Week Twenty-Three, 2026

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

We all have them, and they range from short to long ones. I am talking about plans. How do we plan? How do we respond when they don’t work out as we planned?

Plans are detailed, step-by-step methods or strategies used to achieve goals, ranging from personal intentions to organizational strategies like strategic, tactical, operational, or contingency plans. Effective planning involves setting concrete goals, identifying requirements, and scheduling, resulting in increased productivity and reduced stress. Or… as simple as deciding which movie to go see. They are often a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.

They are a set of decisions about how to do something in the future: a company’s business plan, a negotiated peace plan, a read-through-the-Bible-daily plan, a five-year plan, vacation plans. But, no matter how hard we try, our plans don’t always work out for us. Then what?

I well remember taking a camping trip out west. One of the boys got sick and we had to seek medical treatment for him, slowing us down for a few days. Meanwhile, the camping park where we were headed had an earthquake and several campers perished. But for an unexpected delay, it could have been us.

Ultimately, God is the master planner in our lives. He gives us a hope and a future, no matter how difficult it may seem at the time.

With its references to God’s plans, prosperity, protection from harm, peace, and a future filled with hope, Jeremiah 29:11 is often offered as a spiritual “security blanket” to people who are struggling. The verse has inspired and comforted countless believers who interpret it to mean that if they endure their immediate circumstances, they will emerge victorious, triumphant, and celebrated in God’s ultimate plan of prosperity. They anticipate a moment when their suffering ends and their flourishing begins.

So, what do we take away from Jeremiah 29:11? First, if we put our trust in Christ, we can anticipate an ultimately glorious future—one spent in God’s presence for eternity. Second, God’s plans for His people in this world rarely involve helping us escape from our trials completely. He doesn’t make our suffering disappear. Instead, He helps us persevere through them. He helps us grow and mature in ways we wouldn’t otherwise grow and mature apart from tough times. He helps us find joy in the unlikeliest of circumstances. It’s the kind of joy that affects not just our lives, but the lives of others as well. He prospers us in ways that expand our understanding of prosperity.

Are you ready for God’s plan in your life?

Sometimes True Stories

Comments from Edgar Aponte: Each book of the Bible has an agenda. Our agenda is to find new life in Christ. Jesus meets us in our pain and disappointment. He is THE Way, THE Truth and The Life. We need to point to the One who gives us hope. He invites us to believe. Jesus knows what I have said and thought. He knows everything. Some love their sin more than they love their Bible. Jesus still had the scars and so do we. Jesus’ invitation demands a response—not to just see, but to believe. It is a personal response that He is your Savior. We also need to make it a personal commitment. Knowing about Jesus is not enough. It must be a personal commitment.

– 0 –

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” — Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

What separates the wise from the foolish? The foolish man relies on himself while the wise man relies on God. A recent student of Scripture did a study of God’s promises and came up with 7,487, and to their amazement, God always fulfills His promises—not just some, but 100% of the time. A wise man understands that God is sovereign and cannot lie; a foolish man relies on himself. When we build our lives on the foundation of God, we can rest in peace that our foundation is solid and will stand the test of time. The foolish man builds his life on the shifting sands of man and watches as the sand crumbles with each passing day.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on a solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against the house, the house won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.” — Matthew 7:24-26

Quotes You Can Use

We were never promised a rose garden, just that God will never desert us.

It is not the length of our prayers that makes them effective—it’s the relationship we have with God that counts.

In order for faith to be valid, it has to lead to action.

Knowing what to say and when to say it takes wisdom. I remember a quote which says it is better to be quiet than boisterous.

One day the flesh will be put away forever.

Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. — Benjamin Franklin

Whenever a life is yielded to God, He magnifies that person.

God uses trials to mature your faith, so rejoice in them and ask Him for wisdom to endure. Trust God’s purpose in your trials. Ask God for wisdom in your trials. — Edgar Aponte

Jesus is the bridge between God and man.

Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration. — Thomas Edison

One of the biggest lies of the devil is causing doubt. Doubt is about God’s gift of grace. The devil would have us believe we are a “victim” regardless of any personal decisions we may have made. Whatever is happening to us is the fault of someone else, or we are simply a victim of circumstances or some other factor of our upbringing or environment. — Tony Ferguson

Satan has deceived many people into trusting in emptiness.

God gave us the gift of thinking, reason, and logic; we must be a good steward of His gift.

© Thoughts on Life Copyright 2026

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June 4, 2026

As we grow older, many of us discover regrets about things we have done or failed to do. Such memories can be gifts from God, prompting self-examination, repentance, and spiritual growth. Though believers are forgiven through Christ, they are still called to conform their character to His, making amends where possible and showing His love in their relationships.

One of my deepest regrets is that I did not consistently honor my father and mother. In my youth, pride led me to believe that I had surpassed my father in wisdom and understanding. Possessing only a little education and limited life experience, I judged him harshly while overlooking my own faults. Like the hypocrisy Christ condemned, I was quick to see flaws in others while ignoring my own. By the time I recognized my error, my father had passed away. I could no longer apologize or repair the hurt I may have caused. The opportunity was gone forever.

That realization opened my eyes to a broader truth. I had often failed not only my parents but also family members, friends, associates, and employees. Many of these failures were sins of omission—neglecting kindness, encouragement, or responsibilities that should have received my attention. Self-centeredness had influenced my thinking more than I realized. Scripture teaches that we benefit others not for personal gain, but because genuine love and service reflect God’s design for human relationships. Honoring others, especially our parents, is both right and beneficial.

