Causing a great media stir, the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, known as the Great North American Eclipse, provided a wonderful viewing opportunity for scientists and average citizens alike. Although this eclipse is a big deal today, history contains records of numerous eclipses, with one possibly occurring almost 2,000 years ago upon Jesus’ crucifixion. Was the total darkness covering the land when he died the result of an eclipse, making it an eclipse of the Son? What’s An... Read more
For Americans, Easter evokes thoughts of eating a ham dinner and indulging in chocolate candy shaped like eggs and bunnies. But another food, hot cross buns, boasts a long history with the religious holiday. Indeed, hot cross buns offer tasty teaching about Easter. What’s A Hot Cross Bun? Truth in advertising prevails with a hot cross bun. The spiced bun, normally eaten while warm—often toasted with butter—bears a cross on top. Some describe it as a mix between a sweet... Read more
March brings not only the arrival of spring but the celebration of Women’s History Month. Those honored typically include high profile women such as Sally Ride (the first female US astronaut), Amelia Earhart (an aviation pioneer), and Susan B. Anthony (a leading activist for a woman’s right to vote). But a woman who spent her life tending the home fires, homeschooling her children, and serving God faithfully out of the limelight deserves recognition. This woman is Susanna Wesley, model mom... Read more
Today’s society offers super-sized items. People want big vehicles, big TVs, and big fast-food meals. But some things are naturally small, tiny even, such as the mustard seed. How can believers grasp the concept of faith like a mustard seed when the societal clamor is for all things big? The key is understanding that small size doesn’t matter with mustard seed faith. What’s A Mustard Seed? Mustard plants, a member of the cabbage family, produce small, round seeds colored from... Read more
A view of the star-filled heavens creates a sense of wonder and awe in everyone. The scene inspires a small child to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” spurs a scientist to conduct astronomical research, and led a famous Impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh, to capture the scene in his oil work “The Starry Night.” The dazzling night lights studding the black velvet heavens provide an amazing opportunity for believers to look up at the stars to learn about God. God’s... Read more
Along with the beginning of spring, the month of March brings Women’s History Month. Typically, female figures such as suffragette Susan B. Anthony, aviator Amelia Earhart, and astronaut Sally Ride are mentioned and honored. But another book full of history offers additional women on which to focus. Celebrating biblical character Judge Deborah for Women’s History Month allows learning about a woman who achieved much in a time men monopolized leadership roles. Who Was She? Long before Judge Judy became famous... Read more
The lyrics to a popular Taylor Swift song, “I Knew You Were Trouble,” aptly sum up what life is like—“Trouble, trouble, trouble.” This characterization fits the lives of both believers and non-believers alike. Are Christians doing something wrong if they have trouble in their life? Not necessarily. Unfortunately, if you are human, you’ll have trouble. What’s Trouble? Cambridge Dictionary defines “trouble” as problems or difficulties. Trouble can cover a wide range of problems, and it may depend on the person.... Read more
February 14th stood out as a big day on the 2024 calendar for more than one reason. Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday both occurred. The latter event served as this year’s start of Lent, the period when Christians prepare for celebrating Easter. But Christians should always be preparing for Jesus not just during Lent. Preparation’s Meaning Regardless of what someone prepares for, the idea remains the same. They put things or themselves in readiness. For example, a parent asks a child... Read more
Ancient texts provide the basis for today’s knowledge about Greeks and Romans. Unfortunately, the Middle Ages saw the loss of many of those texts, so the opportunity to read newly found ones excites the academic world. The discovery of ancient papyrus scrolls buried when Mount Vesuvius’ erupted gave birth to the ongoing Vesuvius Challenge to read the ancient scrolls. Where The Scrolls Were Found The ancient city of Herculaneum, with a population of 4,000 – 5,000 residents, lies at the... Read more
For most, “portion” is a four-letter word. Why? A “portion” is only a part of a whole, and humans tend to want it all. They don’t want to settle for less when they could have more. But the truth is that, for Christians, a portion is all they need. The Lord is our portion, and He is all-sufficient. Portions and Food Hearing the word “portion” typically calls to mind eating. Merriam Webster defines the term as “enough food especially of... Read more
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