August 9, 2025

Here are some of the sights and sounds you might see when visiting the women’s section of the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

1. Since the area facing the wall functions as an outdoor synagogue, men and women are not permitted to mix or pray together in keeping with the Orthodox branch of Judaism, which oversees the site. Women pray to the right and men to the left at the wall.

2. There are prayer books (Sephardi, Ashkenazi and Psalms) in glass cases that the women are free to borrow before entering.

3. There are also secure metal donation boxes at the entrance. The money is used to maintain the site.

4. The women do not use Torah scrolls or wear prayer shawls at the wall, for both are forbidden in the Orthodox tradition.

5. There is a small, airconditioned prayer room with glass walls adjoining the women’s section where the women can sit and pray indoors to escape the Jerusalem heat.

6. On Mondays and Thursdays you may see women standing on chairs overlooking the adjoining men’s section in order to witness the bar mitzvahs of their sons and grandsons. They often throw candy to the thirteenyear old boys who read the Torah for the first time and thus are now subject as young men to keep all biblical laws.

7. There are some women at the wall who teach, encourage and bless the other women and may pray on your behalf for a small donation.

8. You may see someone preparing a dough offering as described in Numbers 15:1721.

9. After completing their prayers, the women then back away from the wall toward the exit. They do not want to show disrespect by turning their backs to the wall.

–Daniel McCabe

Trivia question (Answer below)

What is the largest church building in the land of Israel?

Jesus by the Lake: The Deceased Son of a Grieving Mom, Luke 7:1117

I. The Passage, “A dead man was being carried out [of the city],” v. 12.

A dead man—Jesus raised two others from the dead: Jairus’ daughter (8:5253) and Lazarus (John 11:43).

An only son—thus, the woman’s only breadwinner; “only son,” the same word as “only begotten Son” in John 3:16, meaning either “only” or “unique, oneofakind.” An only son prompted intense grief (cf. Zech. 12:10, “They will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”).

The son of a widow—not the first widow’s son the Lord had shown compassion toward (e.g. 1 Kings 17:10)

A young man—“beyond the age of puberty, but normally before marriage” (LouwNida, GreekEnglish Lexicon of the New Testament)

II. Ancient Funeral Customs

The dead were buried the same day.

The dead were buried outside the city though exceptions were made for kings.

Often accompanied by the tearing of clothes, sackcloth and a public display of mourning (cf. 2 Sam. 3:31), sometimes utilizing professional mourners and musicians

Here a procession, including pall bearers and a large crowd, growing even larger with Jesus, his disciples and the large crowd accompanying him (vs. 1112)

Note the “open coffin” (v. 14)—“a stretcher or plank used for carrying a corpse to a place of burial” (LouwNida), so clearly not an infant, which would have been carried.

III. The Babylonian Talmud

“If a person sees the funeral procession, and fails to join the procession, he is guilty of mocking the poor* and is deserving of excommunication. He should accompany the dead at least a distance of four [cubits].** Even when one is exempt from accompanying the dead…, he, nevertheless, must rise before the procession. He does not rise in deference to the dead, but to those attending to the dead, for they are engaged in performing a mitzvah.”***

Rabbi Solomon Ganzfried, Code of Jewish Law, Chapter 198: The Removal of the Deceased: the Funeral and Burial Services.

*Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berakoth, Folio 18a.

**any closer and he is defiled

***a commandment

Note that to have come within four cubits (six feet) of the stretcher, Jesus would become defiled.

–Daniel McCabe

Life in the Land: “Rabbi Ben Ezra”

The well respected English poet, Robert Browning, learned Hebrew, studied the Old Testament and always exhibited strong support for the Jewish people until his death in 1889 at the age of 77.

One of his greatest poems, Rabbi Ben Ezra, explores the themes of aging and the purpose of life, and Browning creatively presents them as the soliloquy of a long ago Jewish sage and philosopher named Rabbi Ben Ezra, who is probably to be identified with Abraham Ibn Ezra (10891164).

The poem’s thirtytwo stanzas can’t all be printed here, but I’ve reproduced four of them and added some minor commentary.

The opening stanza:

Rabbi Ben Ezra expresses optimism about growing older. It is not something to fear, but rather to embrace.

The seventh stanza:

It can be quite comforting when you realize that though you may not reach some of your goals in life (perhaps even concluding with frustration that you have failed) that this failure may in fact lead to unexpected success in another endeavor. Learn to rise above one’s natural “brute” instinct to grow despondent and instead look for a greater purpose—God’s purpose.

The final two stanzas:

Don’t forget that God uses the “whirl” of life to mold you, so “thirst” for what still remains of his plan for you. Don’t dwell on the pressures of today. Instead, rely on the Lord through them all, even while young, and let God bring you through the trials (your “cup”) to a perfect end.

I’m thankful for the older men in my life who have passed their wisdom down to me, and it’s my hope that I have aged wisely. It’s my hope that you will age wisely as well.

–Daniel McCabe

Scripture Study: King Hezekiah, part 2

Isaiah 36 sets the stage for chapter 37 wherein Hezekiah’s men report back to him all that the Rabshakeh had said, and here we discover King Hezekiah’s greatness, for as soon as he heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord.

It’s true that Hezekiah didn’t really have anywhere else to go, but at the same time the temple is probably the first place he should have gone.

He’s been trying to convince the people to turn to the Lord, and here he models for them the importance of taking refuge in the Lord when you are troubled.

He then sends his messengers to the prophet Isaiah to appeal for help from God, and in 37:5 we read God’s response to the king, “When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, ‘Say to your master, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard with which the young men of the King of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him [i.e., in Sennacherib, the king of Assyria] so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”’”

God guarantees Hezekiah, “Don’t worry! I’ll take care of this!”

V. 8, “So the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.” So, the Rabshakeh returns to the king of Assyria who is now attacking Libnah just a few miles north of Lachish.

V. 9, “Now the king heard concerning Tirhakah, king of Cush, ‘He has set out to fight against you.’” There’s a rumor that Tirhakah plans to attack the king of Assyria.

“And when he had heard it, he sent his messengers to Hezekiah, saying”—now he’s going to taunt Hezekiah again, saying basically, “Don’t go anywhere, I’m going to get you.”

V. 10, “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah, king of Judah, ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, you’ve heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction, and shall you be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed?’”

Then he recites a long list of places that Assyria had already taken in past victories of his father and of his father before him. Samaria, the capital city of Israel, had also been recently taken, so really Jerusalem is all that is left.

Now I don’t blame Sennacherib for having all the confidence in the world. After all, he doesn’t trust in the one true God, and he doesn’t think that Yahweh will deliver His people because none of the other supposed gods had delivered their people.

In any event we read in v. 14 that Hezekiah receives this letter from the hands of the messengers, reads it, and goes up to the house of the Lord where he spreads it out before Him.

V. 15, “And Hezekiah prayed, saying, ‘O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim. You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth.

You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear. Open Your eyes, O LORD, and see and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations in their lands and have cast all their gods into the fire.’”

I love this part of Hezekiah’s prayer because he realizes what these other supposed gods are. He adds in v. 19, “For they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone.” They’re just idols. “Therefore they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone are the LORD.”

If you continue reading 37:2129, then you’ll discover additional prophesies, written in poetic form, including God’s direct address to Sennacherib in v. 29, which reads, “I’m going to turn you back the way you came.”