The gospel provides hope for such failures. God promises forgiveness to those who confess their sins and turn to Him. His mercy is far greater than our understanding. Through Christ’s sacrifice, sinners are offered reconciliation with God and the opportunity to begin anew. John 3:16 and countless other passages reveal God’s love toward a fallen world and His desire that people come to faith in Him.

Reflecting on these truths led me to think about our children and grandchildren. It is a joy to watch children exceed their parents’ accomplishments, and faithfully raise their own families. Our four children, with their mates, have devoted themselves to training up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Rather than entrusting that responsibility to others, in loco parentis, they have invested tremendous time, effort, and resources in their children’s character development and educations. Their homes are filled with books, learning tools, practical projects, and opportunities to grow in knowledge and wisdom.

The children are encouraged to think critically, work diligently, care for one another, and understand the world through the lens of Scripture. They learn practical skills, pursue excellence in academics and technology, and develop habits of cooperation and responsibility. More importantly, they are nurtured in faith, prayer, and love. While no family is perfect, these efforts help prepare them to face life’s challenges with courage, integrity, and dependence upon God.

Parents bear many burdens and often make sacrifices that their children may not fully understand until much later. Before judging our parents, we should consider their struggles, responsibilities, and loving sacrifices on our behalves. Gratitude and respect are fitting responses to those who brought us into the world and labored to prepare us for life.

The central lesson is simple: “honor your father and mother.” We cannot undo our own past failures, but we can repent, seek God’s forgiveness, and choose a better path. By showing gratitude to our parents, extending grace to others, and persevering through life’s difficulties, we reflect the character of Christ. As Scripture teaches, “Honor thy father and mother,” a commandment accompanied by God’s promise of blessing.

Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth (Ephesians 6:2-3).

May 30, 23026

My brother was the giant in our family at 5’-10” tall. Me? I’m 5’-7” on a good day, so I’m certainly no expert on height. But I do know a little about the Bible, and I once spent four years under Dr. Hartman, Dr. Graff and Dr. Johnson learning physics, electromagnetics and chemistry, respectively, enough to turn my tassel at least, so let me wade into the shallow end of the “What happened to the giants?” debate for a moment.

It’s a sister topic to the “What happened to the dinosaurs?” question, for as you’ve probably noticed, there aren’t many giants or dinosaurs roaming the roads near where you live.

Even so, I do believe that giants did once walk this earth. In previous posts I’ve shared specific passages from the Bible that describe them, but since the Bible doesn’t take any time to explain what happened to them, we’ll need to speculate a bit.

Here’s where I’m thankful for my engineering training though one degree received decades ago doesn’t make me an expert on the science that swirls around this question. Even so, here’s what I know.

Right now, unless you’re reading this from inside an absolute vacuum, you are being pummeled by diatomic nitrogen and diatomic oxygen (you can throw in a dash of argon and a pinch of carbon dioxide too). You can’t feel these molecules striking you, nonetheless you’re surrounded by a bazillion air molecules composed of roughly 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. It would be fair to say that these percentages have remained largely unchanged for millennia, but past or future factors could certainly alter these percentages, and even evolutionary scientists acknowledge that ancient oxygen-rich ecosystems were once a thing. It’s just that they don’t think they were ever a major thing. But what if they are wrong? After all, they don’t exactly have a perfect track record within science, and their evolutionary assumptions do often prevent them from even entertaining theories like the one I’m about to throw at you.

So what if oxygen levels were once much higher than they are at present? What if some global catastrophe caused a tremendous disruption of the earth’s biosphere, a major change in oceanic chemistry, or a massive decay of organic matter, which together contributed to a major drop in the partial pressure of oxygen. Of course, the Bible describes just such an event in Genesis 7-9 that could explain these or similar global changes. If oxygen levels once measured significantly higher than they do now, then that could certainly account for larger beings and longer lives than what we experience today. In fact, scientists have discovered ancient fossils that are several times larger than their modern counterparts. What if background radiation was also much lower in a pre-flood atmosphere, thus reducing the number of somatic and hereditary mutations, which would allow for more robust organic growth?

I don’t personally think it unreasonable to suggest that a global flood caused a dramatic transformation of our climate and that giants and dinosaurs could have been affected by reduced oxygen levels that impacted their subsequent size, their longevity and their quality of life.

Do I know this to be true from the science? Of course not. No one can know with absolute certainty. But is it reasonable? I say, “Yes.”

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia

Which one of the following iconic songs of yesteryear was NOT written by a Jew? Find the answer below)

A. Eli’s Coming (1968)

B. American Pie (1971)

C. Rock and Roll All Nite (1975)

D. Funkytown (1980)

On Location: The Montefiore Windmill

I want to tell you about something you may have seen if you’ve been to Jerusalem, but have probably wondered what it is. You may have noticed an old windmill that is the pride of the locals. It lies just southwest of the Old City, perched atop the western slope of the Hinnom Valley.

I am talking about the Montefiore Windmill. It has been around from the sunset of the Ottoman Empire to the birth of modern Israel. Built in 1857 by the British philanthropist Moses Montefiore, it was originally meant to help Jewish residents become self-sufficient by grinding their own flour. But by the late 1940s, this symbol of industry was about to become a casualty of war.

At the outbreak of the 1947–1948 Civil War, the windmill’s location became strategically important. Standing on a slope overlooking the Old City’s walls, it offered a perfect bird’s-eye view of the landscape. The Jewish Haganah fighters realized this immediately and transformed the top of the tower into an observation post to monitor the blockade of Jerusalem. Naturally, the British Mandate authorities weren’t thrilled about a fortified sniper and scouting nest in the middle of a conflict zone. So in 1948 the British high command finally had enough and ordered the windmill to be leveled. In a bit of military wit, they dubbed the mission, “Operation Don Quixote,” a nod to the fictional knight who famously tilted at windmills.

