The New Testament uses two different Greek words translated “crown.” The jeweled royal head-covering of a king or queen was called a diadema. That’s why a classic hymn says of Jesus, “Bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all.” David wore an impressive kingly crown covered with precious stones that weighed about […]
How do you describe the heart of a person who truly worships our Father in Heaven? Here are several ways. A Heart that Celebrates (God’s Handiwork) It was a beautiful summer evening when I decided to take our three-year-old twin girls and their two-year-old sister for a short walk around our neighborhood. Of course, a […]
When I hear the word purity, I picture a teenage girl wearing a ring to symbolize her promise to save herself for marriage. Sadly, I also remember the article I read by a woman who confessed to wearing her ring long after she’d broken the promise to stay pure. As in other areas of her […]
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “To follow Christ is to obey Christ.” The apostles had the privilege of literally “coming after” Jesus. For them, following Jesus meant geography, physicality, and proximity. But after Jesus’ resurrection their following of him became more like ours. Obedience outstripped physical presence. The lesson text today picks up where we left off […]
Most of us exaggerate now and then, using expressions that would be outrageous if taken literally. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!” “I have told you a million times not to do that.” Hyperbole isn’t meant to falsify or misrepresent the facts, but to intensify them. We exaggerate our points in order to […]