–Adam Keim

Greatest NT Discoveries: #9, The Pool of Siloam

“Then [Jesus] anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing,” (John 9:6b7).

The Pool of Siloam sits on the southern end of the City of David in the southeastern part of the city of Jerusalem. The stepped remains of one side of the pool were discovered in 2004 after being unearthed by construction workers doing repairs on a drainage system. In the picture you can see how the pool stretches further to the right, still covered by dirt.

Today Hezekiah’s tunnel flows into a narrow stone courtyard, built during the reign of the Byzantine empress Eudocia in the 5th century A.D. and which was long thought to be the Pool of Siloam until the more recent discovery. The nearby stepped remains mark clearly the actual location.

Jesus sent the blind man that he healed to wash his eyes in the pool. Siloam was likely a large mikveh that worshipers used on their way up to the temple. The Roman road that led from the pool to the temple has also been found–you can take it all the way up to the Temple Mount! If you do, be confident that you are walking the very route that our Lord took during His triumphal entry.

Would you be among the many that waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the king of Israel!”? (John 12:13).

–Adam Keim

Answer to the Trivia

A. The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth

Week Thirty-Two, 2025

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7).

All of us have had role models we look up to and try to learn from. Some are well-known individuals, while others are people nobody has heard of. They may be family or friends, or perhaps people you have never met. My greatest role model is my wife.

We have read about Old Testament examples who walked in God’s presence. Now, think across your own life. Who has modeled walking with God for you? What are the practices or habits of that person who sustained an intimate relationship with the Lord?

Recently, I went to breakfast with an individual whom I greatly admire just to tell him how much I appreciated him and how his example helps me in my walk through life, both spiritually and otherwise.

But then, turn the tables and ask, ‘How do your walk and your life become an example to others, so that you may influence them in their walk through life?’ Proverbs 13:20 emphasizes the importance of choosing your friends wisely. It states, ‘Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.’ Essentially, the verse suggests that the people you surround yourself with greatly influence your own character and wisdom. Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

A good role model is a person who shows us how to live, choose well, face suffering (in some cases), and act wisely in this complicated and difficult world. It is true that we sometimes choose role models for the wrong reasons: celebrity, beauty, athletic prowess, or financial success.

You are never too old or too young or insignificant to be someone’s role model. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

The Bible tells us how to live from Genesis to Revelation. In Genesis we learn of our beginnings and in Revelation we learn of our future. But it is up to you to determine what you do in between.

Think about who your role models are and how you can be a role model to others.

Sometimes True Stories

We learn to worship in Psalms and to live honestly in Proverbs. We learn to bear suffering in Job. Jonah teaches us not to run from God. We learn how to fall in love in Ruth and love our spouse in Song of Solomon. We learn that God is there even when we don’t see Him in Esther.

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John we meet the greatest Person in history. We learn that He is still living and loving us in spite of ourselves. We learn to draw near to Him in James. Since we see Jesus reflected throughout the entire Bible, we learn we must ask ourselves, “What am I going to do with Jesus?”

He changes our life and guarantees our eternal future. The answer to that question will be the most important one in your life. I answered “YES” to Jesus nearly 40 years ago.

What’s your answer?

–Rich Jensen

Have you ever looked back in time and wish you had not done some of the things you did? This is called guilt, regret, sorrow, just to mention a few. The more righteous we try to become, the less regret we will have. Everyone sins, but those who admit their sins understand they need God’s help. We are all habitual sinners and only the saving grace of God will save our souls. God appreciates the people who try and walk a straight path and live a righteous life. Tony Ferguson

The chances of an open-faced jam sandwich landing face down on a floor are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug!!

Law of Logical Argument – Anything is possible if you don’t know what you are talking about.

Americans love their pets. More than 94 million households currently own one, according to a recent study by the American Pet Products Association, which also noted growing concerns about affordability.

The APPA projected total pet spending in the United States to exceed $157 billion by the end of this year. This includes $67.8 billion for pet food, $41.4 billion for veterinary care, $34.3 billion for supplies, and $13.5 billion for other services such as grooming and pet sitting.

Quotes You Can Use

Humility makes us gentle to others and generates respect far beyond our understanding. A humble servant is hard to find, but when they surface, they generate teamwork and accomplishments beyond their greatest expectations. Brig. General Dick Abel

My advice to you is not to inquire why or why not, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate. Thornton Wilder

Rather than criticize God, we need to learn from Him. We need to have that same love, compassion, and readiness to forgive as God does. Dan Shock

Listen, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. Elmer Davis

Thank God we can’t escape His presence. Dan Shock

When we have the Holy Spirit, we have all that is needed to be all that God desires us to be. A. W. Tozer

When we give our lives to Jesus and trust him as our Savior and Lord, the Spirit renews our souls and brings the life of God into us. We have joy and peace, and we have a new direction to our lives because the Spirit of God has implanted in us. Billy Graham

Instead of delivering us from the fire, God may choose to deliver us in the fire. Dan Shock

God created us for eternity, not for this finite time and fallen world. This earthly life is, therefore, our “gestation period,” that time during which we are being formed for the life to come. Then, when we “die,” we are “born” into the life for which we were always intended. Jim Denison

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. Corrie Ten Boom

A friend with an understanding heart is worth no less than a brother. Homer

If we truly love Jesus and want Him in our lives we must use His grace to become selfless. To become selfless requires an attitude of caring about others as much or more than ourselves. Tony Ferguson

God is not satisfied with having just a part of your life. He is not willing to share you with other gods. Dan Shock

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little. Edmund Burke

If you have ever seen someone with a Bible that is weathered and falling apart from many years of use, you can be pretty sure that its owner is not falling apart. Randy Alcorn

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person. He believed in me. Jim Valvano

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to contribute your ideas and thoughts, address all items and comments to [email protected].

© Thoughts on Life Copyright 2025

August 2, 2025

Jesus by the Lake: The City of Nain

, “The day after … he went into a city called Nain” (Luke 7:11).

Nain, means “Pleasant.” It is 758 feet above sea level. Cullman, Alabama, where I live, is 814 feet, so Jesus walked uphill a distance of about 30 miles from Capernaum to Nain, which, without stopping, would take around 12 hours. But it would be somewhat quicker if he took a boat to the southern coast of the Sea of Galilee before walking the remainder of the way.

Nain has a front row seat to history. It’s on the eastern edge of the Valley of Jezreel:

• 1 mile from Shunem where Elisha raised a boy from the dead (2 Kings 4:837)
• 1 mile from the Hill of Moreh where Gideon fought the Midianites (Judges 7:1)
• 2 miles from Endor where Saul visited a witch (1 Samuel 28:7)
• 5 miles from Mt. Tabor where Deborah and Barak gathered their army (Judges 4:12)
• 6 miles from Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown (Luke 2:39)
• 10 miles from Megiddo where Deborah & Barak defeated Sisera (Judges 5:1920)

–Daniel McCabe

Trivia Quiz (Answer at the bottom of this page)

The twelve spies returned from Canaan with a large cluster of grapes which two of them carried on a pole, but what else does Numbers 13:23 say that they brought out of the land?