But here is where the story turns into something straight out of a movie. The demolition crew sent to blow up the tower just happened to be from Ramsgate, England, and as they prepped the explosives, they noticed a plaque on the wall that recorded Montefiore’s name as well as his home in Ramsgate. Suddenly, this wasn’t just a military target; it was a piece of their own hometown history.

According to local legend, one of the soldiers, whose family had worked on Montefiore’s English estate, reminded his comrades of the family’s legendary kindness back in Britain. Moved by the connection, the unit decided to “reinterpret” their orders. Instead of leveling the entire 50-foot stone structure, they carefully rigged the explosives to destroy only the observation post at the very top.

Because of those sentimental soldiers, the tower survived the war. Today, standing tall as a museum, it’s been fully restored with its Kentish-style cap and sails by a Dutch organization called “Christians for Israel.” What a reminder that even in the middle of a civil war, sometimes a small connection to home is enough to save a landmark from the brink of destruction!

-Adam Keim, October 27, 2022

How Joseph Foreshadows Jesus, part 1

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’ll share 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; some of the supporting verses are mine. Enjoy!

1. Joseph had two names—Joseph and Zaphnath-Paaneah (Gen. 41:45).

Jesus has two names—Jesus and Christ (Matt. 1:1).

2. Joseph was a shepherd (Gen. 37:2).

Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).

3. Joseph spoke out against evil (Gen. 37:2).

Jesus spoke out against evil (John 7:7).

4. Joseph was loved by his father (Gen. 37:3-4).

Jesus is loved by his Father (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; John 10:17).

5. Joseph was the son of Jacob in his old age (Gen. 37:3).

Jesus is the Son of God who is eternal (1 John 5:13).

6. Joseph had a coat of many colors (Gen. 37:3).

Jesus wears a “colored coat” of various glories and infinite perfections (Heb. 1:3).

7. Joseph was hated by his brothers (Gen. 37:4).

Jesus was hated by his brethren (John 1:11; Luke 19:14).

8. Joseph was hated for his words (Gen. 37:8).

Jesus was hated for his words (John 3:32).

9. Joseph was promised a great future (Gen. 37:7-10, 23-24).

Jesus was promised a great future (Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:31-33).

10. Joseph foretold of his future exaltation and reign (Gen. 37:7-10).

Jesus foretold of his future exaltation and reign (Matt. 26:64).

11. Joseph was envied by his brothers (Gen. 37:11).

Jesus was envied by his brethren (Matt. 27:17-18).

12. Joseph was sent by his father to his brothers (Gen. 37:13).

Jesus was sent by his Father to his brethren (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40).

13. Joseph sought the welfare of his brothers (Gen. 37:14).

Jesus sought the salvation of his brethren (Matt.15:24; Rom. 15:8).

14. Joseph left his father’s home in Hebron (Gen. 37:14).

Jesus left his Father’s home in heaven (John 14:2).

15. Joseph arrived in Shechem to serve (Gen. 37:14).the Montefiore Windmill. It has been around from the sunset of the Ottoman Empire to the birth of modern Israel. Built in 1857 by the British philanthropist Moses Montefiore, it was originally meant to help Jewish residents become self-sufficient by grinding their own flour. But by the late 1940s, this symbol of industry was about to become a casualty of war.

At the outbreak of the 1947–1948 Civil War, the windmill’s location became strategically important. Standing on a slope overlooking the Old City’s walls, it offered a perfect bird’s-eye view of the landscape. The Jewish Haganah fighters realized this immediately and transformed the top of the tower into an observation post to monitor the blockade of Jerusalem. Naturally, the British Mandate authorities weren’t thrilled about a fortified sniper and scouting nest in the middle of a conflict zone. So in 1948 the British high command finally had enough and ordered the windmill to be leveled. In a bit of military wit, they dubbed the mission, “Operation Don Quixote,” a nod to the fictional knight who famously tilted at windmills.

Jesus arrived as the Son of Man to serve (Mark 10:45).

16. Joseph wandered in a field (Gen. 37:15).

Jesus wandered in a field (Matt. 13:38; Luke 9:58).

17. Joseph seeks until he finds his brothers (Gen. 37:14-17).

Jesus seeks until he finds his brethren (Luke 15:4-5).

18. Joseph was conspired against (Gen. 37:18).

Jesus was conspired against (Matt. 12:14).

19. Joseph’s brothers did not believe his dreams (Gen. 37:19-20).

Jesus’ brethren did not believe his words (Matt. 27:39-43; John 3:18, 36).

20. Joseph was insulted and stripped of his coat (Gen. 37:20, 23).

Jesus was insulted and stripped of his coat (Matt. 27:27-29; John 19:23).

-Daniel McCabe

Answer to the Trivia

B. American Pie (1971)

If you have any questions, are interested in learning more about our trips, would like to support us by check or schedule a seminar for your church, school, camp or group, then please contact us for more information at [email protected].

Giants in the Bible, Part 5:

What Happened to Them?

My brother was the giant in our family at 5’10” tall. Me? I’m 5’7” on a good day, so I’m certainly no expert on height. But I do know a little about the Bible, and I once spent four years under Dr. Hartman, Dr. Graff and Dr. Johnson learning physics, electromagnetics and chemistry, respectively, enough to turn my tassel at least, so let me wade into the shallow end of the “What happened to the giants?” debate for a moment. It’s a sister topic to the “What happened to the dinosaurs?” question, for as you’ve probably noticed, there aren’t many giants or dinosaurs roaming the roads near where you live.

Even so, I do believe that giants did once walk this earth. In previous posts I’ve shared specific passages from the Bible that describe them, but since the Bible doesn’t take any time to explain what happened to them, we’ll need to speculate a bit.

