“Three Archaeological Discoveries”

First discovery: A carved inscription from the time of Pharaoh Thutmose III—the first mention of the city of Megiddo appears on the walls of the Temple of Karnak in Egypt, describing the pharaoh’s victory over Canaanite forces at Megiddo, dated to 1468 B.C. The inscription reads in part, “His majesty set forth in a chariot of fine gold adorned with his accoutrements of combat… His majesty’s army was at a hill south of the Qina brook, and the northern wing was to the northwest of Megiddo, while his majesty was in their center…. Thereupon his majesty prevailed over them at the head of his army.”

Second discovery: A seal from the time of King Jeroboam II—found at Megiddo and inscribed with the words, “belonging to Shema, servant of Yarob’am,” it depicts a majestic roaring lion and probably dates to the time of King Jeroboam of Israel who reigned in the 8th century B.C. (2 Kings 14:23-29). Although seals belonging to Berechiah and Jerahmeel have been discovered by archaeologists (Jer. 32:12; 36:26), unfortunately we don’t know the identity of Shema.

Third Discovery: A fragment of the Epic of Gilgamesh—the official website of Tel Aviv University in Israel gushes, “This is the only first-class literary Mesopotamian text ever to be found in Canaan.” Discovered at tel Megiddo in the excavations of the 1950s, this clay cuneiform tablet of roughly forty lines dates to approximately 1400 B.C. Written in Akaddian, it describes Enkidu’s decline and death bed, not any portion of the flood account, nevertheless it shows knowledge of this renowned Babylonian epic inside Canaan.

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia

Life in the Land: Fast Facts about the Ibex in Israel

1. Their scientific name is capra nubiana, which literally means “the goat from Nubia,” a dry mountainous region in northeastern Africa, roughly equivalent to southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Ibex, however, are found throughout the Middle East.

2. Psalm 104:18 and Job 39:1 evidently refer to the ibex in their descriptions of the wild mountain goats.

3. The ibex possess incredible climbing skills, capable of making near-vertical ascents. They have unique hooves with hard outer rims that can support their weight on narrow ledges and with soft inner pads that grip the rock. Even young ibex are able to climb rather effortlessly shortly after birth.

4. They don’t require as much water as other mammals and so are able to survive in desert temperatures that regularly exceed one hundred degrees. They obtain much of their water from plants and can go long stretches with only small amounts of water. They typically feed in the morning, rest in the shade of the afternoon and grow more active again in the evening.

5. They’re easy to spot at Ein Gedi and other sites along the western shore of the Dead Sea and throughout the Judean Wilderness as a whole. They are so accustomed to tourists that they often stroll through parking lots and picnic areas, so have your camera ready.

6. The males sport spectacular horns, some measuring more than three feet in length, which curl backward in large picturesque arcs. Sometimes males will lock their horns as they fight for the right to mate with the females who too have beautiful horns though they are shorter and more slender.

7. Historically the Arabian leopard was their main predator, but the leopard population has declined dramatically. Today the ibex face only minor threats from wolves and jackals, and they’re usually able to escape such predators by moving to higher or more difficult terrain.

8. Due to conservation efforts in Israel the population of ibex has increased steadily through the years after coming close to local extinction in the 1940s. Today it is illegal to hunt or kill ibex.

-Daniel McCabe

Pneumatology—the Holy Spirit’s Work in Salvation, (part 3)

Without the Holy Spirit we just simply would not be saved. He convicts us of sin, which we see in John 16 and 1 Thessalonians 1, and He convicts us of our sin by the revelation of Scripture. It’s the truth of Scripture that really does bring one’s mind to realize, “Yes, I am a sinner! I do need to repent of my sin. I do need to reach out to God (so to speak) and to ask for forgiveness.”

It’s the Spirit who convicts us of our need through the preaching of the Scripture and also through the rebuke of other believers. We see this especially throughout the pastoral epistles, such as 1 Timothy 5, 2 Timothy 4 and Titus 1, where Paul really wanted his readers to understand the importance of rebuke and correction from other believers wherein the Spirit works through them to convict us of our sins. So we must not dismiss our loved ones when they confront us about our sinful actions. This is different, of course, from a busybody or even someone trying to trick us or trap us about something we’ve done. But there’s also a genuine loving concern that someone might have for us, someone who walks through life with us, knows us and truly sees something that’s concerning. A dear friend can at any time approach me and say, “Adam, you’ve been living or thinking or acting in a way that really is not godly,” and the Spirit can use his rebuke to convict me of my sin, the need to repent of it, and the need for correction. Truly we need one another and that’s why the Bible refers to us as brothers and sisters in Christ. We don’t live this life alone. We need one another, and we should be thankful that we have one another to keep us accountable to what the Scripture instructs.

The Spirit also assures believers of their salvation. We see this in Romans 8:16-17. He seals them in Christ, marking them as God’s possessions and as children of God, ensuring them an inheritance and preventing them from becoming lost. We didn’t do anything to earn our salvation and we can’t do anything to keep it. If it was up to me to keep my salvation, it would be gone in seconds.

Paul writes in Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of His glory.” Thus, I am sealed with the Spirit of God who is the guarantee of my inheritance, i.e., my salvation, until the day when I die and actually acquire possession of my total freedom from sin and dwell with God forever. Until that day when I am freed from this mortal coil, the Holy Spirit dwells within me as a downpayment, as a guarantee, and as the promised seal of my salvation; therefore, I cannot possibly become lost once I am truly saved.

The term down payment comes from a Greek word that means the first installment towards something that you intend to purchase, which here refers to the Holy Spirit, the downpayment of our salvation who guarantees us that we will possess it on the day that we stand before our Lord, which is a great comfort.

-Adam Keim

Hometown Heroes—Mary of Magdala

“Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out” (Luke 8:1-2).

Have you ever wondered why Mary, a faithful follower of Jesus, was called “Magdalene”? The name simply describes her hometown of Magdala. This naming scheme is similar to “Elijah the Tishbite” (1 Kings 17:1) and “Simon of Cyrene” (Mark 15:21).

Jesus cast out seven demons from her—a wonderful blessing! She also has a reputation for being a former prostitute. However, that notion does not come from any biblical text, but was an idea of Pope Gregory I in his Easter Sermon, way back in 591. He probably conflated Mary Magdalene with the unnamed sinful woman in Luke 7:36-39.

Large scale archaeological excavations have been conducted at Magdala since 2006 with some amazing finds. A residential district with many ancient homes was found. Their doorways were filled with stones, likely because of families that fled the Roman conquest in AD 66-70, hoping to return after the battles.

The most notable discovery is an entire synagogue in which was found the famous “Magdala Stone,” a large slanted slab that was probably used to hold an open scroll to read from in the synagogue service. A menorah is carved into the Magdala Stone, the earliest menorah of that period to be found outside of Jerusalem.