A. Dates and olives

B. Milk and honey

C. A partridge in a pear tree

D. Pomegranates and figs

History: Edmond Rothschild

I am thankful to so many family members and friends over the years who have helped support me and my family in the service of the Lord as a pastor and church planter. Homecooked meals and meals out. Cash, cars and cheesecake. Prayers and a helping hand.

So I can relate to the late nineteenthcentury and early twentiethcentury Jewish pioneers in their quest to carve out a life in Palestine who received financial assistance and employment opportunities from a man whom they respectfully dubbed, “The Baron Rothschild.” Some have estimated the baron’s financial support at more than fifty million dollars, equivalent to almost one billion dollars today.

Born into a noble Jewish banking family in France, Edmond Rothschild established schools, synagogues, farms, wineries and factories throughout Palestine. He backed research to develop electric generating stations and even sponsored key archaeological digs.

Buried in Paris in 1934 after decades of steady support for Jewish settlers in the Holy Land, his body and that of his wife were later transported to Israel in 1954 through the port of Haifa where they were met with sirens, a nineteengun salute and a memorial service at which David BenGurion (the first prime minister of Israel) delivered the eulogy. The Rothschilds were then buried on a nearby hill named “The Generous One’s Heights.”

From 198286 the baron’s portrait appeared on the Israeli 500shekel note, featuring a group of farmers and a beautiful cluster of grapes. A mall in Rishon LeZion bears his name as do many city streets throughout Israel, including Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv. Few have been as gracious to the Jewish people as this beloved man.

–Daniel McCabe

On Location:: The Old Yishuv Court Museum

Located on the historic site of one of the oldest courtyards in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, this museum became an immediate favorite of our September 2021 tour group. Yishuv is the Hebrew word for “settlement,” and Old Yishuv describes that community of religious Jews who resided in Palestine before the first wave of modern Jewish immigration began in 1882, and this museum captures Yishuv life in the land from the last twenty years of the nineteenth century until 1948 when Israel became a state. A majority of the Old Yishuv men spent their days studying the Torah and living off donations from Jews living in other countries whereas modern immigration brought agricultural pioneers and political Zionists who sought a homeland and national identity for the Jews.

The museum showcases a small synagogue typical of the time as well as the layout of an ordinary home, including bedrooms, a kitchen, a craft room and even outdoor implements. You’ll learn about the history of the settlers’ professions, including life as a goldsmith, shoemaker, tailor, peddler, wool breaker, knife sharpener and shoe shiner. My favorite display is a Monopolystyle game, dating to the 1940s, that allowed players to purchase settlements and cities throughout Palestine.

–Daniel McCabe

Scripture Study: King Hezekiah, part 1

Sometimes the best summary we can have of biblical characters is to see them in their most outstanding moments. Hezekiah is a good example of this, so let’s read about what happened when this king needed the Lord the most.

Hezekiah, the king of Judah, reigned long after the split between Israel in the north and Judah in the south. You can read about this good king in both 2 Kings and Isaiah, but I’ll focus on his story as recorded in Isaiah 3637, walking through selected portions of the passage to emphasize what I think is the most outstanding moment in his reign.

Following the evil reign of his farther, Hezekiah initiated great spiritual reforms in Judah. In his day the Assyrian Empire had conquered the entire northern kingdom of Israel, which God allowed in order to bring discipline to those in Israel who had turned faithlessly away from Him.

But Hezekiah is king over the southern portion of the country, specifically over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Isaiah 36:1 records, “In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh,” who is a high official in the Assyrian Empire, “from Lachish,” the city that Sennacherib was besieging at the time, “to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem with a great army.”

Jerusalem really is the last holdout. Sennacherib was besieging Lachish, a major city in Judah, and Jerusalem was all that remained in the kingdom.

“And the Rabshakeh stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field,” which is close to the Gihon Spring, “and there came out to him Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the secretary, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder.” These three men will now represent Hezekiah, the king of Judah.

“So the Rabshakeh said to them, ‘Say to Hezekiah’”—he’s calling up to them as they’re on the city wall—“‘Say to Hezekiah, “Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, ‘On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think that mere words are a strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust that you’ve rebelled against me? Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all who trust in him.’”’”

So the Rabshakeh is taunting Hezekiah for thinking that Egypt could conceivably come to his rescue, for Egypt too was on the hit list of the Assyrians, and by this time Egypt wasn’t as strong as it used to be.

He continues, “But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is it not He whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar’?”

The Rabshakeh is a little confused. He knows a little bit about what’s going on in Israel, particularly that Hezekiah had made many spiritual reforms and had torn down the high places throughout the land, but the high places that Hezekiah tore down were inappropriate places of worship. All the Rabshakeh thinks is, “What? You’re tearing down places to your own God? How can you really trust in Him now?” He’s clearly confused, but he’s still attempting to taunt the king of Judah as any commander of an invading army would.

Jumping down to v. 11, Hezekiah’s representatives now reply to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”

It’s interesting to me that they request him to speak in Aramaic, which was a language that the Assyrians would have well understood, but not everyone in Israel. They do this so that the people holed up in Jerusalem with them wouldn’t lose heart, so that they wouldn’t understand what the Rabshakeh is saying.

But he responded, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, but not to the men sitting on the wall who are doomed with you.”

He wants to taunt all the people of Israel. He wants to dishearten the common citizen. So he “stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah, ‘Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. Thus says the king, “Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’”’”

The Rabshakeh, the Assyrian, is really taunting them now and trying to convince the people to not trust in the one true God, the Lord, to whom Hezekiah has been encouraging the people to turn. In this he continues in v. 16, “Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern. I will take you to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, of bread and vineyards.’”

He’s trying to convince the common person in Jerusalem to abandon Hezekiah and think, “Hey, if we surrender, then maybe the king of Assyria will treat us well and we won’t have to die here.”

He continues then in his attempt to convince the people to abandon trust in the Lord, taunting them by insisting that they don’t stand a chance against the king of Assyria. In v. 21 we see that Hezekiah’s representatives “were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, ‘Do not answer him! Don’t listen to him.’”

–Adam Keim

Scripture Study: Cain’s Wife

I’ve heard it asked, “Where did Cain get his wife who’s mentioned in Genesis 4:17, “And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch?” If Cain took a female family member as his wife, wouldn’t that be incest, which is wrong? Wouldn’t it also be genetically dangerous to marry a family member?

Well, let me attempt a quick answer. The Bible affirms that Adam and Eve (obviously their children and their descendants too) were actual, historical people, not literary symbols for mankind (Matthew 19:4; Luke 3:38; Jude 14). Cain then married a sister (Genesis 5:4, “Adam had [other] sons and daughters”). Cain could not have a child with Eve because she was already married. The gene pool at this point was still reasonably pure, so it would not have been genetically dangerous for Cain to marry a sister. Incest was later outlawed for our protection because of the increased genetic dangers over time (Leviticus 18:616).

Let me know if that was helpful! Have a great weekend!

–Daniel McCabe

Answer to the Trivia

D. Pomegranates and figs

Week Thirty-One, 2025

Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master (Proverbs 25:13).

Does it really snow in Israel? It sure does. There’s the Mount Hermon ski resort in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The ski resort is open only at the peak of winter. It has a top elevation of 6,690 ft. The resort includes a wide range of ski trails for novice, intermediate, and expert levels. It also offers additional winter family activities such as sledding and Nordic skiing.

