Search me, O God, and know my heart;Try me and know my anxious thoughts;And see if there be any hurtful way in me,And lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB) We discussed Lent as a season of reflection and repentance a couple of weeks ago. Psalm 139 is a good Psalm to meditate on, asking the Lord is probe us and reveal what needs to change. Search Me The Psalm opens, “O LORD, you have searched me and known me!” (Psalm 139:1). By ending the Psalm with the request to search him, David (the author) comes full circle. […]
Purim: Battling with a Hidden Helper
Tomorrow evening (March 6) begins Purim (pronounced POOR-im). This annual event celebrates how Jewish people survived the planned annihilation of all Jews in the Persian Empire when Esther was the queen of Persia. It is a huge comfort to know our sovereign God works behind the scenes for us. There are two interesting backstories to this victory. Round #1: Israel vs. the Amalekites Exodus 17 describes the ruthless Amalekites attacking the Israelites who have just fled from Egypt. The Hebrew fighters gain ground when Moses’ hands are up but fail when his arms fall. They beat the wicked warriors after […]
Repent, It’s Lent!
Rabbi Eliezer famously taught that one should: “Repent one day before your death.” So his disciples asked him: “Does a person know which day he will die?” Rabbi Eliezer responded: “Certainly, then, a person should repent today, for perhaps tomorrow he will die—so that all his days he is repenting.” (Talmud, Shabbat 153a) We are in a season of repentance called Lent. It began on Wednesday, marking 40 days leading up to Easter (well, actually 46 days because Sundays don’t count). Given that it does not appear in the Bible, where does this practice come from? Origins of Lent The […]
A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
The world is in anguish with the recent news of the enormous earthquakes that struck Turkey and killed over 30,000 (to date, but rising each day) in Turkey or Syria and injured and made homeless countless others. Pray for the people affected and those trying to help. Pray that the Lord may be seen at work in the midst of the tragedy. Connecting Earthquakes to the Bible The images and videos of the earthquake damage give us a glimpse, but it can still feel far away and unfamiliar. We have a bit of personal connection through past travels in several […]