Steven Wales

Is it Important to Attend Church Regularly? Zechariah 14:17

Why do we go to church? Can’t we just read the Bible and watch a TV preacher? Maybe sing along with Christian radio? Why bother with the Sunday service? Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not forsake the assembling together of ourselves, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and do so evenContinue reading “Is it Important to Attend Church Regularly? Zechariah 14:17”

HOW SHOULD A KING COME? Zechariah 9:9.

One of my all-time favorite stories of the Incarnation–of Christmas–is the song “How Should a King Come?” by Jimmy and Carol Owens. Read it as a poem. It clearly lays out the contrast between how most kings would want to enter a city, and how the KING OF KINGS entered. He could not have made aContinue reading “HOW SHOULD A KING COME? Zechariah 9:9.”

AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM. Zechariah 8:4-5,12,16-17.

America is not perfect, and it was never holy. There are evil threads woven into our story—slavery, the genocide of Indian tribes, racism, greed. But what other nation do the people of the world flock to enter? What other nation is a melting pot like this land of opportunity? What nation can offer such freedom,Continue reading “AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM. Zechariah 8:4-5,12,16-17.”

ARCHITECTURAL ZERO. Zechariah 4:10.

Adolf Hitler loved architecture. Albert Speer, his architect, writes that Hitler was forever coming up with plans for buildings and monuments. The drawings were not bad, but the designs dwarfed everything else. Hitler dreamed of making Berlin a partial copy of Paris, but making everything larger: a wider main boulevard, a taller victory arch, andContinue reading “ARCHITECTURAL ZERO. Zechariah 4:10.”

DREAM SMALL. Zechariah 4:10.

We encourage you to dream big. We say it every day. We tell children they can all be presidents, astronauts, football stars, heroes. And we should. Children should be encouraged to think big. And when you see problems, you should dream of big solutions. When you see a mountain, you should have hope and believe,Continue reading “DREAM SMALL. Zechariah 4:10.”

DEFEND BULLYING VICTIMS. Zechariah 3:2-4.

There is something infuriating about watching someone powerless endure bullying by someone stronger. Bullying is not harmless or funny or a case of “boys will be boys.” It can be abusive. But you need situational awareness—the context, the age, and the personalities are important considerations. I don’t believe in the application of black-and-white “zero-tolerance” rulesContinue reading “DEFEND BULLYING VICTIMS. Zechariah 3:2-4.”

Think Carefully About Your Ways. Haggai 1:5-7.

Imagine yourself a Mom or Dad, struggling to make ends meet. You work extra hours, earn extra money, but then the car breaks down and you have to spend more than you earned. And next month it happens again. And again. Just when you think you are getting caught up, another appliance breaks, or aContinue reading “Think Carefully About Your Ways. Haggai 1:5-7.”

‘FOR WHO HAS DESPISED THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS?’ Zechariah 4:10.

Dr. A.O. Collins, Old Testament professor at HBU, once quoted the passage above in defense of small churches. And even as a member of a large church, I knew he made a great point: churches do not have to be big to honor God. Most churches are small and most people who love Jesus learnedContinue reading “‘FOR WHO HAS DESPISED THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS?’ Zechariah 4:10.”

MY HOUSE LIES IN RUINS. Haggai 1:4-7; 2:4.

Have you ever gotten your priorities out of whack? You know, you’re working hard on hobbies, but ignoring school projects? You’re dedicated to a sport, but falling behind on summer reading? You’re having fun going places with friends, but you’re taking too much time off from your job? From time to time, all of usContinue reading “MY HOUSE LIES IN RUINS. Haggai 1:4-7; 2:4.”