Here’s where I’m thankful for my engineering training though one degree received decades ago doesn’t make me an expert on the science that swirls around this question. Even so, here’s what I know.

Right now, unless you’re reading this from inside an absolute vacuum, you are being pummeled by diatomic nitrogen and diatomic oxygen (you can throw in a dash of argon and a pinch of carbon dioxide too). You can’t feel these molecules striking you, nonetheless you’re surrounded by a bazillion air molecules composed of roughly 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. It would be fair to say that these percentages have remained largely unchanged for millennia, but past or future factors could certainly alter these percentages, and even evolutionary scientists acknowledge that ancient oxygen-rich ecosystems were once a thing. It’s just that they don’t think they were ever a major thing. But what if they are wrong? After all, they don’t exactly have a perfect track record within science, and their evolutionary assumptions do often prevent them from even entertaining theories like the one I’m about to throw at you.

So what if oxygen levels were once much higher than they are at present? What if some global catastrophe caused a tremendous disruption of the earth’s biosphere, a major change in oceanic chemistry, or a massive decay of organic matter, which together contributed to a major drop in the partial pressure of oxygen. Of course, the Bible describes just such an event in Genesis 7-9 that could explain these or similar global changes. If oxygen levels once measured significantly higher than they do now, then that could certainly account for larger beings and longer lives than what we experience today. In fact, scientists have discovered ancient fossils that are several times larger than their modern counterparts. What if background radiation was also much lower in a pre-flood atmosphere, thus reducing the number of somatic and hereditary mutations, which would allow for more robust organic growth?

I don’t personally think it unreasonable to suggest that a global flood caused a dramatic transformation of our climate and that giants and dinosaurs could have been affected by reduced oxygen levels that impacted their subsequent size, their longevity and their quality of life.

Do I know this to be true from the science? Of course not. No one can know with absolute certainty. But is it reasonable? I say, “Yes.”

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia

Which one of the following iconic songs of yesteryear was NOT written by a Jew? Find the answer below)

A. Eli’s Coming (1968)

B. American Pie (1971)

C. Rock and Roll All Nite (1975)

D. Funkytown (1980)

On Location: The Montefiore Windmill

I want to tell you about something you may have seen if you’ve been to Jerusalem, but have probably wondered what it is. You may have noticed an old windmill that is the pride of the locals. It lies just southwest of the Old City, perched atop the western slope of the Hinnom Valley.

I am talking about the Montefiore Windmill. It has been around from the sunset of the Ottoman Empire to the birth of modern Israel. Built in 1857 by the British philanthropist Moses Montefiore, it was originally meant to help Jewish residents become self-sufficient by grinding their own flour. But by the late 1940s, this symbol of industry was about to become a casualty of war.

At the outbreak of the 1947–1948 Civil War, the windmill’s location became strategically important. Standing on a slope overlooking the Old City’s walls, it offered a perfect bird’s-eye view of the landscape. The Jewish Haganah fighters realized this immediately and transformed the top of the tower into an observation post to monitor the blockade of Jerusalem. Naturally, the British Mandate authorities weren’t thrilled about a fortified sniper and scouting nest in the middle of a conflict zone. So in 1948 the British high command finally had enough and ordered the windmill to be leveled. In a bit of military wit, they dubbed the mission, “Operation Don Quixote,” a nod to the fictional knight who famously tilted at windmills.

But here is where the story turns into something straight out of a movie. The demolition crew sent to blow up the tower just happened to be from Ramsgate, England, and as they prepped the explosives, they noticed a plaque on the wall that recorded Montefiore’s name as well as his home in Ramsgate. Suddenly, this wasn’t just a military target; it was a piece of their own hometown history.

According to local legend, one of the soldiers, whose family had worked on Montefiore’s English estate, reminded his comrades of the family’s legendary kindness back in Britain. Moved by the connection, the unit decided to “reinterpret” their orders. Instead of leveling the entire 50-foot stone structure, they carefully rigged the explosives to destroy only the observation post at the very top.

Because of those sentimental soldiers, the tower survived the war. Today, standing tall as a museum, it’s been fully restored with its Kentish-style cap and sails by a Dutch organization called “Christians for Israel.” What a reminder that even in the middle of a civil war, sometimes a small connection to home is enough to save a landmark from the brink of destruction!

-Adam Keim, October 27, 2022

How Joseph Foreshadows Jesus, part 1

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’ll share 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; some of the supporting verses are mine. Enjoy!

1. Joseph had two names—Joseph and Zaphnath-Paaneah (Gen. 41:45).

Jesus has two names—Jesus and Christ (Matt. 1:1).

2. Joseph was a shepherd (Gen. 37:2).

Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).

3. Joseph spoke out against evil (Gen. 37:2).

Jesus spoke out against evil (John 7:7).

4. Joseph was loved by his father (Gen. 37:3-4).

Jesus is loved by his Father (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; John 10:17).

5. Joseph was the son of Jacob in his old age (Gen. 37:3).

Jesus is the Son of God who is eternal (1 John 5:13).

6. Joseph had a coat of many colors (Gen. 37:3).

Jesus wears a “colored coat” of various glories and infinite perfections (Heb. 1:3).

7. Joseph was hated by his brothers (Gen. 37:4).

Jesus was hated by his brethren (John 1:11; Luke 19:14).

8. Joseph was hated for his words (Gen. 37:8).

Jesus was hated for his words (John 3:32).

9. Joseph was promised a great future (Gen. 37:7-10, 23-24).

Jesus was promised a great future (Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:31-33).

10. Joseph foretold of his future exaltation and reign (Gen. 37:7-10).

Jesus foretold of his future exaltation and reign (Matt. 26:64).