A breathtaking modern church stands on the shore of Galilee’s waters. The church is dedicated to the women of Jesus’s ministry. It contains beautiful artwork and a great dome that makes for wonderful acoustics—try singing your favorite hymn and hear the sound reverberate all around you!

Magdala is an easy stop since it is close to major destinations like Capernaum, the church of the Beatitudes, and the city of Tiberias. Do yourself a favor and visit Mary’s hometown. Tradition holds that Jesus healed the bleeding woman there when she reached out in faith and touched His garment (Mark 5:25-34). Walk among the ruins and ponder the many great things that our Lord did in that village and everywhere throughout the region of Galilee!

-Adam Keim

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© 2026 Shalom Y’all Ministries

Cullman, AL 35058

Week Twenty-Seven, 2026

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1

It is a birthday celebration like no other… the 250th birthday of the United States. It is a time to celebrate the greatest nation on our planet. It is also a time to realistically examine where we have come and how we got here, as well as the dangers of where we are going.

John Adams wrote, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” That was true then, and it is true today. Our Founding Fathers believed that only a moral and virtuous people could remain free.

America was founded on the belief that our rights come from God, not government. In officially atheist nations, including Communist China and North Korea, government is god, and you have no inherent and unalienable rights.

The 1787 Northwest Ordinance, one of America’s first laws, states, “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”

In his farewell address, President George Washington wrote:

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness…

“And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

There hadn’t been a war in Europe since Waterloo in 1815, but in 1898, Robert Cecil, Marquis of Salisbury and prime minister of Great Britain, warned that any danger to Europe would arise from dying nations. Most Europeans didn’t think of England, Germany, Austria, and France as dying nations, but with the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, it became evident to all how dead the nations of Western Europe—the former Holy Roman Empire, the “Christianized” nations—really were. They were as dead as godless Darwinism, Marxism, fascism, democracy, etc., can render a people.

For decades America has been preparing its downfall. The hatred, incivility, murder, violence, obscenities, moral perversion, and crime that is spewed are everywhere. But just because America is dying doesn’t mean the church is dying with it. It has always been in times of societal decay that the church, the pillar and ground of the truth, has flourished.

While our rights come from God, a nation is only as strong as the faith of its people. That leads me to a disturbing report from the American Bible Society, which found that “less than a third of American parents pray with their children.”

Whenever they have power, secular leftists do all kinds of things to restrict our religious liberty. But nobody can tell you what you can do in your home with your children. If you’re not doing such a simple thing as praying regularly with your children, step up!

There is much to do; there’s work on every hand. May God give us the strength to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world in this dark and decaying hour.

Sometimes True Stories

“The Lord preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plan of the treacherous.” – Proverbs 22:12 (NLT)

As we get older, it seems life gets more complicated, perhaps because we continue to gain more useless information. How we sort this accumulation of information can determine the life we lead. A quick Google search says that over 40% of the information found on the internet is false. A search of evolution vs. creation is a prime example. A little common sense will tell you that much of the science on this subject is nothing more than theories and assumptions. Please understand that I am not implying that all science is bad; in fact, I enjoy science and use it in my business daily, but it has its limitations. This Proverb says the Lord will preserve those with knowledge. That knowledge is gained through the eyes of the Lord to discern truth, wisdom, and understanding.

“For all people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” – 1 Peter 1:24-25 (NIV)

The science of man vs. the Word of God? One withers, the other endures forever! – Tony Ferguson

Quotes You Can Use

We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. – C.S. Lewis

The book of Proverbs warns against ignoring God, because true wisdom and knowledge cannot exist without a foundation of reverence for our Creator.

A woman who fears the Lord lives with wisdom, strength, and confidence because her hope is in the Lord.

Our refuge is the name of the Lord.

There is something about everything to be glad about, if you keep hunting long enough to find it.

When faced with the choice of being kind or being right, choose to be kind; we can always be right.

A good friend loves you no matter your mood.

Whatever our planning and preparation for the future may be, doing so without consulting God is done at our own peril. Learning to yield to the plans of the Lord and concede that God is in ultimate control is the beginning of a peaceful life.

It hurts to see our character destroyed by short-term selfish thinking when it has taken many lives and many acts of courage over many years to build that trust.

You have to compare the end result of a life of wickedness with the end result of a life of righteousness.

Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. – Proverbs 4:23

God’s will is tomorrow’s unknown factor.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4

You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he is willing to climb a little himself.

Address all items and comments to [email protected].

© Thoughts on Life Copyright 2026

10025 Orange Grove Drive

Tampa, FL 33618, USA

As I travel and speak with pastors and ministry leaders across the country, my focus is to help them understand why the success of Northeastern Baptist College matters. It’s an easy message to share. Northeastern Baptist College matters because New England matters.

Not long ago, I drove through a beautiful Vermont town. At its center stood a historic church building with a towering white steeple. It reminded me of the rich Christian heritage that once shaped this region.

As I continued through the town, however, I was reminded that appearances can be deceiving. Across New England many of these beautiful church buildings no longer represent the reason for which they were established.

Some have become museums, community centers, or performance venues. Others remain open, but the message proclaimed within them bears little resemblance to the biblical gospel that once transformed New England.

What struck me that day was how many visitors stop to admire and photograph these churches. They marvel at the architecture and the charm of New England.

Yet few realize the deeper story. The steeples remain, but the spiritual vitality that once filled those buildings is gone.

As I drove away, I found myself thinking, “This is why Northeastern Baptist College exists.”

My desire as President is not simply to preserve a college. It is to see New England transformed by the power of the gospel. I long to see churches filled with vibrant worship, faithful biblical preaching, and lives changed by Jesus Christ.

While New England is rich in Christian history, it is now one of the most spiritually needy regions in America. Many people live within driving distance of our campus, but few heard the gospel message. This is the mission field God has assigned to us.

Every student who enrolls at Northeastern Baptist College represents more than a classroom seat. Each student represents what it is going to take to reach New England for Christ. They are future pastors, missionaries, church planters, educators, counselors, and business leaders who will carry the gospel to their communities, their churches, and their workplaces.

That is why one of the most unique aspects of NEBC’s mission is our commitment to keeping ministry preparation affordable and accessible.

Your giving to NEBC helps make it possible for students to receive a biblical education while preparing for a lifetime of ministry service. In many ways, our ministry partners are investing in missionaries before they ever reach the field.

Think about that for a moment. Long before a church is planted, a pastor must be trained. Long before a missionary is sent, a leader must be equipped. Long before lives are transformed by the gospel, someone must prepare those who will faithfully proclaim it.

That is what happens every day at Northeastern Baptist College. Your ministry partnership funds the preparation of those who will spend their lives advancing the gospel. It is helping ensure that students called by God are equipped for the work God has given them to do.

