When God created the universe, He made so much more than this planet and the plant, animal, and human life on it. In addition to the observable, material universe—stars, planets, and things we can see, God filled His creation with an even more-real dimension of life that those of us in the material world cannotContinue reading “Learn More About Heaven and its People by Reading the Old Testament Prophets. Zechariah 6:1-8.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
No Written Records? Close the Deal and Slap the Children: Ezra 6:1-2.
Imagine a world without writing. People simply talk. They make promises. They shake hands. When the matter is really important, they employ rituals to ensure that everyone remembers. In pre-literate England, the sale of real estate included an elaborate ritual: go to town and round up a couple of little boys, then go to theContinue reading “No Written Records? Close the Deal and Slap the Children: Ezra 6:1-2. “
Reading Prophecy? There is Help Available! Zechariah 5:1-4.
Bible stories come in a variety of genres. The easiest to read are the parables crafted by the Master Teacher, fables illustrating spiritual truths: the Prodigal Son, the Farmer Planting Seed, the Pearl of Great Price, the Lost Coin, the Ten Virgins. Slightly more difficult to read are the historical records of actual events, suchContinue reading “Reading Prophecy? There is Help Available! Zechariah 5:1-4.”
Lord, Teach Us to Fast. Ezra 8:21,23.
Every Sunday morning my father doled out an allowance to me of $3.50. I then put two quarters into an envelope for the offering plate. The envelopes (similar to the one pictured) were pre-printed with boxes to check off. As a child, I could not check all the boxes, but they reminded me of theContinue reading “Lord, Teach Us to Fast. Ezra 8:21,23.”
The King’s Heart. Ezra 1:1.
Sometimes I am impatient in prayer. Sometimes I wonder why it seems to take so long for God to answer, or whether He is listening at all. But God is listening. God is sovereign. God is in control and seated on His throne. And sometimes—in His mercy—He encourages me with signs that He does indeedContinue reading “The King’s Heart. Ezra 1:1.”
Lullaby and Goodnight: What’s Your Bedtime Routine? Micah 2:1.
My childhood music minister Gerald B. Ray died at 92 recently and I was pleased to be able to attend the service celebrating his extraordinary life. His daughter Kristy shared that her father was in the habit of reciting the 23rd Psalm each night as he went to sleep. While he was in hospice care,Continue reading “Lullaby and Goodnight: What’s Your Bedtime Routine? Micah 2:1.”
Beware: False Teachers are Everywhere. Ezekiel 13:1-14.
This morning I came across some crazy ideas online. There was the guy arguing that Christians do not sin. Another said the Apostle Paul was a deceiver who ruined the faith. A preacher argued James (brother of Jesus and author of the Book of James) did not understand the gospel, and that his book containsContinue reading “Beware: False Teachers are Everywhere. Ezekiel 13:1-14.”
On Modern Art. Ezekiel 41:1-12.
Image: The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali, 1931. I attended law school at the University of Houston, a campus littered with abstract modern art, much of it consisting of odd-shaped works in iron. One day while walking across the campus with a student whom I knew to be a lover of modern poetry, weContinue reading “On Modern Art. Ezekiel 41:1-12.”
Spiritual Leadership. Ezekiel 46:1-10.
How do you learn to follow the Lord? How do you teach it to your children? Perhaps the simplest advice I’ve heard is this: Discipleship is Caught not Taught. That is, people learn by observing good models. Teach people to follow Christ by following Christ yourself. In front of them. Let them see you readingContinue reading “Spiritual Leadership. Ezekiel 46:1-10.”
Ecclesiastes is the Book for Those Overwhelmed With Life’s Disappointments. Psalm 137.
What do you do when life overwhelms you? Even the happiest people can be overwhelmed with grief. Things happen. Circumstances can blindside you. You may be the most hopeful, optimistic person, and suddenly you wake up with only darkness in your soul. It is awful. When the children of Israel were taken captive by KingContinue reading “Ecclesiastes is the Book for Those Overwhelmed With Life’s Disappointments. Psalm 137.”