Surprising? Yes… We usually think of Israel as being parched desert. After winter, the snow begins to melt and form the headwaters of the Jordan River in the Golan Heights. I have been there and tasted the pure water of the melted snow. The Jordan flows south, forming the border between Israel and Jordan. Along the way, the river picks up nutrients that farmers use for irrigation.

Finally, the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea, which is dead because all life is extinguished. There is no exit to the Dead Sea; it chokes on the abundance of its trapped nutrients.

The Dead Sea has no outlet. The only way water exits the sea is by evaporation. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind dissolved minerals, making the water even saltier. I swam there, perched high on the water. One cannot sink in the Dead Sea. So, here is the Biblical application: The Dead Sea takes in all the goodness and gives out none of it. Our lives can be like that. If we merely take in the goodness God gives us in life and we don’t share it with the world, we choke on our goodness. Blessings and positive experiences should be shared to benefit others and create a positive impact for others and for the world.

Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22. Goodness isn’t just about doing what’s right. It’s about actively choosing to be kind, generous, and understanding towards others, even when we don’t have to. It’s about going the extra mile to spread positivity and care.

Those who know the Lord are called to bring light into the darkness of human existence. That light is Jesus. Spread the Light!

Have you done that today?

Sometimes True Stories

On Judgment Day, do you think God will accept a Platinum American Express, a Gold MasterCard, or your bank account to determine if you deserve to spend eternity with Jesus? Our wealth may open doors in this life, but it will be ignored in the next. When we build our foundation on earthly things and fail to respect the gifts from our Lord, we are setting ourselves up for destruction. I have been very fortunate to become friends with lots of rich people, and my observation tells me that money does not buy happiness, nor salvation for our souls. Only God can provide salvation for our souls, if we only humble ourselves and accept His Grace. Tony Ferguson

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Nearly thirty million more US adults are following Jesus today than was the case just four years ago, according to Barna. The CEO, David Kinnaman, called this “the clearest trend we’ve seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal.” He notes that this movement is being led especially by “younger generations.”

Life seems to go in stages of preparing yourself to gain wealth, getting wealth, and then worrying about how to keep it. The world measures wealth in precious metals or stones, dollars, power, influence or cryptocurrencies. Work toward becoming a billionaire, they say.

However, how does one’s wealth translate to meaning, purpose, health and happiness? You really can’t buy any of these things.

Real wealth is measured in relationships and character. How, then, do you acquire real wealth? You do that by spending time in God’s instruction book for life, the Bible. It will help you learn, gain, and maintain the real wealth we all seek. Be that kind of billionaire. Dig in. Rich Jensen

Quotes You Can Use

When God fulfills His Word concerning the end times and begins to pour out His judgment upon the earth, people will know that He is God. Dan Shock

Taking credit for what God has done is always a dangerous thing. Florida Marketplace Ministries

The devil is the enemy of God, and while he cannot corrupt God, he will settle for you and me. Don’t let the devil win. Tony Ferguson

That which has become habitual, becomes as if it were natural. Aristotle

The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves. William Penn

The unforgivable sin is the continued rejection of the Holy Spirit! Dan Shock

I attribute my success to this—I never gave or took any excuse. Florence Nightingale

The Bible is comprised of 66 separate books written over 1500 years, by 40 different people, in three different languages, on three different continents, all telling the story of God and His only son Jesus. There have been thousands of skeptics but not one has ever disproven a single scripture of the Bible. The Bible teaches us about honesty, integrity, and the consequences of our sinful behavior. Tony Ferguson

When my horse is running well, I don’t stop to give him sugar. Douglas Horton

He is a Creator, Eternal, Infinite, loving and personal God Who loves us and wants us to come to Him with everything, and come with a thankful heart. Don’t just say you will pray about “that”. Stop, drop and pray. Rich Jensen

It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness. Thomas Jefferson

Fear and faith are mutually exclusive. Dan Shock

Sadly, we often think Christian living requires sacrifice, when it is the one thing the soul cherishes the most. Tony Ferguson

Faith, like love, is an action verb. Faith causes us to draw near to Christ, to strive to know Him more and more, to take up our cross and follow, to become more like Him, to treat others like He would treat them. Faith ultimately causes us to want to live out what we say we believe. It causes us to want to share the good news—the Gospel of Jesus Christ—to a lost and dying world around us. Head knowledge, on the other hand, is stagnant and dead, like the demons who shudder at the mention of His name. Old Lazy Dog

The best way to predict the future is to create it. Peter Drucker

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to contribute your ideas and thoughts, address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2025

July 26, 2025

Faith Lessons from Luke 7

#1: If others with so little spiritual knowledge can have such faith (a centurion, a child, a new believer), then surely we who know the Bible and have studied it, perhaps for years, should have more faith.

In what way do we need to trust the Lord? Perhaps our prayer should be, “Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).

#2: Men judge one another by their merits, but God judges us by our faith.

• The Jews—he is “deserving.”
• The centurion—“I am not worthy.”
• Jesus—he has “great faith.”
• Ephesians 2:89, “Faith … not of works”

Trivia

What is the name of Israel’s famous selfdefense system?

• A. Derekh Eretz
• B. Kol Nidrei
• C. Krav Maga
• D. Tilun Olam

(Find the answer below)

On Location: The Mardigian Museum

If someone mentions a twentieth century world war, with concentration camps, death marches, mass deportations, and countless people persecuted and murdered for their faith. What comes to mind? The murder of six million Jews by the Nazis during World War II? Absolutely! But that’s not at all that I was thinking.

From 1915 to 1917, during the heart of World War I, the Ottoman Empire pressured or brutally forced roughly one million, predominantlyChristian Armenians from their ancestral land in the eastern part of the empire. Many Armenians were robbed, raped, or forced to convert to Islam, and many more lost their lives. Death toll estimates range from 600,000 to 1.5 million in what history has now labeled “The Armenian Genocide.”

In 301 A.D. Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion, eleven years before Emperor Constantine of Rome followed suit. Armenians have maintained a continuous presence in the Holy Land since the fourth century, and when mapmakers divided Jerusalem’s Old City into four quarters in the nineteenth century, they notably designated the southwest quarter of the city as the Armenian Quarter. Although regularly overshadowed by the Christian, Muslim and Jewish quarters, which are dominated by the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall, respectively, the Armenian Quarter, the smallest and quietest of the four, nevertheless harbors unique surprises of its own.

For example, a new museum has been recently renovated just off Armenian Patriarchate Street in the Old City, formally known now as the Helen and Edward Mardigian Armenian Museum of Jerusalem. When entering Jaffa Gate, bear right at the Citadel and pass the colorful ceramics shops, the Armenian Tavern and finally the Cathedral of St. James. Just before the road takes a hard left, heading toward Zion Gate, look for the museum on your left.

On display there you’ll find a replica of Gutenberg’s printing press, ancient manuscripts, modern art, photography which documents Armenia’s presence in Jerusalem, stunning Armenian mosaics, tile and pottery, and sadly a special section devoted entirely to the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Rarely visited by tourists to Jerusalem, it is a hidden gem inside the Old City walls that tells both the joyful and tragic story of Armenia’s history and culture.