The opportunities before us are tremendous. The need is real. The mission is urgent. Thank you for praying. Thank you for believing in the mission of NEBC. Thank you for partnering with us as we train students to reach New England for Christ.

Because of Jesus,

Dr. Mark Howell

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Copyright (C) 2023 Northeastern Baptist College. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:

PO Box 4600, Bennington, VT 05201

One of my travel guides lists hundreds of sites worth visiting in Israel, but awards a one star “highly recommended” rating to only twenty-five, and you guessed it. Megiddo made the cut, and for good reason! A stunning location astride the beautiful Carmel mountain range. Westerly winds of the Mediterranean Sea whipping through your hair. The fruitful Jezreel Valley sprawling out below you to the north and east. The heartland of Israel to the south.

As you leave the visitor center to enter the 125-acre ruins of the tel, you first come to an ancient four-chambered Canaanite gate, then to a later six-chambered Israelite gate complex. Now before you nod off at all this talk about long ago gates, don’t miss this. Yigael Yadin, the Israeli archaeologist who excavated the site in the 1950s (a former Israel Defense Force Chief of Staff and the son of professor Eleazar Sukenik, prominent in the recovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the 1940s), observed that the six-chambered gate structure looked strikingly similar to the gates at Gezer and Hazor, and after compiling and comparing the measurements of all three gates, it was almost as if they were built from the same blueprints. But this is just what he should have expected, for 1 Kings 9:15 notes in one of those easy-to-fly-right-by verses that King Solomon built all three cities. Yadin would later write in an article for Biblical Archaeology Reader that “This fact … confirms quite clearly the Biblical narrative.” Hooray! Once again the Bible shines bright!

There’s no time for a thorough tour of the site unless you come with me next time we tour the Holy Land, but let’s take a quick lap of the site even so and take in the highlights. After you leave the gate complex, follow the path clockwise to reach the northern “stable” (there is also a southern stable) which housed perhaps as many as 150 chariot-horses, referenced or suggested by later biblical and Assyrian sources (though admittedly some argue that they are storerooms rather than stables). Then to a palace of Solomon, so identified by Yadin, and past a large Canaanite altar, perhaps used for both animal and human sacrifice. Next you’ll come to a massive grain silo with several dozen descending steps, past another palace, dating perhaps to the time of Solomon, and past the aforementioned southern stable until finally you come to one of the crowning achievements of the inhabitants of Megiddo, an underground water tunnel that brought water from a nearby spring into the city, enabling them to withstand any siege.

What do you think? Worthy of one star or would you give it two?

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia (The answer is at the bottom of the page)

On Location: The Cardo in Jerusalem

Although it might sound to you like a hallway lined with the offices of heart doctors or perhaps even an Italian magician who made your card miraculously appear at the top of the deck, it’s something quite different. The Cardo is actually a Roman-period street, approximately 75-feet wide, flanked by rows of stone columns and by compartments that once brimmed with merchants. Wooden beams supported the roofing of the side stalls that were likely covered by ceramic tiles. Topped with dazzling Corinthian capitals, the 16-foot high, limestone columns were discovered by archaeologists in fragments that had been incorporated into later structures.

Today you can visit the Cardo and actually walk on the original Roman-period paving stones of this ancient street found inside the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Historically the Cardo ran past two spectacular churches: the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional location of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and the even larger New Church, built three hundred years later in the sixth century by Emperor Justinian. Known both then and today as the Cardo Maximus, it runs north-south through the city. Many think that the word “cardo” is related to the word “heart,” perhaps symbolic of its route through the heart of the city, but the word cardo actually means “hinge” or “axis,” and “cardo maximus” means “the main axis,” for it originally intersected with a major east-west city street.

Inside the Cardo are pictures and maps for those interested in its history as well as modern shops for those wanting to buy art, clothes, spices, jewelry or t-shirts. You’ll also notice signs of past archaeological work. Today the Cardo is completely covered, so if you ever get caught by a storm or even a latter rain, just drop into the Cardo and do some shopping until it passes.

-Daniel McCabe

Pneumatology: the Personhood of the Holy Spirit, part 2

The Holy Spirit is God, which means that He is a person. He is spirit, yes, but He’s also a person. The Holy Spirit is not just a force. He has personality. He intercedes for the believer. He does things that only beings with personhood do. He testifies with His spirit. He can be insulted (Hebrews 10:29). He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). He can be lied to—Ananias and Sapphira did that (Acts 5:3-4). He can be spoken against.

He is indivisible and He has a will. He does things. He strives with us. He teaches us. He speaks. He forbids. Thankfully the Holy Spirit is our helper, guide and revealer to the believer. So in every way that God has personhood—He loves, even hates, can be angered or pleased—the Holy Spirit has personhood.

-Adam Keim

How Joseph Foreshadows Jesus, part 2

The similarities between Old Testament Joseph and Jesus are striking to me. In his classic work, “Gleanings in Genesis,” A. W. Pink lists 101 ways that Joseph’s life foreshadowed the life of Jesus, the Messiah. In this 3-part series I’m sharing the first 60, broken into three groups of 20. If you’d like to read them all, you can find his work at www.archive.org. The following list is my careful summary of his work; many of the verses are mine. What do you think?

-Daniel McCabe

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© 2026 Shalom Y’all Ministries

Cullman, AL

Week Twenty-Six, 2026

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” — Psalm 139:1-2

We landed in the middle of the night in a foreign city, checked into the hotel, and went to bed. We woke up at midday ready to see the city. We left our key at the front desk, as required, hailed a cab, and told the driver the name of the museum we wanted to visit.

Later, as we viewed the art, I had a funny feeling, turned to my wife, and inquired if she remembered the name of the hotel where we were staying. She said no, and we were stranded. Once I found someone who spoke English and described what the hotel looked like, he came up with the name, and we got back to our hotel.

The Bible teaches that God knows exactly where you are—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—and that true identity is found “in Christ.” It emphasizes that God meets you where you are, with Psalm 139:8 affirming, “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” God knows your sitting and rising and understands your thoughts from afar.

God is present in every place, from the highest heights of heaven to the deepest depths of the grave (Sheol), ensuring that no one can hide from His presence or escape His care. You cannot get lost from God. He knows your every sound and movement.

You cannot lose God because His presence, love, and salvation are viewed as guaranteed, even when faith feels shaken or when material possessions and worldly security are lost. God is often viewed as a constant, comforting force who does not abandon His children, offering strength and restoration in times of trouble.

While you can lose material things, faith in God is the ultimate asset, and according to Christian faith, God will never leave or forsake you.

The best of all is that God will never leave us. He is only a prayer away.

