The Disciples: Philip
Philip is a Greek name meaning friend and friend of horses. Many believe the disciple Philip may have spoken Greek. We first meet Philip right after Jesus has called Andrew and Simon Peter to follow…
The Importance of a Mentor
I grew tired of spinning my wheels. It seemed for years as if every step forward resulted in three steps back. Looking at my to-do list, items were still on there from years ago. I…
Faithful Heroes: J.R.R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien is best remembered for his literary works, The Lord of he Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillon. Many of his works have an undercurrent of Biblical teaching. Tolkien was a member…
Hymn Story: No, Not One
Johnson Oatman, Jr. was an lifelong insurance agent, while also serving as an ordained Methodist minister. No, Not One is a repetitive phrase used throughout the song to remind us that Jesus came to be…
Names of God: Ruach Hakkodesh
Ruach Hakkodesh is a phrase used in the Tanakh to refer to the spirit of inspiration. This is collection of the Hebrew scriptures found in the Torah. The rauch ha-Kodesh refres to the holy spirit…
Book Review: Called to Forgive
Living in South Carolina, I remember the heartbreaking tragedy of the Emmanuel Nine. What was meant to town a community apart, instead brought them together. This was a surprise to so many. In Called to…
The Disciples: Andrew
Andrew was a brother of Simon Peter. The brothers were from the village of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. The Greek culture and language were very significant in the area. His name is Greek,…
The Desires of Our Heart
There have been times when I’ve really had to ask God why. Why did I not listen to His warnings? Why did I marry an abusive man? Why didn’t I have children? Why have I…
Faithful Heroes: Wilbur Wilberforce
If you have seen the movie Amazing Grace then you may remember the story of William Wilberforce. He championed for the abolition of slavery in early 19th Century England. William Wilberforce was born on August…
Hymn Story: Let the Lower Lights Be Burning
In one of his sermons, Dwight L. Moody, the famed 19th Century evangelist, provided an anecdote of a pilot during the storm. He spoke of how not even a star was visible on this night,…
Names of God: Ruach Elohim
Ruach Elohim refers to the spirit of God. This is often referred to as the wind or breath of God. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of…
Jesus, the Son of God
As we wrap up the sons in the Bible series, it is fitting to end with the ultimate son, who is also the sun. Jesus Christ is the son of God. On earth, he was…
The Disciples: James
James was the brother of John. He was the son of Zebedee and his mother is believed to be Salome. The name James is a version of Jacob, meaning to supplant. James is always listed…
The Struggle to Surrender control
I have a type A personality. I want things done yesterday and I want to make sure they are done perfectly. After three years of having to do everything at work myself, I finally…
Faithful Heroes: Andrew Murray
Andrew Murray was a South African writer, teacher and Christian pastor. He considered missions to be “the chief end of the church”. Andrew Murray, Jr. was the second child of Andrew Murray, Sr. and Maria…
Hymn Story: Yield Not to Temptation
Horatio R. Palmer, was an American musician, who was struck with the idea for this hymn in a most unexpected way. One day while working on a music theory exercise, the idea for this hymn…
Names of God: Rock
A rock is “used to refer to someone or something that is extremely strong, reliable, or hard”. We are told that God is our rock, our fortress and our building stone. “There is none holy…
Sons in the Bible: The Prodigal Son
In the story of the Prodigal son, we do not told his name. This well-known story is based on a parable of Jesus. In the parable, there is a father with two sons. The younger…
The Disciples: John
After Peter, we probably know more about John than any of the other disciples. Many believe John and his brother, were followers of John the Baptist. However, these followers are never mentioned by name. {John…
Scripture calms the soul
Part of First Place 4 Health’s program is to memorize scripture each week. During my first session I really struggled with finding the time or desire to memorize scripture, even though I knew I needed…