All eyes are on the Sistine Chapel this week as the College of Cardinals convenes for a conclave to elect the next pope. The centuries old chapel has played an important role in the Catholic Church’s history and will now be the site for history in the making. Learning more about the Sistine Chapel adds to the awe and mystery of the newsworthy location. What Is The Sistine Chapel? The Sistine Chapel serves as the pope’s own chapel, and principal papal... Read more
Hearing the word Belize may evoke thoughts of palm trees, scuba diving, and Mayan ruins. Mennonites, however, are highly unlikely to be associated with the Central American country. But surprisingly, this religious group maintains a presence there, and Mennonites make their mark in Belize. Belize Basics Located on the northeastern coast of Central America, the tiny, subtropical country of Belize resembles a rhombus in shape. Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the south and east, and the Caribbean Sea to... Read more
The familiar account of Jesus’ crucifixion contains a reference to something which may not be familiar to believers. While on the cross, Jesus expressed His thirst. A sponge soaked in wine vinegar was lifted to Him on a hyssop stalk. The fact the biblical account specifically identifies the plant indicates its importance. So what is hyssop? Easter provides a wonderful time to learn more about hyssop – in history and health. What’s Hyssop? Hyssop is an evergreen plant native to... Read more
The Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt provides one of the most familiar and exciting stories in the Old Testament. But getting out from under Pharaoh’s thumb did not provide God’s people with an immediate happy ending. After gaining their freedom, the former slaves then spent forty years wandering in the wilderness en route to the Promised Land. While difficult, this experience proved valuable, and, in retrospect, the worth of wilderness wandering is evident. The Story of Wilderness Wandering The... Read more
On April 20th, Christians will celebrate Easter, the most important holiday of our faith. Other than attending Easter services, though, how do we observe this foundational season of Christianity? Are we merely caught up in the secular observances of Easter such as preparing Easter baskets and holding egg hunts? Five tips provide a way for Christians to experience the best Easter ever spiritually. Secular/Insignificant Celebration Of Easter? While celebrating Christmas seems to start earlier each year, Easter comes and goes... Read more
Planning for a journey, whether it be travel or one’s life, includes choosing the best route. Unsurprisingly God’s selection of the best path for His children may not be what we view as best. The story of the Israelites fleeing Egypt en route to the Promised Land offers a real-life example of the stark difference between man’s route versus God’s route. The Bible Story After enduring ten plagues, Pharaoh finally relented and let God’s people go as Moses had requested.... Read more
Read a good book lately? Perhaps that book was the Good Book. The Christian publishing industry takes in billions of dollars in sales annually, with purchases of the Bible currently soaring. Beyond Bible sales soaring, though, other faith-based materials from Christian publishers appeal to readers and impact the face and future of that publishing industry. The History of Christian Publishing Since Christianity’s beginning, Christian writing has existed although not initially in printed form. Early Christian writers focused on penning letters... Read more
Using the word “precious” typically evokes thoughts of gemstones. But are those physical items what’s really the most precious thing to humans? Not according to the Bible. What does the Good Book say is precious? Rubies and wisdom, but wisdom gets top billing. Precious Gemstones The characterization of precious means viewing something as valuable, important, or scarce. Only four gemstones in the world have traditionally been considered precious. These include diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. In the ancient world, rubies were... Read more
Waste, fraud, and abuse are the buzzwords resounding through the halls of government buildings in Washington, D. C. currently. Through creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, commonly referred to as DOGE, President Trump embarked on a mission to eradicate their presence in federal government operations. But the federal government is not the only place waste, fraud, and abuse occurs. Believers could benefit from creating their own DOGE – Department of Godly Efficiency. Creation of DOGE On January 20, 2025,... Read more
God’s Color Purple While loving someone may color your world like Chicago’s 1970 hit single, “Colour My World” describes, God colored the whole world. The Master Artist utilized a palette of hues, to produce vivid sights in His creation. But the one which may be the most brilliant in nature and which signifies His majesty is God’s color purple. A Primer On Purple A secondary color, purple results from mixing the primary colors of red and blue. Because of its... Read more
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