11. Joseph was envied by his brothers (Gen. 37:11).

Jesus was envied by his brethren (Matt. 27:17-18).

12. Joseph was sent by his father to his brothers (Gen. 37:13).

Jesus was sent by his Father to his brethren (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40).

13. Joseph sought the welfare of his brothers (Gen. 37:14).

Jesus sought the salvation of his brethren (Matt.15:24; Rom. 15:8).

14. Joseph left his father’s home in Hebron (Gen. 37:14).

Jesus left his Father’s home in heaven (John 14:2).

15. Joseph arrived in Shechem to serve (Gen. 37:14).

Jesus arrived as the Son of Man to serve (Mark 10:45).

16. Joseph wandered in a field (Gen. 37:15).

Jesus wandered in a field (Matt. 13:38; Luke 9:58).

17. Joseph seeks until he finds his brothers (Gen. 37:14-17).

Jesus seeks until he finds his brethren (Luke 15:4-5).

18. Joseph was conspired against (Gen. 37:18).

Jesus was conspired against (Matt. 12:14).

19. Joseph’s brothers did not believe his dreams (Gen. 37:19-20).

Jesus’ brethren did not believe his words (Matt. 27:39-43; John 3:18, 36).

20. Joseph was insulted and stripped of his coat (Gen. 37:20, 23).

Jesus was insulted and stripped of his coat (Matt. 27:27-29; John 19:23).

-Daniel McCabe

Answer to the Trivia

B. American Pie (1971)

If you have any questions, are interested in learning more about our trips, would like to support us by check or schedule a seminar for your church, school, camp or group, then please contact us for more information at [email protected].

Week Twenty-Two, 2026

“And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19).

It was an old farm which I grew up on, and everything got saved in the old barn. I loved poking around there to see what I could find. One day I found a roll of wire and asked my Dad what the wire was for, and he said that it was hay baling wire. He explained that hay by itself uncontrolled will fly away with the wind unless it is bound together with the wire.

I have heard that if you just have duct tape, wire or rope and WD-40 you can manage and run anything.

In the Bible, a rope (or cord) often symbolizes strength, unity, and connection, notably in the “cord of three strands” representing, for instance, God, a person, and others. It frequently represents a “lifeline” of hope, faith, and God’s promises, as well as a symbol of bondage or security.

I love that old hymn that rings out: “Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like that above.” The song was written by a twelve-year-old orphan.

That’s the secret. What binds us together tighter than baling wire is Christian love. Jesus defines love as a self-sacrificial, action-oriented commitment, exemplified by laying down one’s life for others. His command is to love God wholeheartedly, love neighbors as oneself, and crucially, to love enemies. This love is unconditional, kind, forgiving, and serves the marginalized, setting a new standard to “love one another as I have loved you.”

Jesus said “I Love You” with His life by showing up for all of us and giving us hope for our messy lives. He left His throne to come to earth and save us from our miserable selves. It’s through His life and presence in our hearts that we can learn to love ourselves and others.

Sadness runs deep in our world today especially for those who don’t know what real love is. Through the life of Jesus, we learn to see that love is more than just words. Love is taking action. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Sadness runs deep in our world today, especially for those who don’t know what real love is. Through the life of Jesus, we learn to see that love is more than just words. Love is taking action. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

This kind of love doesn’t just happen. It’s the kind of love that we must act upon. Love is not just a feeling; it is a choice. Jesus wasn’t forced to love us. He chose to love us with open arms nailed to the cross. Jesus is love.

Love is the wire that binds us together.

Sometimes True Stories

“One man pretends to be rich yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” – Proverbs 13:7

A recent survey indicates that only 28% of our population trust the news media. Most of those surveyed consider their content to be fake news with an agenda. In today’s vernacular, “pretending to be rich” can be called “fake wealth.” Unfortunately, our society often encourages people to pretend to be someone they are not. This pretense may be born out of a desire for acceptance or validation of self-worth. These people may fool some, but eventually they will be disgraced when their charade is exposed. The other person in this Proverb remains humble, even though they may have material wealth. God resists the proud and exalts the humble. When we are rich in our faith, we don’t need to worry about what the world thinks.

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Whether tomorrow brings my last breath or another sunrise, my hope is the same: I am the Lord’s. If I die, I go to the One who saved me. If I live, I do not walk into the day alone. Christ goes with me still. That is why my heart can rest. As Scripture says, “whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” – Romans 14:8 (NIV).

There is such comfort in knowing my life is not held together by luck, strength, or certainty about the future. It is held by God. He has stood beside me in days of joy and in seasons I thought would break me. He has been faithful through answered prayers and silent nights, through abundance and need, through peace and pain. Even when I felt weak, He remained strong. Even when I felt unsteady, His hand did not let me go.

The Lord has never asked me to face life alone. He promises, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” – Hebrews 13:5 (NIV). And because of that promise, I do not have to fear tomorrow. If this earthly life continues, His presence will go before me. If He calls me home, I will be with Him in fullness of joy.

What grace is this, that I could belong to Jesus so completely? I can never thank Him enough for carrying me through every trial, forgiving me again and again, and staying near through thick and thin. My soul answers with gratitude: Lord, my future is safe with You, because I am safe in You. Today and tomorrow, in life and in death, I am Yours.

Quotes You Can Use

Are you flawed? Of course, we all are. But He can and will use you for His purpose as well. Someone needs to hear the Truth of the Gospel. Be the speaker. Someone needs to get a hand up to a better life. Be the giver. Someone needs a supernatural answer to their need. Be a prayer. Let God use you. — Rich Jensen

Let us praise even the slightest improvement. That inspires the other person to keep on improving. — Dale Carnegie

Do we really fear that artificial intelligence can defeat honest faith in Jesus Christ?

