When discussing commitment, the story of Hernán Cortés is often told. A Spanish conquistador of the 16th century, Cortés landed in Mexico with the intent of conquering the Aztec Empire. To show his commitment to the mission, Cortés famously commanded his army to burn the boats upon arrival. This extreme...
“Timing is everything.” This phrase can relate to the seizing of an opportunity or the appropriateness of an action or word. We all have certainly benefited from moments when it seemed like we had just the right timing, but we’ve also experienced the disappointment of just missing an opportunity. The...
What are the characteristics of mature people? One may point to wisdom, knowledge, or self-control as key aspects of one who is mature. However, in Hebrews 5, the author of the letter discusses another element of maturity: dependence. Writing about the priestly function of Jesus on earth, the author describes...
Have you ever heard someone refer to a minor inconvenience by saying “That’s just my cross to carry” or “We all have our own crosses to bear”? When one uses this phrase, it is typically expressed that they must endure a temptation, burden, trait, or inconvenience. However, Jesus’s command for...
Throughout history, people have wrestled with how much emphasis to place on the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT). Second-century gnostic Marcion believed that we should completely reject the OT as it represents a different god and different people. This belief crept its way into the minds of...
As a child, I was constantly told to wash my hands. Every time I would use the bathroom my parents would later ask, “Did you wash your hands?” Though annoying, I knew my parents were trying to instill good hygiene habits so I would not get myself or others sick....
The reality of suffering affects us all. During seasons of suffering, one’s focus can easily shift from praising God to one’s pain. In these times, though God is still praiseworthy, genuinely praising him becomes difficult.
I have a confession to make: I love listening to other people’s conversations. Sitting in a coffee shop and listening to the conversations around me is fun. Any time I need a break from reading or writing, I’ll sit there and allow my focus to gravitate toward the loudest conversation...
When is the last time you prayed specifically for boldness? The quality of boldness is not one that is always admirable. Boldness means to be fearless before danger (Merriam-Webster). While that sounds like something we all would want to be, there are plenty of people whose mindless fearlessness has resulted...
Over the past few years, fashion has seemed to change dramatically. Those who have lived in the ’70s and ’80s have probably seen some of their childhood and young adults’ clothing styles come back around. Teenagers are raiding their parents’ and grandparents’ old clothes to find “vintage clothing.” This has...