Sometimes True Stories

To all my friends who enjoy golf, here is an analogy based on today’s Proverb. When you hit a great shot, what do you learn? Probably not much; you feel happy and have a certain amount of pride in the great shot you hit, but what did you learn? Now let’s take the opposite approach: you hit a bad shot. You have several choices: you can ignore and accept the bad shot, or you can analyze and embrace the discipline and work effort it takes to get better.

Failure seems to teach us more, and most of us know instinctively when we need correction. Scripture says the Lord disciplines those He loves. In golf we take lessons to get better; in life we need the discipline of the Lord. He is our teacher, and He knows we are going to hit the bad shots of life. Failure makes us humble, and humility makes us better. The Lord appreciates a humble heart because a humble heart accepts discipline, and discipline makes us better! — Tony Ferguson

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Anger, self-pity, and blaming others for our circumstances are the walls of self-made prisons. Sin has a way of setting a trap that is hard to escape and often leads to a heavy heart. Jesus came to lift our burdens, to set us free, and to open the prison doors. We all have heavy hearts at times, and how we deal with our burdens will ultimately determine how we get through these difficult times. The righteous understand where to turn, and it starts with prayer and talking to our Lord about our burdens. When experiencing difficult times, many of us turn to friends or associates, and some will talk to no one. May I suggest we talk to Jesus? He is always there, will always listen, never judges, and is totally dependable. — Tony Ferguson

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“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” — Revelation 19:6b-7

Weddings are a big deal around the world. They are all about the bride. The bride is adorned with the most beautiful gown to make her the ultimate picture of beauty and purity. The occasion is capped off with a fabulous reception. Nothing is spared, including money. The cost of the event can easily be $40,000. Yet, there is a wedding and feast waiting in Heaven for those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ. The church is the bride. The bride has adorned herself with the righteousness of Christ Himself, making her the ultimate picture of beauty and purity. The reception, the marriage supper of the Lamb, has been prepared and lacks nothing. It will be a feast unlike anything we can imagine. And the cost? Priceless and already paid.

Will you be there? — Rich Jensen

Quotes You Can Use

The flesh can never be satisfied.

Remember, we may be stressed, but we are blessed.

Jesus promised that those who believed in Him would never die.

Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction. — Anne Frank

Laziness in our faith provides a fertile garden for the devil to plant the weeds of life in our minds.

The only thing we should covet is a closer relationship with God.

Sometimes faith will make you look stupid until it starts to rain. — Noah

The mark of an effective church is not how many people come, but how many are living differently as a result of having been there.

If you have nothing else to give your children, they have enough if they have God.

We are not building God’s kingdom. God is building His Kingdom, and we are praying for the privilege of being involved.

Smart people learn from mentors. Average people learn from their experiences, and stupid people already have all the answers. — Socrates

Life isn’t waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain. — Snoopy

If you have an important decision to make, or even a small one, it is good to make your decision with the guidance of the Lord. — Corrie ten Boom

Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit.

Don’t be impressed by money, followers, degrees, and titles. Be impressed by kindness, integrity, humility, and generosity.

If you get on the wrong train, get off at the next station. The longer it takes to get off, the more expensive the return trip will be.

You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choices.

Saving faith is a transforming faith that produces fruitful obedience and gracious compassion.

Partiality is incompatible with the gospel because it contradicts Christ’s work, God’s character, and God’s mercy.

Receive others as God has received you. — Edgar Aponte

Address all items and comments to [email protected].

© Thoughts on Life Copyright 2026

10025 Orange Grove Drive

Tampa, FL 33618, USA

“The Biblical References”

Megiddo isn’t exactly a household name in the Bible. Using the “search” feature in my Bible software program, I found only twelve total mentions of the city, all in the Old Testament, which at least beat out the nine mentions of Rome, but still fell far short of Jerusalem, which is mentioned a whopping 815 times.

We’re first introduced to Megiddo in Joshua 12:21 in a long yawn-inspiring list of cities that Joshua defeated after entering the Promised Land. Megiddo is buried between the mention of the cities of Taanach and Kedesh, so you’re forgiven if you didn’t remember that one. Megiddo is described as hilly in Joshua 17:11—that it is!—and there’s a water source nearby, according to Judges 5:19—absolutely right, for a spring still flows there today! So, it’s starting to make more sense that there’d be a settlement at this location—easy to defend and plenty of water to drink.

In Judges 1:27 we learn that the tribe of Manasseh failed to fully drive out the people of Megiddo with its satellite cities, showing that the Canaanites had slipped back into the area sometime after Joshua’s conquest and had maintained a presence there until the time of Deborah and Barak who once again defeated the Canaanites in battle (Judges 5:19). The next time we encounter the city, it’s populated with Israelites, having been transformed into a key administrative city by King Solomon (1 Kings 4:12) who expanded and strengthened it (1 Kings 9:15). Two later Jewish kings, Ahaziah and Josiah, both died at Megiddo from battle wounds (2 Kings 9:27; 23:29-30; 2 Chron. 35:22-24), highlighting the city’s military significance, and in the last of the twelve references, the prophet Zechariah associates “the plain of Megiddo” with a future time of great mourning (Zech. 12:11), a time when the Jews “will look on Me whom they pierced” (v. 10).

The city of Megiddo doesn’t show up in the New Testament even one time until you remember that Megiddo is the root word of Armageddon, a battlefield in Revelation 16:16, the mention of which follows these descriptive words of Jesus in v. 15, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches….” Thus, the battle of Armageddon precedes the Second Coming of Jesus, a time when fighting and mourning will come to an end.

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia (Find the answer below)

Life in the Land: Jerusalem Syndrome

If you could meet any person from the Bible, who would it be? Perhaps Jesus, John the Baptizer, King David, Moses, the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene or Elijah? Did you know that every year in Israel as many as one hundred people are evaluated, resulting in roughly forty hospitalizations, for what is popularly known as Jerusalem Syndrome. In other words, they become so overwhelmed during their visit to the land of Israel that they lapse into a temporary mental state wherein they believe themselves to be a biblical figure, perhaps one in the previous list of seven names that comprise the greatest number of documented cases.

According to research psychiatrists at Kfar Shaul Mental Health Center, this phenomenon can affect Christian, Jewish and even Muslim pilgrims, and it generally follows a recognizable pattern: an intense preoccupation with a biblical person or place, an urge to separate from one’s traveling companions, a ritual washing, usually accompanied by a change into white clothing, a visit to one of the holy sites to teach or preach, and finally an identification with the biblical figure associated with that site. Fortunately, most cases result in a full recovery after only a few weeks once the person is removed from the area.

Several movies and books have centered around characters with the syndrome as well as television series, including The X-Files and The Simpsons. One tour guide even showed me a mattress once, located near the Ninth Station of the Cross in the Old City, that belonged to a man who identified as Jesus.