Daniel McCabe

Archaeology: A Lovely Oil Lamp

Last winter, just days before Hanukkah, the Israeli Antiquities Authority announced the discovery of a 1700 year old clay oil lamp near the Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem. This unbroken lamp features exquisite artistry and only light soot marks at the wick end. Although dating to the fourth century, perhaps 250 years following the destruction of the Jewish temple by the Romans in 70 A.D., the carvings on the lamp depict an incense shovel from the temple, the menorah of the temple and also a lulav, the frond of a date tree, which Jewish worshippers wave during the annual celebration of Sukkot in order to remember that their forefathers once lived in tents for forty years before entering the Promised Land.

The lamp is now on public display at the newly built Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for Archaeology in Jerusalem. “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

Scripture Study: The Song of Moses

I enjoy reading the prayers and songs of faithful people in the Bible because we can learn a lot from them about who God is and about how God contends for His children. So, let’s look at faithful Moses who sang a song to God after the Lord brought Israel through the Red Sea while escaping from Pharaoh’s hot pursuit.

We read about this in Exodus 15:1, “Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, ‘I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously. The horse and the rider He has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. The LORD is a man of war. The LORD is his name.’”

We don’t often think of God as a God of war, but Moses had just experienced God’s military victory over Pharaoh, which Moses continues to describe in v. 4, “Pharaoh’s chariots and his host, He cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea. The floods covered them. They went down into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy in the greatness of Your majesty. You overthrow Your adversaries. You send out Your fury. It consumes them like stubble. At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up. The floods stood up in a heap. The depths congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, ‘This is Pharaoh. I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the spoil. My desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword. My hand shall destroy them.’”

But, of course, we know Pharaoh did not get to realize that intention, for Moses continues in v. 10, “You blew with Your wind. The sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.”

This is really the point that Moses is getting to, and this is really what I love reading about, particularly songs of victory as well as prayers that focus on God’s greatness. Moses then says in v. 11, “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand. The earth swallowed them. You have led in Your steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed. You have guided them by Your strength to Your holy abode. The peoples have heard and they tremble. Pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed. Trembling seizes the leaders of Moab. All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.”

Here Moses is focusing on the people who Israel will encounter in the Promised Land and all the enemies of Israel that God will take care of, so to speak.

In v. 16 he adds, “Terror and dread fall upon them because of the greatness of Your arm. They are still as a stone till Your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom You have purchased.”

Moses concludes by looking to a hopeful future.

“You will bring them in and plant them on Your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which You have made for Your abode, the sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established. The LORD will reign forever and ever.”

So that’s just one of several examples of songs and prayers in the Bible that I think we can read to be encouraged and to learn what faithful people so long ago thought about the Lord.

–Adam Keim

Answer to Trivia question:

C. Krav Maga

Week Thirty, 2025

Lazarus, come forth. Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, comes out bound in grave clothes, and his face is wrapped in a cloth. Jesus instructs the people to loose him and let him go (John 11:43-44).

One of Jesus’ go-to places was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He was a distance away when He got word that Lazarus was dead. He took His time and tarried for three days to make a point. The Jewish people believed that spirits hung around a body for three days after death; after that, they were truly gone. Jesus simply walked to the grave cave and commanded the dead Lazarus to “come forth.” And Lazarus walked out.

In the Gospel of John, the narrative of Lazarus being raised from the dead after four days is a powerful example of Jesus’s authority and power over death. His command, “Lazarus, come forth!” is a direct call to life, demonstrating His mastery over mortality and foreshadowing His own resurrection. This miracle served as a ‘sign’ confirming Jesus’s divine nature and His role as the Messiah.

The command, “Lazarus, come forth!” is a direct call to life, and is seen as a powerful example of Jesus’s authority over death and His ability to bring forth new life, both physical and spiritual. The miracle of Lazarus’s resurrection is also a test for the onlookers, prompting them to choose between faith and disbelief, as some of Jesus’s critics responded with anger and further opposition.

But here is the real point of the story. Jesus did what only He could do. He brought Lazarus back to life. Then, he turned to those in the crowd and told them to do what anyone could do. He told them to remove the grave clothing.

God is like that. He does what only He can do and then asks us to do the rest, which we can do.

What is God calling you to do today?

Sometimes True Stories

Have you ever looked closely at a tall and sturdy oak tree? In order for it to weather the wind and storms, it had to grow strong roots. It takes time to grow those strong roots and godly roots are much the same. Wickedness, on the other hand, may prosper for a short time, but like a tree growing in sand, stability will never come. Grow godly roots and they will give you the stability for a godly life.

There are 65 million American adults and 6 million American children who are currently on psychiatric drugs.

The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are dressed totally inappropriately, or you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with.

As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold. (Yes, John 😊)

Quotes You Can Use

For Christians, death is the necessary means to a glorious destination. Jim Denison

The oldest, shortest words—”yes” and “no”—are those which require the most thought. Pythagoras

Health is like money. We never have a true appreciation for it until we lose it.

Love begins by taking care of the closest ones—the ones at home. Mother Teresa

Never be a prisoner of your past. It was a lesson, not a life sentence.

Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking, so as to not offend those who lack the ability to think.

I asked God, ‘Why are you taking me through these troubled waters?’ And He said, ‘Because your enemies can’t swim.

Coming soon: Biker who identifies as a cyclist wins Tour de France.

Society has become so fake that the truth actually bothers many.

There are some people who, if they don’t already know, you can’t tell ’em. Yogi Berra

Never underestimate a mother’s influence. Dan Shock

Jesus left us the third part of the Trinity that when we accept His grace, the lamp of the Lord lights up our life and the path forward begins to glow. Tony Ferguson

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. Arnold Schwarzenegger

God will never call you to do anything that He will not enable you to do. Dan Shock

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to contribute your ideas and thoughts, please address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2025

July 19, 2025

Would you have known that purple is the second favorite color of women worldwide and the third favorite color of men? If you graduated with a degree in law, dentistry or architecture you turned the page on your college days wearing a purple tassel, and if you attended LSU, Northwestern, TCU or Kansas State, your blood will always bleed purple. But if you lived in the land of Israel during Bible days, long before the modern production of synthetic colors, you probably wore only brown, black and white clothing, for these natural colors were readily available from one’s flocks and herds. Only kings, high priests and the rich wore purple. No one else could afford it, for the production of purple dye required the meticulous, time-consuming harvesting of a particular type of mollusk that lived on the Mediterranean shoreline of Israel, which secreted a purple mucous that business owners like Lydia in Acts 16:14 used to dye fibers and fleeces for a wealthy clientele. Historians have confirmed that the price of purple dye exceeded even that of gold.

Archaeologists have discovered surviving samples of clothing dyed with purple in the dry climate of the Timna Valley in Israel and now evidence of the ancient production of purple dye at a recently excavated factory at Tel Shiqmona just south of Haifa along the Carmel Coast. Although no purple material survived the humid conditions of Tel Shiqmona, archaeologists nevertheless uncovered evidence of an industrial factory at the site that dates to 1100 B.C. Finds at the factory include numerous workshops as well as fragments of purple-stained ceramic vats, stone tools, specialized vessels and large dying tanks that measure 2½ by 3 feet, roughly the size of a large bathtub, where workers once dyed robes, belts, curtains and anything that the customer requested.

