Psalm 23 is the best loved chapter in the Bible’s best loved book. The pastoral language of the Shepherd Psalm implies abundance and contentment. The person who trusts the Lord will never lack a thing (v. 1). God provides green meadows and streams of water to rest by (v. 2). The Lord also gives renewal…

Public school teachers cannot legally lead students in prayer, display the Ten Commandments, or teach the Genesis creation account. According to the Supreme Court’s dubious interpretation of the Constitution, the state must sever any links between itself and religion – especially Christianity. What biblical principles relate to the controversial legal doctrine known as “separation of…

Mothers often feel guilty. Did I harm my baby by giving him cereal before the time recommended by pediatricians? Have I permanently impaired my toddler’s immune system by letting him have too many junk food snacks? Have I warped my grade schooler’s psyche by saying no so many times in a sharp voice? Have I…

On Wednesday evening (April 25) I taught an adult Bible class about the Syrophoenician woman and her demon-possessed little daughter (Matt. 15:21-28). This Gentile mother was incredibly persistent. She continued to plead with Jesus for the healing of her child, even though he seemed to be indifferent to her needs and feelings. It’s a popular…

The recipients of the letter Hebrews were discouraged. They had obeyed the gospel years before, but Jewish religious traditions were still appealing. Making Judaism seem even more attractive was persistent opposition to the church. Why not stop following Christ and return to the observance of the law? The anonymous author of the letter reminded his…

What does an honest man say when his overweight wife asks, “Do I look fat in this dress?” If he’s rude and blunt, he says, “Yes, you look fat in that dress. You look fat in all your clothes.” But if an honest man is tenderhearted and loving, he says, “You look gorgeous in that…

On June 20, 2008, I watched a fascinating interview on the Fox News program “The O’Reilly Factor.” The guest was the author of a book charging that American public schools were systematically feminizing boys. She explained that the literature in textbooks, for instance, was free of the stories boys like to read. Teen students get…

In her 1860 novel Say and Seal, Susan Warner included a story about a sick child named Johnny Fax. John Linden, a Sunday school teacher, is rocking the boy in his arms. When the little guy asks to hear a song, John sings something new: “Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells…

Moby-Dick, the 1851 classic adventure novel written by Herman Melville, is a story told from the first-person perspective of Ishmael, a sailor. At one point in the book, Ishmael is invited to worship a small idol honored by Queequeg, a pagan friend. The following paragraph records Ishmael’s acceptance of the invitation: I was a good…

Churches with a cult mentality keep some of their doctrines secret. Representatives knock on our door and share some of their group’s beliefs, but they’re trained to answer certain questions evasively. If pressed for an explanation of this practice, a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness may point to the example of Jesus. When Christ told the…