-Daniel McCabe

Divinity of the Holy Spirit, Part 1

Pneumatology

Pneuma is the Greek word for wind or spirit, and so pneumatology is the theology of the Holy Spirit. The first topic I’d like to take up in this series is the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

It is so very important to understand that the Holy Spirit is part of the triune Godhead. He is a member of the Trinity. We see this in Matthew 28:19 and in many other passages. He’s fully divine. He’s co-equal with the Father and the Son, and because the Holy Spirit is God, a sin against the Holy Spirit is a sin against God as is made pretty clear by Acts 5:3-4 when Ananias and Sapphire are confronted by the apostles.

Being God, the Holy Spirit is, of course, omniscient, according to 1 Corinthians 2:9-11. He is also omnipresent, omnipotent and eternal, and being divine, of course, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, was active in creation, hovering over the waters. The Spirit regenerates people. He renews us upon our salvation and He sanctifies us. He even revealed all Scripture to us, which we see in 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21. We only know anything about God because we have the God-breathed Scriptures that are inspired works of the Holy Spirit. In 1 John 5:6 we read too that He is truth.

There’s also an interesting doctrine, known as the spiration of the Holy Spirit, that is viewed in two different ways within Christendom. I personally believe that the Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, but the Eastern Orthodox branch of Christianity has held throughout church history that the Holy Spirit only proceeds (or is sent or spirated) from the Father. The Western view, the historical view of Roman Catholicism and now of Protestantism and Evangelicalism, holds that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and from the Son. Some Scriptures show that He proceeds from the Father (e.g., John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 2:12) and some verses that He proceeds from the Son, even calling Him the Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of the Son (e.g., Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6).

Even though proponents of each view might view the other as unbiblical, it really is one of those things that you could almost argue for either view—the Spirit proceeding only from the Father or the Spirit proceeding from both the Father and of the Son. It’s one of those things where a lot of people scratch their heads and say, “What does it even matter? Whether I hold to double spiration or to single spiration it’s not going to affect my day-to-day life for the Lord in any way, shape or form. I just know that the Holy Spirit is God and that He regenerates me and renews me.” It’s one of those things about which people like me have fun theorizing and philosophizing, but in the end we cannot fully comprehend the Trinity because we’re created beings who are always limited by our finitude. Still it’s fun to think about it.

-Adam Keim

The Palestinians

From the Archives:, November 1, 2022

Although the word Palestinian comes from the word Philistine, it is widely acknowledged that Palestinians are not descendants of the Philistines who are mentioned in Bible stories like David and Goliath or Samson and Delilah. DNA studies of the bones and teeth of skeletons, which were unearthed recently in the biblical region of Philistia, lead to the conclusion that the Philistines migrated from Greece, Italy and Spain around the twelfth century B.C.

DNA also shows that Jews and some modern-day Palestinians share a common ancestry. In fact both have a long history in the land of the Bible with the former being descendants of Isaac and the latter being descendants of Ishmael.

Some modern-day Palestinians are descendants of people groups who have lived in the land of the Bible continuously for thousands of years, but many are also from the Balkans, Caucasus, Turkey, Egypt, Arabia, Syria and Lebanon. In the mid-twentieth century A.D. the moniker Palestinian was first adopted in order to identify this mixed group. Before that time (going back even before the time of Christ) the word Palestinian had been used in a general sense for anyone living in the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Today it is used almost exclusively for non-Jewish, Arabic speakers who live mostly in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but the term Palestinian may leave some with the wrong impression that they are a homogenous group of people with a unified, national, historical claim to the land which predates that of the Jews.

-Daniel McCabe

Answer to the Trivia

C. 60%

Week Twenty-Five, 2026

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” – Ephesians 6:11

The speaker was halfway through the presentation when it happened. Suddenly, lights were flashing and a voice said, “A fire has been detected in the hotel; evacuate immediately.” We obeyed, and suddenly there was a large crowd outside, mixed with lots of bright red fire trucks. It turned out that the cause of the alarm was a smoke machine in an adjacent ballroom.

I watched as the firemen entered, each adorned with his assigned tools. One had an axe, one a crowbar, and many had oxygen bottles—each equipped with what he needed in the event of a real fire.

As I watched, I thought of Ephesians 6, which instructs us to put on the full armor of God so we can stand against the devil’s schemes.

The armor of God consists of the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

We’re in a battle, and our enemy is on the attack. Spiritual warfare is real, but we do not have to engage in it unprotected. As Christians, we have been given a wonderful gift—the armor of God.

It emphasizes relying on God’s strength—not human strength—for protection against spiritual, invisible, and deceptive attacks. The “armor” represents using truth, righteousness, faith, and Scripture to remain steadfast.

The detailed teaching of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 presents two essential components. First, you must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Then, you must put on the whole armor of God. The two are essential, and much teaching on Christian combat neglects the first. If you take a weak man who can barely stand and put the best armor on him, he will still be an ineffective soldier. He will be easily beaten. So, equipping for Christian combat must begin with the principle: be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Are you prepared for the fires in your life?

Sometimes True Stories

Every parent who has a little child who comes to them crying will comfort that child and wipe away their tears. That child may have just stubbed its toe, or been belittled by another, or been unable to solve a problem. What seemed tear-worthy to the little one was easily fixed by a loving parent. We parents want our children to come to us for comfort.

So it is with our Heavenly Father. He wants us to come to Him with our tear-worthy issues. Adult needs for comfort seem to be so much bigger and more consequential than the needs of children. But to our Father, they are as small as our child’s are to us. So, climb up into His figurative lap and let Him wipe away those tears.

Good news: Our Heavenly Father has prepared a heavenly home for us in which there will be no more tears, only an eternity with Jesus on the brand-new, sinless earth.

You can count on it. – Rich Jensen

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What do we need to do on earth to get to Heaven when we die? That is a question in the minds of most of mankind. This question was asked by a Sunday school teacher to a fifth-grade class. The teacher asked, “If I clean the church each week, will that get me into Heaven?” “No!” answered the class.

“What if I sell all of my possessions and give the money to the church—will that get me into Heaven?” “No!” answered the class. “What if I am kind to people and sin as little as possible?” Again, the class answered no. Finally, a little boy raised his hand and shouted, “You gotta be dead!”

Well, that part is true, but it is only part of the answer. It is not simply enough to believe in God; even the demons believe in God, and they shudder because they know they are not going to Heaven.

First, we must believe and then accept the gift of God’s grace. Placing our faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior makes us Christians. Trusting Jesus gets us to Heaven. – Tony Ferguson

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The only rational thing to do when one encounters the beauty of a rose is to breathe in its fragrance and say, “That is a creation of my God.” (And the same is true for the gardenia bush by our side door!)

Quotes You Can Use

Total devotion, total love—that’s what God requires.