Nothing on this large scale has been discovered previously, but this particular factory appears to have been in continuous use during Israel’s entire kingdom history, beginning shortly before King Saul who began his reign around 1050 B.C. until the destruction of Judah in 586 B.C. The veil of the temple that Solomon commissioned for the construction of the First Temple could very well have been produced at Tel Shiqmona (2 Chron. 2:14). Solomon aptly romanticizes his love for the Shulamite woman using the language of purple, “Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, and the hair of your head is like purple; a king is held captive by your tresses” (Song of Solomon 7:5). What a remarkable discovery!

***

Trivia

According to Jewish law, when does human life begin?

(Answer to Trivia below)

***

Jesus by the Lake (Luke 7:1-10), Bible Challenge

1. From whom might the centurion have learned about Jesus?

The elders, his servant, Matthew, a soldier, the nobleman from Capernaum whose son was sick and whom Jesus healed from a distance (cf. John 4:46)

2. Where did the centurion live?

Perhaps Capernaum, though unlikely since it was a Jewish fishing town

Perhaps nearby Tiberias, the new capital of the region

Perhaps north of Capernaum, near the tax-collecting border of Galilee and Perea

3. What synagogue did he build?

If the Capernaum synagogue, then we can still see the first-century foundation of it to this day

4. What’s meant by, “I also am a man placed under authority … and I say to one, ‘Go’”?

5. Notice that the Jews marvel at his kindness and generosity, calling him deserving, but Jesus marvels at his great faith and humility (“I am not worthy,” v. 7).

6. Note that a powerful Roman centurion didn’t consider himself worthy to invite a poor, Jewish rabbi and conquered subject of Rome into his home.

7. Note that he didn’t doubt that Jesus could heal his servant, “But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

8. How might the crowd in v. 9 have taken Jesus’ comment, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.”

Marveled too, felt ashamed at their own unbelief, confused that Jesus would praise so highly a lowly Gentile, anger that they were being disparaged

Daniel McCabe

Bible Quiz: Old or New Testament?

Where do each of these verses first originate in the Bible (NKJV)—Old Testament or New Testament?

Score yourself. One point for getting the correct testament and one point for getting the correct book. So, for example, if you knew that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” was from the Old Testament (then 1 point) and from the book of Genesis (then 1 more point for a total of 2). Therefore, your maximum score on the quiz can be 20 points. Got it? It’s not easy, but let me know how you did in the comments section below.

1. “A friend loves at all times.”

2. “Be brave, be strong.”

3. “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.”

4. “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

5. “He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

6. “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

7. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8. “This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.”

9. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.”

10. “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”

Answer Key:

1. Old, Prov. 17:17; 2. New, 1 Cor. 16:13; 3. New, James 5:9; 4. New, 1 Cor. 15:33; 5. Old, Deut. 31:8; 6. New, Rev. 4:8; 7. Old, 1 Sam. 16:7; 8. New, John 15:12; 9. Old, Deut. 6:5; 10. Old, Deut. 6:16.

Scripture Study: The Hall of Faith, part 5

Hebrews 11:20 continues, “By faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff,” meaning that he was about ready to physically die. “By faith Joseph,” and I love this example here in v. 22, “at the end of his life made mention of the exodus of the Israelites,” which we know would happen several hundred years later, “and he gave directions concerning his bones.” He ordered the people of Israel, his descendants, “Take my bones up out of here. Don’t leave me in Egypt. When God brings us out of Egypt and brings us into the land of promise, bring my bones up with you,” and he ended up being buried in Shechem.

So those are the first twenty-two verses of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, and I think we can appreciate at least two aspects of faith here. One, in their specific examples, all of these heroes of Scripture did trust in the promises that God gave to them that would come about in their own lives. With Noah it was the flood. With Sarah it was Isaac. With Jacob or with Abraham it was, “Go to this specific land.” And so God was working out these things in their own time and they all trusted in that. They were people who consistently trusted in God, which pleased Him. But even more so, they were people who looked forward to something that did not come about in their own lifetimes, and that is a greater reality which the author of Hebrews is reminding his own readers, charging them, and calling them to trust in Christ as the Messiah, as King, and as the Guarantor of the New Covenant who could bring about all of these things that were promised way back when to the heroes of Scripture and even to his own generation.

Adam Keim

Archaeology: The Church around the Corner

August 18, 2022

Alexander Nevsky was a 13th century, Russian, warrior-prince, known for his victories against Swedish and German invaders, so what’s his name doing on a church? In 1857 the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society purchased a small tract of land inside Jerusalem’s Old City adjacent to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. They intended to build a hostel and a consulate to serve Russian pilgrims to Jerusalem and so named the complex after Nevsky, but then prior to construction in 1883 they discovered the remains of an ancient wall and gate. In response they built their planned complex outside the city walls, known even today as the Russian Compound, and erected the Alexander Nevsky Church on the original site.

Due to the present, global, political climate the Israeli government has delayed its agreement from 2020 to transfer the site’s ownership to the Russian Federation. This past April Russian president, Vladimir Putin, demanded that Israel honor its agreement immediately, but the matter is now bogged down in the court system, so for now Putin can only fume and wait.

In any event I mentioned a wall and a gate that many believe to be a city wall from the first century and the gate through which Jesus exited the city on his way to Golgotha. Unfortunately, the gate and wall are likely from the eleventh century, but they were possibly built at the same location as an earlier triple-arched gate that was erected by Roman Emperor Hadrian in approximately 135 A.D.

There are other intriguing remains inside the church, including walls, flagstones, pavement and columns, some that also date to the time of Hadrian, including a wall that surrounded his temple complex. Most tour groups don’t visit the church around the corner. But I think it’s worth a visit if for nothing more than to view the spectacular paintings of the life of Christ high on the walls inside the chapel.

Daniel McCabe

Answer to the Trivia

C. At birth

Week Twenty-Nine, 2025

After a long flight across the ocean, in the early morning hours, we checked into our hotel and took a much-needed nap. It was our first overseas trip and when we woke up, we were ready to hit the streets in our first European country. I placed our weighty key on the hotel desk and hailed a cab, telling the driver which museum we wanted to go to. We got out and went inside.

As we strolled the corridors I suddenly had an intense thought, turned to my wife and asked if she remembered the name of the hotel where we were staying, and she said no. I had thoughts of a long stay in that museum! (PS This was our first trip overseas, and we were in our 20s. BG)

Finding someone who spoke English was no easy task, but finally I found someone who asked what it looked like. Once I told him, he gave the name of the hotel, and it clicked.

As we drove back to the hotel, I thought of what would have happened if we couldn’t find the hotel and then I thought of a spiritual parallel. We are never lost from God!

God knew us before we were born, and He has been with us ever since. He is never far away; though we may drift, He is omnipresent, and never loses track of us. God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from every one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:27-28)

The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make Him. Starting from scratch, He made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. We live and move in Him, can’t get away from Him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we are God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?

Where is God in your life?

Sometimes True Stories

Every day 158,000 people die. Nearly half have never heard of Christ.

Picture two brains: one buzzing with activity, connections firing across regions in a synchronized neural ballet. The other shows only scattered flickers of engagement—isolated islands of electrical activation.

Both belong to university students sitting in the same lecture trying to capture the same ideas. The difference between them isn’t intelligence, attention span, or interest in the subject—but the tools in their hands.

One holds a trusty pen poised over lined paper, while the other’s fingers hover over a laptop keyboard.

