Solomon’s Temple – Household Words:

Building Temples and Building Homes. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3.

Pictured: “Topping Out Bear Stearns, New York City,” image copied from https://millersamuel.com/with-a-flag-an-i-beam-and-a-christmas-tree-the-party-is-just-getting-started/ I grew up in a boomtown. During my childhood, Houston was America’s fastest growing city.[1] One day my friends and I might be in a field flipping over scrap wood to find snakes, and a year later it would be a 10-story IRSContinue reading “Building Temples and Building Homes. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3.”

JARS OF CLAY. 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Few buildings rival Solomon’s Temple. It included the Outer Courts, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. Within the temple, God instructed the people to use candles for light—ten “golden lampstands” with seven candles on each one. That’s 70 lamps burning pure olive oil. These beautiful menorahs were huge, each made of 75 poundsContinue reading “JARS OF CLAY. 2 Corinthians 4:7.”

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.”

SURRENDER YOUR EXPECTATIONS. Ezra 3:11-13; Zechariah 4:10.

What do you expect God to do for you? Do you think “I’ve obeyed Him, so I know He will give me _________”? Examples: You work hard in school, so you expect God to bless you with money. You are pure with the opposite sex, so you expect a rock-star spouse. You give your talentsContinue reading “SURRENDER YOUR EXPECTATIONS. Ezra 3:11-13; Zechariah 4:10.”

Size is Irrelevant. “For Who Has Despised the Day of Small Things?” Ezekiel 42:20.

Solomon’s Temple was not as big as you think. We speak of the glory of Solomon’s Temple as though nothing else like it ever existed. In terms of gold-paneled walls, inlaid jewels, and precious stones, perhaps nothing else like it has existed. But Solomon’s Temple was probably no bigger than your house. The Tabernacle cameContinue reading “Size is Irrelevant. “For Who Has Despised the Day of Small Things?” Ezekiel 42:20.”

Great Achievements Do Not Happen in Wartime.

Are you stressed? Distracted? Pulled in too many directions? If so, you will not be able to achieve at your best. People do well with “some” stress. They say a little stress is good for you. I remember making my best charcoal drawing while furious about something I’ve long since forgotten. And I put asideContinue reading “Great Achievements Do Not Happen in Wartime.”

Solomon’s Temple.

The temple Solomon built was amazing. Hewn stones outside, cedar paneling inside, and an interior overlaid with 45,000 pounds of gold. Carvings, statues, and golden cherubim inside with their wings spread across the span of the hall. Halls, courtyards, windows, and steps leading up to huge doors. Imagine Washington D.C. with all its grand, glorious,Continue reading “Solomon’s Temple.”