Ignoring the truth of God and believing in the sovereignty of man is insane. There is only one place to find real truth, and it is not found in the media. Take refuge in the one and only Son of God! Then, and only then, will we find real truth. – Tony Ferguson

It is love that causes God to be so patient and long-suffering with the wicked, giving opportunity after opportunity for them to turn, to repent, to change.

Temporal excitements never last long.

God leads in very simple, natural ways.

Leave this world a little better than you found it.

There is nothing random about God’s order.

What could we possibly give to God that is of any value to Him? There’s only one thing He really wants from you. Just one thing! He wants your heart.

To contribute your ideas and thoughts, address all items and comments to [email protected].

©2026, Thoughts on Life

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June 13, 2026

Perhaps you recognize the name of Thutmose III of Egypt, the pharaoh whom Yours Truly identifies as the pharaoh of the oppression and from whom Moses fled in Exodus 2:15. Well, this is not that story, but one even so that impacts biblical history, for in 1457 B.C. while Moses is enjoying quiet married life in Midian as a shepherd, ten years before he’ll be surprised by a burning bush in the wilderness that would lead to his returning to Egypt to lead the Israelites into freedom, Thutmose III is marching toward a fortress town in Canaan called Megiddo.

Thutmose wanted to expand his kingdom, but Megiddo stood in his way—literally. Located strategically at an important pass through the Mount Carmel range, if Megiddo fell, then the Egyptians could control the key highway that runs past Megiddo, known as the “Way of the Sea,” over which armies and caravans have traveled since the dawn of time between the continents of Europe and Asia and the continent of Africa.

Conquering Megiddo would lead to extraordinary wealth and power, so much so that when Thutmose III’s generals hesitated to issue the command for their soldiers to enter the narrow and dangerous route through this mountainous terrain, the biblical pharaoh famously charged them with these words, “The capture of Megiddo is like the capture of one thousand cities.” So they braved the march, they besieged the city, and the city fell, thus dramatically reducing any threat of serious resistance to their newly-acquired rule from any of the people living in the valley and the surrounding region.

From the heights of Megiddo the victors looked out in awe on the strikingly beautiful flatland to the northeast, known today as the Jezreel Valley. Shaped like an arrowhead this valley has arguably witnessed more battles than any other place on earth. Napoleon once quipped, “All the armies of the world could maneuver on this plain,” for whoever controlled this broad, strategically-located valley controlled one of the greatest and most powerful intersections in the world.

Today Megiddo is a tel, a small hill or mound that has built up over centuries and that when excavated will reveal layer upon layer of past civilizations at that location. In fact twenty-six layers of ancient civilization have been identified, dating from ancient times until shortly before the New Testament era when the site was surprisingly abandoned and never rebuilt. Different groups of Canaanites held Megiddo as far back as 3000 B.C., then the Egyptians, of course, followed by other famous names and peoples, including General Joshua (under whom the land was assigned to the tribe of Manasseh which would ultimately fail to hold it), David, Solomon, Ahab, Omri and the Assyrians. One of my favorite writers, archaeologist James Murphy-O’Connor, has called Megiddo “the royal box in one of the great theaters of history,” adding that “from time immemorial armies have surged from the surrounding valleys to play their parts on the flat stage of the Jezreel Valley.”

Perhaps you know Tel Megiddo by its other name, Har Megiddo, meaning “the hill of Megiddo,” which when translated into the Greek language, transforms into Armageddon. Anticipating the final battle to end all battles, Revelation 16:14, 16 states that “the kings of the earth and of the whole world [will] gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty … and they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.”

Megiddo’s history is ultimately a story about the future of the world. The word Megiddo has been variously translated as “the hill of troops” or “the place of slaughter,” a meaning that foreshadows a terrible time when the armies of the world will come against God’s people and be defeated. Even so, come, Lord Jesus, for we know you alone can bring peace to the world.

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia (Find the answer below)

Life in the Land:: Ten Fun Facts about Camels

1. Jesus mentioned camels—actually, twice! You probably remember this one. “I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:24). But did you remember this quote, describing the scribes and Pharisees? “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matt. 23.24).

2. There is no evidence that riding camels hurts them. You as the rider might be a little sore the next day, but they are just fine.

3. A camel can walk up to 60 miles per day, 20 miles comfortably with a full load, can carry around 1300 pounds of cargo, can survive for ten days without water and can tolerate temperatures over one hundred degrees.

4. Camel milk and camel cheese are gaining popularity in Israel for their low-fat health benefits.

5. Camel meat is not considered kosher because camels do not have fully split hooves.

6. On your next visit to Israel, you can pay $5-10 for a five-minute camel ride, supervised by Bedouin handlers. Camels are often equipped with two-seat saddles so that you can ride with a friend.

7. Most domesticated camels in Israel are one-humped Dromedaries, not the two-humped Bactrian variety

8. I wouldn’t recommend feeding them by hand because they have a powerful bite. But they do love dates as a snack. Oh, and watch out, they sometimes spit when annoyed and you definitely won’t like the smell.

9. Camels aren’t typically wild or free-roaming in Israel, but you won’t travel very far down Highway 1 on your way from Jerusalem to Jericho before seeing Bedouin camps and camels.

10. Camels are surprisingly intelligent. They recognize their handlers, remember people, and can be trained for specific routes.

-Daniel McCabe

Scripture Study:: Three Bold Claims, part 2

Last time I shared three bold claims with the third being that much of the Old Testament hasn’t happened yet. Let me offer an example from Zechariah 8:1-8, one of many that I could give. Here God makes the following promises to the nation of Israel at a time when they had begun to return to their land from exile.

“And the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.’”

Now, as the people began returning to Israel from exile in Babylon and Persia, no doubt there would have been a lot of excitement. “God is at work! Something great is happening! He’s told us through the prophets that he would regather us!” No doubt they would have begun to think, “We’re being regathered!” And so they started to rebuild the temple and eventually the city. Of course, there was a lot of buzz, “Is this our promised Golden Age? Is this the blessed age of the kingdom to come?” For sure, their regathering from exile was the beginning of that promised time, and the years to follow would create the potential for those days to be fully realized if they had simply received Jesus as their king. A lot of what you read in these verses from Zechariah did actually happen. I’m quite sure that there were old men and women living there and boys and girls playing in the streets. But this passage and many other prophetic passages speak of a time when the norm would be peace and prosperity. Zechariah also said that they would live as God’s people in faithfulness and righteousness and that Jerusalem would even be called the faithful city, but there’s so much in Zechariah that has not happened yet, especially in light of the prophecy’s emphasis on “forever.” For example, Zechariah 8:20-23 reads, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

This is just one example from the Old Testament in which the prophets speak of a Glorious Age for Jerusalem (Zion) when God is with His people, Israel, when they are living with Him as His people in faithfulness and righteousness and when the rest of the nations of the world are flocking to Jerusalem to seek the one true God. If we look back in history, we can see individual examples of this when people have gone to Jerusalem from other countries. Certainly too there have been faithful people in Jerusalem living for God in righteousness and faithfulness, but they are only individual cases on a limited basis, yet these verses speak more about a comprehensive national renewal of zeal for the Lord like no other time in history and in such a way that the glory of God will reach out to all the nations of the world.