This neural contrast, shown in a study in Frontiers in Psychology, is just one piece of mounting evidence suggesting that our rush toward digital convenience may be coupled with significant cognitive costs. From neuroscience labs to classrooms, research comparing traditional and digital learning tools finds that pens are not quite yet old school.

Law of the Theater & Football Stadium:

At any sports event, the people whose seats are farthest from the aisle always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet, and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.

– 0 –

Have you ever stared at a small body of water and imagined what it would be like to walk across? Now imagine a scenario where the body of water is next to a rock quarry, you pick up a stone and toss it in, the stone sinks, the ripples cease, but then you throw another stone, and another, and another, and another. If you keep throwing the stones eventually the stones will begin rising to the surface as you build a bridge beneath the water. Eventually you can walk across the stones.

Prayer can often seem much like the stones tossed into the water, they may seem to disappear into the Heavens with no evidence of results, but just like the stones, prayers accumulate. And when we look back we realize that God was listening all along. The bridge being built leads to eternity. The Lord hears the prayers of the righteous. Tony Ferguson

Quotes You Can Use

No one is perfect, even when one pledges his total allegiance to God, he falters. Stephen Bernard

Pray for God to send out more gospel workers, knowing that He may send you. Edgar Aponte

Be careful not to be a thief by talking too much or staying too long; that is someone’s time you are taking to. Dwight Short

We simply cannot live a Christian life without God’s help. Tony Ferguson

When you need to get your life in perspective, there’s no better place to go than into the house of God. Dan Shock

What does it mean to fear the Lord? It’s a reverential trust, a sense of respect, awe, and a submission to a higher power. We begin to be wise when we revere God and put our faith and trust in Him. Tony Ferguson

There are only two options regarding commitment: you’re either in or you’re out. There’s no such thing as life in-between. Pat Riley

There is more refreshment and stimulation in a nap, even of the briefest!

It will be a sad day for the church and the world when there is no distinction between the children of God and those of the world. Charles Spurgeon

Hell will be filled with people who don’t drink, don’t cuss and may have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things make you a Christian.

The funny thing about growing old is that your eyesight grows weaker, but your ability to see through people gets better.

Children who are not taught accountability for their actions grow up to think that nothing is wrong.

The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything. Theodore Roosevelt

If we have nothing left to give our children, they have enough if they have God. Charles Spurgeon

The mark of a successful church is not how many go there, but how many live differently as a result of having been there.

Sometimes faith will make you look stupid until it rains. Noah

We are not building God’s kingdom. He is, and we are praying to be a part of it. Francis Schaffer.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to contribute your ideas and thoughts, please address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2025

August 16, 2022

“Throw yourself down” (Matt. 4:6), the devil challenged Jesus. If Jesus had jumped from the “pinnacle of the temple” in Jerusalem that day (v. 5), it would have created quite a scene with angels swooping in to save him in sight of all the people (v. 6). Certainly there would come a time for Jesus to present himself to the Jewish people as the Son of God. On that day there would be palm branches, a donkey and a descent from the Mount of Olives, but today was not that day.

But where exactly was Jesus standing when Satan challenged him to jump from the pinnacle and how far would the fall have been? Some believe he stood atop the temple building itself, while others have suggested either the southeast corner, or the southwest corner, of the temple complex. The fall from each of these three locations would have been approximately 150 feet. Of course we can’t know the correct location with certainty, and it doesn’t significantly change the point of the story, but I am partial to the southwest corner of the temple complex, since it would have been visible to the most people. I have other reasons, but we’ll leave it there for now.

In any event Jesus’ encounter with Satan is a great reminder that popularity and hubris are poor excuses for disobedience to God’s will. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

–Daniel McCabe

Seven Centurions

Seven Centurions are mentioned in the New Testament. All seven are spoken of positively, while they were otherwise despised by the Jewish people.

1. Luke 7:1-10—a man of great faith who loved the land of Israel, built a synagogue for the Jews, cared for his servant, called deserving by the elders, described himself as unworthy

2. Matt. 27:54—“Truly this was the Son of God”

3. Acts 10—Cornelius, a devout man who feared God

4. Acts 22:26—intervened on behalf of Paul, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

5 & 6. Acts 23:23-24—two centurions who protected Paul from those who had vowed to kill him

7. Acts 27:42-43—sought to save Paul from the soldiers who wanted to kill him

The Centurion’s Servant

“dear to him,” 7:2— a word meaning “valuable, precious, prized, honored”

“sick,” v. 2—a word meaning “bad off, injured, harmed”

“ready to die,” v. 2—again, in a severe or critical condition

“paralyzed” in the parallel passage of Matt. 8:6—disabled, unable to walk

“dreadfully tormented,” Matt. 8:6—in agony; note its use in v. 29 where the demons fear that Jesus will “torment” them, so could this refer to demonic activity?

The Centurion

“[Jesus] marveled at him.”

Only 2X did Jesus marvel—here in Luke 7:9 and at Nazareth in Mark 6:5-6, “Now He could do no mighty work there … and He marveled because of their unbelief.”

“I have not found such great faith.”

Only 2X did Jesus commend “great faith”—here in Luke 7:9 and a Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:28

In both cases they are Gentiles, not Jews, and in both cases Jesus healed from a distance.

By contrast …

The disciples—in the storm on the Sea of Galilee; “How is it that you have no faith?” Mark 4:40.

Peter—when he looked at the wind and waves on the Sea of Galilee; “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matt. 14:31.

–Daniel McCabe

Trivia

The tabernacle stood for a time in all of the following locations except WHERE?

• A. Jerusalem
• B. Nob
• C. Ramah
• D. Shiloh

(Answer below)

Adam’s Prayer

After Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit, we read that they sewed fig leaves together in a panic to cover their nakedness and then scoured the garden for a good hiding spot from God (Genesis 3:6). The Lord finds them cowering behind a tree and confronts them, but instead of showing remorse, they quickly turn on one another—“the woman … gave me … and I ate” and “the serpent deceived me” (vs. 12-13).

Soon they all learn their fates, including the serpent, but next we read these gracious words, “God made tunics of skin and clothed [Adam and Eve]” (v. 21). It was my Old Testament professor in college, Dr. Kenneth McKinley, who first pointed out to me that this verse presents two key biblical themes of faith and blood—faith in that the fallen couple accepted God’s covering as a replacement for their manmade one and blood in that the death of an innocent one (a lamb perhaps) was required to restore the guilty.

But somewhere between Adam and Eve’s decision to hide from the presence of God and their decision to accept a new set of clothes from him, something changed in their hearts. We don’t read any words of repentance in Genesis nor any prayer for forgiveness, but in his classic work, Paradise Lost, John Milton imagines these words of advice from Adam to Eve in order to help explain the change:

“What better can we do than to the place
Repairing, where He judged us, prostrate fall
Before Him reverent; and there confess
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears

Some Jewish rabbis have similarly proposed that Adam prayed in the garden for forgiveness; that both Adam and Eve ritually cleansed themselves in one of the garden’s rivers as an act of repentance; and that many years later Adam penned Psalm 92 as a prayer of repentance. We can’t know with any certainty what or even if Adam prayed in the garden, but how do you think you would have felt if you were on the receiving end of God’s animal-skin covering that day? If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior from sin, then it turns out that you know exactly how they felt. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

–Daniel McCabe

Hezekiah’s Pool

When we read in the opening verses of Isaiah 36 that a high-ranking envoy from the king of Assyria has arrived at Jerusalem with a considerable military force and that he stood “by the aqueduct from the upper pool” (v. 2) from where he taunted King Hezekiah and all the people barricaded inside the city about their impending destruction, don’t think for a second about a sun-splashed swimming pool with diving boards and lifeguard stands. Instead think of a reservoir filled with water. Or better yet, think of a trash dump, for before 2010 when Jerusalem’s city leaders finally decided to clean it up, Hezekiah’s Pool (as it had come to be known) was just that.