God doesn’t require us to use what we don’t have, but He does expect us to use what we do have for His glory.

Jesus has all we will ever need to do His tasks for us. Don’t ever give up on Jesus as we are a part of the body of Christ.

When you come to Jesus, your search is over, for you have then discovered God.

Sin is pleasurable for a moment, but it is a short-lived moment. One moment’s pleasure can cause a person years of grief, sorrow, and heaviness.

We have to be careful where we focus our attention.

You won’t find the solution to your problems by looking at other people or at yourself.

Peace comes when we turn those overwhelming issues over to God and cease trying to dictate the outcome.

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. — Edgar Aponte

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

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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 2026

10025 Orange Grove Drive

Tampa, FL 33618, USA

Most everyone knows the name, Goliath, who faced off against David and lost his head. According to 1 Samuel 17:4 the arrogant Philistine from Gath stood “six cubits and a span” before receiving his mortal blow from David’s slingstone. Translated from cubits into feet and using the conventional measurement of eighteen inches for a cubit, Goliath towered 9 feet, 9 inches tall.

Then there’s King Og of Bashan in Deuteronomy 3:11 who is presented as the last surviving descendant of the Rephaim, a race of giants as suggested by the purposeful mention of the length of Og’s iron bed frame, thirteen feet long. Other giants mentioned in the Bible include a slain Egyptian over seven feet tall (1 Chronicles 11:23) and a second man from Gath “of great stature … born to the giant,” described as having twelve fingers and twelve toes (2 Sam. 21:20; 1 Chron. 20:6).

Given that the average height of men living in the second millennium B.C. has been estimated at around 5 feet, 4 inches, then the aforementioned men were enormous by comparison. The existence of very tall men today demonstrates that it is not biologically impossible for there to have been ancient races of unusually tall men who can be reasonably labeled as giants, and adding in the possibility of changing climatic conditions over the last several millennia, it hardly seems fair or even scientific to dismiss outright the Bible’s description of giant men.

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia

Life in the Land: Home Front Command App

My good friend Dani lives with his family in Tzur Hadassa just west of Bethlehem, and thankfully no Iranian or Hezbollah rockets have landed near his home, but that didn’t stop the alarms from coming. I know that for a fact because at the start of the war I downloaded an app to my phone, created by Israel’s Home Front Command, which notifies Israeli citizens of any incoming threats, and I set my “Area of Interest” to Dani’s hometown. The alerts started immediately and came by the dozens. I have the luxury of turning off the jarring audio alarms so that I won’t be awakened from sleep, but Dani doesn’t safely have that option.

My first alarm message read, “In the next few minutes, alerts are expected in your area. You need to find a better location that will provide the best protection in your area, Tzur Hadassa. If an alert is received, enter the protected space and stay there until further notice.” The Home Front Command can’t possibly know initially if the incoming rocket will be intercepted or exactly where it will land, so they routinely err on the side of caution, sending out the alert to wide areas. However, here’s one that I received which made my heart jump a bit more, “Rocket and missile fire, Tzur Hadassa. Time of arrival to the protected room – one and a half minutes. Enter the Protected Space.”

Every home constructed in Israel since 1992 is required to have a “Protected Space,” called a mamad, which offers some protection from the danger, of course, but which can’t safely survive a direct hit as we sadly learned on the first day of March when an Iranian ballistic missile struck a public shelter in Beth Shemesh, approximately six miles from Dani’s home, killing at least two people inside. Seven others, who didn’t make it to their shelter were killed from the blast.

Even after an incoming threat has been neutralized by Israel’s Iron Dome, residents are required to stay inside their protected spaces for at least another ten minutes over concerns of falling debris. Finally, when the immediate danger has passed, they will receive a message like this one, “The event has ended, Tzur Hadassa. You can leave the protected space. It is required to adhere to the Home Front Command guidelines.”

Can you imagine living under such a threat. What if you had small children? What if you were taking care of a sick or elderly family member with limited mobility and you had just 90 seconds to get from your older home (with no mamad) to the public shelter a block away? For the Israelis it has become a normal part of life, but never an easy one!

-Daniel McCabe

Christology—the Offices of Jesus, part 7

Jesus fulfilled some very important, well-known offices or roles throughout biblical time. For example, Jesus is the Messiah of Israel, the Anointed One, who did the special work of securing our salvation. He’s the great Son of God and Prophet of God, the source of all prophecy in some way. We see this in John 1:1 and Hebrews 1:1-2. He knows and reveals God to mankind and was anointed with the Holy Spirit to prophesy. He fulfilled the role of Messiah, having revealed God the Father to all of us. He also fulfills the role of priest, the great High Priest, offering sacrifice to God and representing all those who believe in Him. He even prays and intercedes for believers continually. We see this in Romans 8:34 and 1 Timothy 2:5. What a wonderful comfort that Jesus intercedes for us and blesses us! So, He’s Messiah. He’s a prophet, and He’s a priest.

Some priests in the Old Testament were prophets. Nobody was a prophet, priest, and king. Some kings were prophets. No kings were priests. Jesus alone was prophet, priest and king. It’s amazing! He’s the King of the Jews, according to Matthew 2, Acts 17 and a billion other Bible verses to which we can refer. He offered His Kingdom to Israel when He came in His humiliated state as the Messiah. It was a genuine offer of the Kingdom. Of course, now we understand that in God’s plan it was not going to be accepted, but it wasn’t a pretend or fake offer either. It was a genuine offer, but it was rejected. Being the King of Israel, He’s also King over the entire world. We know that Israel will one day receive their promised glorious Kingdom, but as God, He is also King over the entire world. He sits on the throne of God right now, reigning over the entire universe, but one day He will return to sit on the throne of David, inaugurating His earthly Kingdom in Jerusalem.