If you look back in history, this hasn’t yet been the case. Therefore, when we see unfulfilled promises like this in the Old Testament, we must decide how to understand them. One option is that perhaps God has no intention of fulfilling them. Maybe He’s no longer interested in doing so. A lot of people think this way in light of Israel’s rejection of Jesus. In this view God is done with Israel as a nation. He’s no longer interested in fulfilling these prophecies. But I think we should reject this option, for it puts us in the awkward position of having to decide which promises God will fulfill and which ones He won’t.

A second option would be to read these prophecies with the mindset that if any one of these prophecies has not happened yet, then we should expect that one day it will. I think this is the correct option.

But there is a third option. Perhaps God plans to keep His promises, but in a different or unexpected way. Perhaps we are safe to spiritualize them, meaning that they simply teach us that God will treat us kindly if we honor Him.

Finally there is this. We can look back on all the prophecies that have thus far been fulfilled and say, “Wow, they’ve been fulfilled precisely as described by the prophets,” so why wouldn’t this be true of all the remaining prophecies too? This leads me to conclude that Zechariah 8 hasn’t happened yet and that we await its fulfillment in the future.

In summary much of the Old Testament hasn’t happened yet, thus we must not think of the Old Testament as something from the past and the New Testament for the present. The Bible is one unified corpus, and as we look through its pages, both Old and New Testament, we can look forward to a time when ALL God’s promises will come true.

-Adam Keim

The Heel Bones of Yehohanan, part 1

Archaeology

Roman crucifixion is arguably one of the most brutal and painful forms of execution ever invented by men, yet, according to the accounts of first-century historians, Rome systematically sentenced thousands of men to death by crucifixion, including our Savior, Jesus. Loss of blood, muscle spasms, and exhaustion greatly contributed to the death of crucified men, but asphyxiation was the pivotal cause of death, for breathing became incredibly difficult as the hours passed, especially when those crucified could no longer muster the energy to pull up with their arms or push up with their legs in order to fill their lungs with air.

We know too from historians that the condemned were either tied or nailed to wooden crossbeams and uprights, but until 1968 no physical evidence had ever been found of Roman crucifixion. In that year construction workers uncovered an ancient tomb in a neighborhood in northeast Jerusalem, and inside they found an ossuary (a bone box) inscribed with the name Yehohanan, the son of Hagakol.

A young Greek archaeologist named Vassilios Tzaferis oversaw the excavation of the tomb, and in 1985 he wrote a detailed article about his findings. He determined that Yehohanan was in his mid to late twenties when he died and approximately 5’ 6” tall (an average height for people in that part of the world at that time) with a slender build and lean muscles. His bones showed no evidence of nutritional deficiency or disease and no serious injuries prior to his crucifixion, but outside of a noticeable cleft palate, which he might have successfully hidden by a beard, Yehohan had a pleasant face.

His short life and tragic ending, however, have provided enormous insight into the manner in which men were crucified during the time of Jesus. We’ll look at this in next week’s post.

-Daniel McCabe

Answer to the Trivia

B. 11

Sandwiched between Guernsey at #10 and the Isle of Man at #12.

The Cayman Islands came in at #1.

Week Twenty-Four, 2026

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:5-8)

God told Joshua how the Israelites would take possession of the Promised Land. He included a vital instruction: to meditate on His Law day and night and to obey everything it said.

Living a Christ-centered life filled with peace and joy depends on our commitment to focus our mind and heart on Him regularly.

Our life flows from connection, not from effort.

John 15 focuses on Jesus as the “true vine,” urging disciples to “abide” in Him to bear spiritual fruit, emphasizing love, obedience, and warning of worldly hatred.

He is the Vine; we are the branches. The secret of life is connection.

Eliso Mejia, in his latest book, Online but Not Connected, emphasizes the need for spiritual connection.

Union (connection) with Christ is the Christian life. It is the foundational doctrine that believers are spiritually joined to Jesus, meaning His life, death, and resurrection become theirs.

Life flows from connection, not from effort. Ministry can give you the illusion of friendship, but Jesus truly loves you.

If the Word has not changed you, perhaps it hasn’t saved you. If we hear the Word and don’t do the Word, we are lost. The final test of salvation is fruit. The test of Sunday is how we talk on Monday.

The fruit of connection with Jesus is love. Stay connected with the source of life. He is the Vine of life.

Sometimes True Stories

God is always with those who believe, even though it may not seem that way at times. God sees the big picture, while we see the daily snapshots. As humans, we often cry out for help for short-term issues while God is sculpting the big picture. He often allows us to go through temporary difficulties because He is sculpting our long-term future. Trusting in the Lord is not always easy, and we may even feel abandoned at times, but that is simply not true. It is important to understand that even though God may not give us what we want, we can be assured that what God wants is what matters.

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There is only One—to believe and follow.

The One Who hung from the cross while soldiers threw dice gambling for His garments, as the last of His blood dripped to the ground below Him.

The One Who was the long-awaited Messiah—surely to take over control from the Roman government and make their lives easier.

But His mission and purpose were more eternally life-changing.

Only One—Who hung on the cross for each of us, creating the path for everyone then, today, and tomorrow to embrace Christ as their personal Savior, assuring their eternal spot in Heaven.

His purpose for coming to earth was beyond His personal self-interest and all about our best interest.

The One Matthew depicts in a rapid string of passages, some set out above, demonstrating Godly supernatural powers, coupled with a heart and sensitivity to hear, help, and heal those around Him—always pointing them to Hope.

There is only One. The Son of God.

Only One—Jesus Christ.

It was never about Him, but always all about others.

Finding people where they were and taking them where they should be. People like you and like me.

Calling them to believe, and then to follow Him and His example, and touch and bless life after life in the world around them—hearing, helping, encouraging, lifting each one to a better place.

Pointing them to the only One—Jesus Christ—to believe, embrace, and follow as their Savior and Lord.

The only Hope for their lives for here and eternity.

The Hope of the only One—Jesus Christ.

Then, with Him, lifting lives, one life at time to a better day.

By the example of the only One—Jesus Christ.

Only One to believe. Only One to follow. Jesus Christ. Scott Whitaker

Quotes You Can Use

The way to silence the whining of the flesh and the whispering of the enemy is to remind yourself of God’s great love.

The mission of God never changes, but the world in which we live is rapidly changing.

Listening is a big part of communication with people.

Our story makes sense only when presented within God’s story.

Plan your work and work your plan.

Seek the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to direct.

Don’t be so organized that you out-organize the Holy Spirit.