There aren’t any signs inside the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem that direct pilgrims to the pool, for there’s not really anything there to see except for a large, dry, open area, 140 by 240 feet in size, surrounded on all sides by buildings and workshops. There’s no evidence that Jesus ever removed his sandals and dipped his feet into this pool (that by then had been refurbished by King Herod) or that Paul or one of the Twelve performed a miracle there, so that’s enough reason for most to yawn at their guide’s urging to climb to the rooftop of the Petra Hotel or the northeast tower of the Citadel just inside Jaffa Gate for an aerial view. Some historians believe that before its use as a pool the site served as a quarry whose stones were used to build part of an ancient city wall and that it might be holding secrets below its recently-cleared surface that archaeologists have yet to uncover.

If you’ve hung on this long to my description of this pool, which has also served in times past as a conventional caravanserai, then you might find it interesting to learn its alternative name, the Pool of the Patriarch’s Bath, for in the Middle Ages this pool supplied bath water for the palace of a Crusader patriarch. Still reading? Then consider encouraging me with a like, love or wow that might say more than that you made it to the end of this post, but that you might even want to knock on the front door of the Coptic Khan with me next time we’re in Jerusalem to see if they will let us walk through their building and out the back door to take a peek at the pool or perhaps to even attend (though rare) a concert together or some other scheduled event on the floor of the pool.

–Daniel McCabe

The Hall of Faith, part 4

In Hebrews 11:13 we read that Abel, Noah and Abraham “all died in faith, not having received the things promised.” That’s interesting because Noah did see the flood come about and Sarah saw Isaac being born, but they didn’t receive the fulfillment of these promises in a greater way. “But having seen them and greeted them from afar and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth, people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.” Now none of these people mentioned so far had seen that homeland. They were still strangers in the land even though they received specific promises in the context of the flood and Isaac, for example. In a greater way, however, they were looking forward to the same thing that the writer of Hebrews wants to impress upon his readers—that they can look forward to a homeland that they had not yet received. It’s the faithful who live their whole earthly lives looking forward to that thing that they don’t see and who are seeking a homeland now.

Verse 15 says that “if they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one,” one that would be sourced from heaven. We know this to be the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God that Jesus talked about. He told Pilate, for example, “My Kingdom is not from this world.” It’s not sourced in this world, and v. 16 finishes by saying, “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city,” a city that none of them got to enjoy, but one that they would enjoy at a future time. In this way the readers of Hebrews could claim to have the same faith as Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah and the rest of the people whom the writer’s going to talk about in chapter 11.

The writer now gets back to the specific people. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named?’” So why would Abraham offer up Isaac even though he knew that Isaac was required for those promises to come about? Well, though the content of Genesis doesn’t give us this specific information, v. 19 here does, “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” Isaac was as good as dead because Abraham was ready to sacrifice him in obedience, but he trusted that God somehow would still work out his promises even if it meant bringing Isaac back from the dead.

–Adam Keim

Answer to the Trivia

C. Ramah

Week Twenty-Eight, 2025

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).

Several years ago, there was a commercial for Motel 6, and the catchphrase was ‘We’ll leave the light on for ya,’ an ad-lib by Tom Bodett, a National Public Radio personality. It was a catchy phrase that resonated for years after the ad first aired.

Regardless of your station in life, the Lord’s light of forgiveness is always on for those who accept the Lord’s gift of Grace. At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

In our lives, there will be good days and bad days, light days and dark days, and days when we feel God is far away and missing. But, be assured, He is always there. Sometimes, He throws the bad and dark days and experiences to get our attention or to divert us from moving in the wrong direction. I can point out those experiences in my life, though I didn’t realize it until long after the fact.

The prophet Isaiah saw the light, saying: ‘Arise, shine, for your light has dawned, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you’ (60:1). This assures that there is light after the dawn, the light of the Lord. Light is what makes the birds sing while the coming dawn is still dark.

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18. Admittedly, it is tough to hang in there when God feels so far away, but as surely as the sun rises in the East, you will feel His presence in your life. He doesn’t drift away, but sometimes you and I do. Often, He says, ‘Wait,’ something most of us don’t do very well.

The best way to flip on the switch of light in your life is to grab your Bible and see what it says. It is full of light that is always on for us.

Have you flipped that switch lately?

Sometimes True Stories

When people are reading a job posting on any one of the hundreds of job sites, one of the headings is always ‘Job Requirements.’ And in this section they delineate all the necessary skills to be able to fulfill the Job Description or be a successful candidate for the position.

It may be certain education levels, a certain number of work experience years, or certain proficiencies and skill levels that are necessary to be considered for the job.

As we read a passage in Micah 6:8, we see three such requirements from the Lord:

1. to act justly

2. to love mercy

3. to walk humbly with your God.

And preceding these requirements, we are reminded that He has already shown us what is good. We already know, He’s already shown us.

For us to do and be what He has called us to do and be, it begins with repenting of our sin and making Jesus the Lord and Savior of our lives. Soon followed by the “Job Requirements” mentioned here:

1. to act justly

2. to love mercy

3. to walk humbly with your God.

Just like Jesus… Marty Stubblefield

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Bible sales are booming in the UK, part of what one commentator calls a “broader cultural change pointing to an awakening in society.” Bible sales are up 22 percent in the US as well.

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In 2019, the federal budget was $4.4 trillion.

The federal deficit that year was $984 billion.

Interest payments on the national debt totaled $375 billion.

In 2024, the federal budget was $6.8 trillion.

The federal deficit that year was $1.8 trillion.

Interest on the national debt was $881 billion.

Between 2019 and 2024:

The federal budget ballooned by 55%.

The annual deficit skyrocketed by 83%.

Interest payments on the national debt exploded by 135%

Quotes You Can Use

You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. Desmond Tutu

When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who created us to be born again…..to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…… (I Peter 1:3-4).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who created us to be born again… to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. (I Peter 1:3-4).

Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.

Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error. Marcus Cicero

The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion. Paulo Coelho

The best fighter is never angry. Lao Tzu

God uses such seemingly insignificant ways to prepare us for the plan He has for our lives. Corrie Ten Boom

If we are true to ourselves, we cannot be false to anyone. William Shakespeare.

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. Marcus Aurelius

You can’t preach equality while demanding special treatment.

You can see a potter mold clay only when it is completely in his hands. It requires total surrender. Corrie Ten Boom

Some people don’t see how much you do for them. They only see what you don’t do for them. You will never satisfy an ungrateful person.

Children that aren’t taught accountability for their actions grow up thinking that nothing is wrong.

The people who criticize your life are the ones who don’t know or understand what you did to get where you are.

Your circumstances don’t determine your joy.

It takes two years for a baby to learn to speak and a lifetime to know when to shut up. Ernest Hemingway.

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