In my read-straight-through-the Bible effort, I’m almost through the book of Judges. It is UGLY. “And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord”—on repeat. I asked God if I could skip Judges. Seriously. Of course, I knew the answer before I asked. Every word of the Bible is there for a reason….
Blog
Grab your favorite brew and visit a few minutes with Encouragement from Living History. That sums up my blog: thoughts grounded in the Bible, sprinkled with interesting tidbits from history, all applied to life today. Readers say, “I learn something new every time I read your blog.” Here’s an open invitation to sit a few minutes now and come back often to share your thoughts.
Sign up to have my latest blog (and my occasional newsletter) delivered directly to you!
Fortresses, Fears, Refuges, and Rocks
What’s the strongest fortress you can think of? Alcatraz? Masada? The Great Wall of China? All have been breached. Very few fortresses have never been breached or taken. Hochosterwitz (pictured on this page) has fourteen lines of defense and has never been taken, yet its claim to fame is not well known….
How to Prepare for Change—God’s Way
How do you handle a promise God directs specifically to you?…
7 Myths about Forgiveness—and its Power when Put into Action
Last weekend I saw the movie Sabina, which chronicles the early years of Sabina and Richard Wurmbrand’s marriage. They hadn’t been Christians very long when they started to risk their lives to spread the Gospel and help Jews escape Romania during WWII….
Balaam’s Cautionary Tale for Governments and Us
Do you have Sunday school memories of Balaam’s talking donkey? From that charming perspective, Balaam seems to be the ass, while the donkey wisely recognizes God’s angel standing in the road. But the full story is more interesting—and totally relevant to today’s current events….
God’s Love Letter in Leviticus
The entire Bible is a love letter from God. But nested where you wouldn’t think to look is a special love letter. In Leviticus. It’s no coincidence that I read this on Valentine’s Day….
When Scientists Find a New Star …
Last week I science-geeked at reading about a new type of star that previously had existed only in theory. Now scientists think they’ve detected the first one of its kind….
How You Can Be Sure God is in the Details
“God is concerned about the details of your life.” You’ve heard that many times, but why is it hard to believe?…
Why God Likes to Scatter
This month I started a one-year Bible reading plan. I’m already behind. I can’t help it. I have questions. Like why does the theme of scattering keep coming up? What’s bad about not scattering? And why should we care about it today?…
What the World Needs Now: Adonai Adoration
This blog is NOT about New Year’s resolutions. But it is about something I’m convinced we should do more….