There’s something fascinating to me about this! Let me briefly walk you through it. In Jeremiah 22:28-30, there’s a prophecy against King Jeconiah, given not long before Babylon comes to take the Kingdom of Judah from him. Jeconiah was not a good king, nevertheless, he is in the line of good King David—in fact, Jeconiah is the last in the line of David before the Babylonian captivity—and one would naturally expect any future kings to descend directly from that line through Jeconiah. But Jeremiah 22 tells us that God cursed Jeconiah, stating unequivocally that none of his descendants would ever sit on the throne. This is rather interesting, for who is prophesied to come from that line? Jesus, of course, who will come one day to inaugurate His Kingdom on earth, ruling and reigning from Jerusalem, yet Jeconiah and his descendants were cursed, so how can this be?

Well, have you ever wondered why there are two different genealogies of Jesus, one in Matthew 1 and one in Luke 3? The first traces Jesus through Solomon, the son of David, and the second traces Jesus through Nathan, another son of David. That’s interesting! The genealogy in Matthew 1 traces Jesus through Joseph, Mary’s husband, and Luke 3 traces Jesus’ lineage through Mary, His physical mother. Both Joseph and Mary descended from David. Both were from the tribe of Judah, but even this was necessary in God’s plan. I’ve written before that it was necessary for Jesus to be both God and man, but His dual lineage was also necessary for His kingship. Let me explain.

Jesus received His legal kingship through Joseph from Solomon, David’s son, who was the continuation of the Davidic Covenant, which promised that David would always have a son on the throne, even ultimately into the Kingdom forever and ever. David’s son, Jesus, will sit on that throne. So Jesus received His legal right of kingship through the Solomonic line that ran through His dad, Joseph, His legal earthly father. Jesus also received His physical, genetic descendancy from David through Mary, which avoids the curse of Jeconiah altogether and gives Jesus the ability to rule and reign sufficiently, for Jesus did not descend physically from Jeconiah. He descended physically from David through Mary. But He did descend through Jeconiah in the legal line of kingship through Joseph.

It stands to reason then that Jesus would have found an occasion during His earthly ministry to present this fact, particularly during His interactions with those who questioned Him. The Gospels can only record so much of what Jesus said, but it certainly seems reasonable to think that when His opponents would sling mud at Him that Jesus found just the right moment to say, “I am the rightful King. I have the legal right to rule and reign as King through Jeconiah, and since I didn’t descend physically from him, I have avoided the curse. Yet I’m still physically descended from David through my mother Mary.”

God sees to every detail when making all of His plans, which emphasizes how thorough and just He is. He works everything together so wonderfully!

-Adam Keim

Archaeology—the John Rylands p52 Papyrus

Similar to thick paper, papyrus is an ancient writing material made from the pith of the papyrus plant. For thousands of years separate pieces of papyrus were sewn together side by side and rolled into a scroll, or sometimes the pieces of papyrus were bound together to form the pages of a codex, similar to our modern books. No bigger in size than a credit card, Papyrus p52 is a small fragment of a page from a very old codex, and evidently it is the only surviving piece of the entire codex.

Papyrus p52 is unique to say the least, for it is the oldest surviving copy of any portion of the New Testament. First discovered on the Egyptian market by a well-known Egyptologist in 1920, it measures only 2½ by 3½ inches at its widest, and it contains seven lines of Greek writing on both its sides from the Gospel of John 18:31-33 and vs. 37-38, respectively. By studying the size of the letters as well as their spacing and assuming that this papyrus was once part of a complete copy of the Gospel of John, it can be determined that the book would have been approximately 8 inches tall, 8 inches wide, and 130 pages in length.

But how old is it? The very first scholar to examine the writing style of p52 proposed a date of 100-150 A.D. There are a few scholars who propose a date of 90 A.D. or even earlier, and others propose a date to the late second century or early third century, but consensus seems to have settled on 125-150 A.D. In any event this papyrus is exceedingly old, and given that the Apostle John is thought to have written his gospel as late as 90-95 A.D., then researchers have a copy of the New Testament in their possession that dates to within as little as five years from the time of its writing. Take that in for a moment! That’s stunning, and the papyrus shows remarkable agreement with later copies of the book of John, proving yet again how God has preserved the writing of his Word.

-Daniel McCabe

Answer to the Trivia

C. They are removed semi-annually and buried on the Mount of Olives

Week Twenty, 2026

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lᴏʀᴅ our God.” – Psalm 20:7

As we walked down the wharf in a foreign port, we spied the largest yacht we had ever seen. Suddenly a side door opened, and a couple departed the gangway onto the wharf. Reaching the bottom, they turned to face the ship and stared with a look of admiration at the craft they appeared to almost worship.

Money always reveals the heart. How we use it shows whether we trust God, treasure God, and walk in His wisdom. In fact, in only 31 chapters in Proverbs, there are more than 130 references to things financial: money, riches, wealth, prosperity, poverty, and fulfillment beyond the material. Of the more than 130 individual Proverbs that are related to personal finance, roughly 40% of them fall into two categories: right actions that are pledged to lead to prosperity and wrong actions that lead to poverty.

Seek God, not money. I know of two country brothers whose ranchland value grew into the millions, who were bitter enemies; without that value, they probably would be out fishing with a cane pole.

We must remember that God owns it all and we are mere stewards. As such, we must steward God’s money wisely and share God’s money generously. It is better to seek God rather than gold.