Resources are not just about money.

No fruit can reproduce itself without being connected to the vine, which for us is Jesus.

We are not defined by the world, but by Scripture, the Holy Bible.

___________________

Address all items and comments to [email protected].

Historically the Jews have erected stone memorials at the site of key events. Jacob erected two stone pillars at Bethel after encountering the Lord (Genesis 28:18; 35:14). Joshua memorialized the crossing of the Jordan River with twelve stones (Joshua 4:8), and Samuel set up a stone between Mizpah and Shen in gratitude for the Lord’s help (1 Samuel 7:12). This ancient practice may then serve as the foundation for the modern Jewish practice of placing stones on gravestones.

Unlike flowers that wither away, stones provide a permanent sign that someone has visited the site in order to express his or her respect for the deceased. Stones provide an enduring symbol that the memory of the deceased has not been forgotten. Some Jews also leave lighted candles at the graveside to mark respect for their loved one and to symbolize hope in the ascension of the soul. In some cases you may even find a copy of Psalms that has been left inside a sliding compartment at the graveside which anyone visiting the site can use to recite prayers.

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia Quiz (Find the answer below)

History:The First Hymn

I grew up singing hymns in church. I particularly loved “Sound the Battle Cry,” number 178 in our burgundy pew hymnal, a hymn which I would imagine not more than a handful of you would even recognize. Still I can see my younger Me standing there in the second pew, piano-side, belting out the chorus, “Rouse, then, soldiers, rally round the banner. Ready, steady, pass the word along. Onward, forward, shout aloud Hosanna! Christ is Captain of the mighty throng.” I’m quite sure that I had no idea what Hosanna meant or even that the reference to Jesus as Captain comes from the KJV translation of Hebrews 2:10, but that didn’t stop me from raising my hand on those long ago Sunday nights each time Mr. Collins called on the congregation to request their favorites. The people of Pine Crest Bible Church weren’t exactly a “mighty throng” unless you were to add our voices to the billions that have sung their favorites in church over the last two thousand years.

Do you have a favorite of your own? What about “How Great Thou Art,” “The Old Rugged Cross” or “The Oxyrhynchus Hymn”? Haven’t heard of that last one, you say? Well, it shares its name with a city in Egypt where a papyrus manuscript of the song’s Greek lyrics and musical notation was first discovered in 1918, and it’s actually the earliest known Christian hymn, dating to the end of the third century A.D. The manuscript isn’t complete, only fragmentary, but the surviving lyrics invoke silence before the triune God and they praise his creation.

Most recently two Christian artists, Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding, have incorporated the lyrics and melody of this ancient hymn into a modern version of the song, and there’s also a recent documentary about it, entitled “The First Hymn.” How I would like to have known the author of the hymn and to have heard it sung in his church! Perhaps one day when a mighty throng of believing voices is gathered around the throne and Jesus calls out for favorites, someone will shout out, “Hymn number one, please!” and we’ll all sing it together.

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth!” (Psalm 96:1).

-Daniel McCabe

Scripture Study: Three Bold Claims, part 1

I want to throw together three loosely connected thoughts and see if they make sense to you.

First, one of the greatest keys to understanding the Bible is understanding the nature of biblical covenants. The Bible runs on biblical covenants, five that God has entered into with different parties at different times. There’s the Noahic covenant, the Abrahamic covenant, the Mosaic covenant, the Davidic covenant and the New covenant, which will replace the Mosaic.

Second, there is no such thing as the Old Testament. What?! Obviously the Old Testament and the New Testament make up the Bible. But what I mean is that there’s no such thing as an Old Testament that is some sort of “Old-gone-away-with” or “Done-away-with” Testament. In Bible times and in the early church there was no Old Testament or New Testament. There was only the book of Genesis, the writings of Isaiah, the gospel of Matthew, etc. The church had sixty-six inspired works, and they were simply known as the Scriptures, the unified corpus of the Bible. The terms Old Testament and New Testament are actually arbitrary designations.

We started to have chapter divisions in the twelfth century and then verse divisions in the sixteenth century. As the Scriptures were written, there wasn’t a chapter 1 or a chapter 2, verse five. It was just, “Here’s a letter from Paul to the Ephesians,” for example. Chapter and verse divisions came later and so did the designations of Old and New Testament. If you were to go back in time and say to the Apostle Paul, “Hey, I love the Old Testament,” he’d say, “What are you talking about? We only have the Scriptures.” Over time the church has developed a default assumption that the Old Testament is in the past and the New Testament is in the present with Revelation being future, and unfortunately a great deal of content from the Old Testament gets dismissed, “That’s just the past. It’s not really relevant to me.” But that’s not true. The entire Bible from cover to cover is as relevant for us today as in any time period.

Third, much of the Old Testament hasn’t happened yet. With regard to the New Testament one might think, “Yes, there are some things that still await the future, such as the Book of Revelation or those passages where Jesus says, ‘I’m coming again,’” and those are obviously future events, but there’s a lot from the Old Testament too that hasn’t happened yet. This is particularly true of promises from God in the Old Testament prophetic books, but since all God’s promises come true, we can know that these Old Testament promises will also come true.

-Adam Keim, October 29, 2022

History & Geography—Jonah of Gath-Hepher

“[Jeroboam II] restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher” (2 Kings 14:25).

When you read the book of Jonah, you are struck immediately by Jonah’s faithless move away from his appointed task (Jonah 1:1-3). Instead of heading toward Nineveh (to the northeast), he fled to catch a ship from Joppa toward Tarshish (to the west). Jonah ran quite literally in the opposite direction of his calling.

For all that could be said of Jonah, he was still a prophet of the Lord. His hometown of Gath-Hepher rested atop the Nazareth plateau in lower Galilee. The pictured map is oriented to the northeast where you can see Mount Hermon in the distance.

When Nicodemus attempted to defend Jesus, the Pharisees responded to him, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee” (John 7:52). Perhaps they forgot about Jonah or they were not considering him an actual prophet. The Pharisees likely would not have disrespected Jonah in such a way, so maybe they had the Sea of Galilee region in mind specifically, thinking of Jesus’ home at Capernaum. Ironically, Gath-Hepher is very close to Jesus’ boyhood home of Nazareth.

The only other biblical mention of Gath-Hepher is in Joshua 19:13, as part of Zebulun’s inheritance. The early church Father Jerome, in his commentary on Jonah, describes the place as “an inconsiderable village,” but he does mention that the prophet’s tomb is nearby.

Think again of Jonah’s story. I am always amazed at why he fled to Nineveh in the first place. He wanted the Assyrians to come under judgment, and if he went there then they might escape that fate, since he knew that God was “a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster” (Jonah 4:2). I am so grateful that He is!

-Adam Keim

Answer to the Trivia

A. To wish someone a good morning