Image. Print for sale here: https://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/1866609281/houston-street-art-print-manhattan New York City has a great shibboleth. Locals can instantly tell a tourist from a native by hearing them pronounce one of the prominent streets in Manhattan: HOUSTON STREET. Tourists will pronounce it like the city in Texas, “HUGHES-tun,” while the locals pronounce it “HOUSE-tun.” “Shibboleth” is one ofContinue reading “Word of the Day: SHIBBOLETH. Judges 12.”
Category Archives: peacemaker
DAVID AT WAR: Four Truths. Psalm 60:8-12.
When God made David king, he told him he would use David’s reign to bring peace to the nation, 2 Samuel 7:10-11. But David could only secure the peace by waging war. David was destined to be the “man of war” God described in 1 Chronicles 28:3. Sometimes war is unavoidable. In David’s case, itContinue reading “DAVID AT WAR: Four Truths. Psalm 60:8-12.”
BLOODSHED: Times of War and Times of Peace, 1 Chronicles 28:2-3.
Pictured: “The 2000-Yard Stare” by Thomas Calloway “Tom” Lea, III, oil on canvas (1944). In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons. –Herodotus. King David was the commander-in-chief of a kingdom at war. Saul’s kingdom had been one of drama, intrigue, and Saul’s obsessive quest to murder David. David had betterContinue reading “BLOODSHED: Times of War and Times of Peace, 1 Chronicles 28:2-3.”
Which is Better, to Win a War or to Prevent One? Joshua 22.
In the early morning hours of September 26, 1983, Soviet Lieutenant Stanislav Petrov received an alarm. Computers indicated the U.S. had launched five nuclear-armed missiles at Russian targets. The missiles would reach Russia in under twenty minutes—there was no time to waste. Petrov was to telephone the high command and immediately Soviet leadership would respond,Continue reading “Which is Better, to Win a War or to Prevent One? Joshua 22.”
DEVIANT DOCTRINES. Acts 20:30.
“… Men will rise up with DEVIANT DOCTRINES…” Acts 20:30 2020 was a terrible year. COVID 19, the death of George Floyd, Antifa, riots, the desecration of statues and history, arson in dozens of major cities, vicious anger at law enforcement and the government that culminated in an attack on the U.S. Capitol. And ofContinue reading “DEVIANT DOCTRINES. Acts 20:30.”
RECONCILE YOUR CONFLICTS. Matthew 5:9, 23-26.
Recently a woman told me that God made her a fighter. She argued that feuding with people was her calling, where reconciliation was the calling of ministers and Bible teachers. She seemed to think the two options were equally valid, as if God designed her to be someone who fights nasty, bitter battles (her extremelyContinue reading “RECONCILE YOUR CONFLICTS. Matthew 5:9, 23-26.”
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS. Micah 4:3-4.
The ability to resolve conflicts is a gift. Being a peacemaker does not mean compromising everything. Peacemakers have integrity—they won’t yield the key point, but they will yield pride and anything else that might get in the way of peace. Ronald Reagan never compromised on SDI, but was able to make peace with Mikhail GorbachevContinue reading “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS. Micah 4:3-4.”
Poisonous Lawsuits. Hosea 10:4.
In his book NARCONOMICS, economist Tom Wainwright argues that drug cartels do not necessarily have more conflicts than other businesses. But they resolve conflicts with guns because they cannot use the legal system. In other words, drug lords murder people because when a contract for illegal drugs is breached, the seller can’t file a lawsuitContinue reading “Poisonous Lawsuits. Hosea 10:4.”
Seek Wise Counsel.
You never know how God may speak. We must pray—and we must listen. God speaks through His word, prayer, circumstances, other people, and He may even speak through your enemies. Do you realize that? Judah’s King Amaziah was a pretty good king, generally following the Lord more closely than the kings of Israel such asContinue reading “Seek Wise Counsel.”
The Mouth of a Fool.
I said one thing this summer that people have repeated back to me more than anything else: “Steven, you’re a good kid. But your mouth’s gonna get you into a lot of trouble.” My father was right, of course. I would say anything, no matter how rude or hostile or mean or inappropriate. I hadContinue reading “The Mouth of a Fool.”
Household Words: 