Steven Wales

HE IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD BUT OF THE LIVING. Luke 20:37-38.

The popularity of a view has no bearing on its truth. For example, if you took a poll at HEB asking about favorite salad dressings, the poll might give you an accurate prediction about sales of salad dressing. But if you took a poll at HEB asking how online advertising affects the demand curve, vis-à-visContinue reading “HE IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD BUT OF THE LIVING. Luke 20:37-38.”

“RENDER UNTO CAESAR…” Luke 20:22-25.

Like many phrases in the King James Bible, “render unto Caesar” (give to Caesar) has become a well-known idiom, a cliché even. A politician might say it to defend a tax increase. A reporter might characterize fines paid by a factory as “rendering unto Caesar.” But what Jesus said to the Pharisees that day, someContinue reading ““RENDER UNTO CAESAR…” Luke 20:22-25.”

We Do Not Grieve as Those Who Have No Hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

People die every day. There are illnesses, accidents, crimes. The losses are the most difficult experiences of life on earth. Nothing can interrupt a life and send you into a tailspin like the death of a loved one. Nothing else comes close. Not losing a job, losing a dream, losing a friendship—nothing will rock yourContinue reading “We Do Not Grieve as Those Who Have No Hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13.”

DO YOU LOVE GOD WITH ‘ALL YOUR MIND,’ MARK 12:30?

God called me to a life of the mind while in high school. I was a cheating, failing student when He arrested my attention, calling me to exercise perfect integrity in my classes. That was the most difficult challenge I had ever faced, a weight I did not think I could lift, but I maxedContinue reading “DO YOU LOVE GOD WITH ‘ALL YOUR MIND,’ MARK 12:30?”

REJECTED. Mark 12:10-11.

“All of the other reindeer” reject Rudolf because of his freakish nose—then he saves Christmas. And the Ugly Duckling is ugly and awkward and the ducklings reject him. But he grows up to be a SWAN. Abraham Lincoln is similar: critics mocked his appearance, calling the tall, skinny man “the unlikely cross between a windmillContinue reading “REJECTED. Mark 12:10-11.”

MUTINY ON THE PLANTATION. Mark 12:1-12.

Louisiana once boasted many plantations. One was owned by an old man from Virginia. His elderly wife inherited the massive operation but was unwilling to return to the malarial swamps of the Deep South. So he and his son leased the property to sharecroppers, men who would plant cotton and sugar cane and turn theContinue reading “MUTINY ON THE PLANTATION. Mark 12:1-12.”

My Daily Prayer for You. Mark 12:30-31

My prayer for my family, for my kids, every day: That you “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength” Mark 12:30-31. And that you love the Word, read the Word, study the Word, memorize the Word, and submit yourselves toContinue reading “My Daily Prayer for You. Mark 12:30-31”

JESUS WAS A GOOD TALKER. Matthew 22:22,33,46.

Do you ever wish you knew what to say? When Jesus confronted the Pharisees, He left the crowds speechless. “When they heard this, they were amazed.” Matthew 22:22. “And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished.” 22:33. “No one was able to answer Him at all, and from that day, no one dared toContinue reading “JESUS WAS A GOOD TALKER. Matthew 22:22,33,46.”

JESUS, THE WHIP, AND THE TEMPLE. John 2:15.

Jesus felt defensive and protective about God’s Temple. He was offended by the men selling animals for sacrifice at high prices, ripping off the poor. He was offended by the CAMBIO (Spanish for exchange)—those were the folks exchanging dollars for pesos (or maybe Roman money for Israeli money?) because they took too much off theContinue reading “JESUS, THE WHIP, AND THE TEMPLE. John 2:15.”

JUSTICE. John 2:15-17.

Have you ever cheered when the bad guy gets it? When Commodus dies in GLADIATOR, or when Tavington dies in THE PATRIOT? Everyone loves justice. God loves it even more than we do. He IS just. So He cleansed the temple. The bad guys had taken over the Father’s House—and Jesus had swallowed His indignationContinue reading “JUSTICE. John 2:15-17.”