A good name is better than gold. Money is a terrible master. God owns everything. We are just stewards. But money reveals our idols. We must be good stewards of what is entrusted to us by Him. Generosity is not optional. It’s not about how much we have, but who has us. We have nothing, but Jesus has everything.

As the Psalmist said thousands of years ago, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lᴏʀᴅ our God.”

Where is your trust… in God or in money?

Sometimes True Stories

Moses passed the baton to Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promised land. With that baton came both the promise and the authority to act and provide as Moses did. Moses added the admonition to cast fear aside and be strong in carrying out his mandate. He would lead the people and conquer.

In the same manner Jesus has passed the baton to us believers. Of course, we tend to come up with excuses. I can’t lead my family in Godliness. Yes, you can. Be strong. I can’t lead someone to Christ. Yes, you can. Be strong. I can’t lead a Christ-like life. Yes, you can. Be strong.

The baton Jesus has given us includes sharing the promise of eternal life in heaven with others by the authority of His Word. Let’s conquer a sinful world for Jesus. He promised to be with us. The baton is yours. Fear Not. – Rich Jensen

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C.S. Lewis said that Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. Imagine someone submitting to a gruesome death, while predicting that He would come back to life in three days. A liar would not voluntarily submit to death for the sins of others, and a lunatic would run away. But Jesus submitted to death for the salvation of mankind. Jesus atoned for our sins, that’s love!

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“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” (Luke 6:31 NLT) This verse is often known as the Golden Rule. So, what keeps most of us from treating our fellow man as the verse states? The answer is simpler than most people imagine; it is called pride. Scripture specifically warns us against prideful behavior; in fact, pride is often tied to most disagreements. This is where Godly Wisdom comes in. God’s wisdom will give us the power to rise above the petty things in life. Write down the last 5 things that upset you in the last week, last month, and finally last year. Most of us can’t remember or even compile a list, but if you have a list, how many of those are important today? How many are still upsetting? If you are like me and your list is short, all those upsetting things were petty after all. This is nothing more than Christian ethics because forgiveness is free to the giver. Put God first, the rest is life. – Tony Ferguson

Quotes You Can Use

God doesn’t require that I do the very best, only my very best.

When God takes the trash out of your life, don’t go dumpster diving.

The basic laws of the universe are simple, but because our senses are limited, we can’t grasp them. There is a pattern in creation. – Albert Einstein

The formula for becoming adopted into God’s family is: Believe + Receive = Become.

Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice. Proverbs 23:9

It’s hard to get in shape spiritually when you only work out on Sunday.

If we have nothing else to give our children, they have enough if they have God.

Sometimes faith will make you look stupid until it begins to rain. – Noah

If you refuse God’s remedy, there is no other cure.

The journey from life to death to eternal life need not be feared for those who have accepted the gift of Grace.

We must make some radical decisions concerning separation from the world and its pollution.

Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.

A rising tide lifts all the boats.

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

God will fight our battles.

God’s truth cannot be filtered through man’s perceived knowledge and self-professed wisdom.

Many professing Christians today seem to have the same curious fascination with evil.

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

It is frightening to realize that if a man persists in that path God has warned him against, the day will come when God gives him one final call.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

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 2026

10025 Orange Grove Drive

Tampa, FL 33618, USA

May 9, 2029

Most of you probably don’t remember a television show that ran from 1968-70, entitled “Land of the Giants.” I barely do though it was one of my earliest childhood memories, yet today I find myself wondering if the producers of the show borrowed their title for it from Deuteronomy 3:13, which specifically refers to a “land of the giants.” Secular historians widely maintain that no race of giants existed in antiquity, yet the Bible uses several unquestionably ethnic terms to describe them, including the Rephaim, Anakim, Emim and Zamzummim (Deut. 2:11, 20).

Almost 75% of the eighteen occurrences of the English word giant or giants found in the New King James Version come directly from the Hebrew word for Rephaim, early inhabitants of Canaan (cf. Gen. 15:20). Numbers 13:33 even states by way of commentary that “the descendants of Anak came from the giants.” That races of giants once existed in antiquity is also reinforced by passages like Deut. 3:11 and Josh. 12:4; 13:12, which refer to a “remnant of the giants.” Most ancient cultures also describe men of great size and strength that have since disappeared from history.

In the Bible the ten faithless Israelite spies who scouted the Promised Land called the Anakim who lived there “men of great stature” (Num. 13:32) and “a people great and tall” (Deut. 9:2) though many today assert that these statements are merely the emotional reaction of intimated men. Some furthermore insist that the occasional biblical reference to giant-sized men can surely mean only that from time to time men do sometimes grow to an unusual height as did Robert Wadlow who measured 8 ft. 11 in. shortly before his death in 1940, but biblical references to a “land of giants” and descriptive statements by Moses and Joshua that identify several ethnic groups of giants would surely suggest otherwise.

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia

Many different languages are spoken in Jerusalem, including Arabic, Armenian, Greek and Hebrew. The following four words are sometimes used to say “hello” in one of the four aforementioned languages, but which one is Arabic?

History: Jerusalem Day

It can be a pretty intense day! But let’s start at the beginning! When Britain pulled out of what was known as Mandatory Palestine in 1948, a war broke out between Jewish and Arab forces that resulted among other things in the division of Jerusalem into two parts: East Jerusalem controlled by the Arabs and the western section of Jerusalem controlled by the Jews. This standoff would last for nineteen years until the State of Israel launched a preemptive strike against the surrounding Arab nations who threatened military action against Israel. On June 7, 1967, the third day of a six-day conflict, Israeli paratroopers entered the Old City of Jerusalem from the east through Lion’s Gate, defeated the scattered Jordanian forces that held it, and took full control of the city and its holy sites, including the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, until that time known as the Wailing Wall.

That day, 28 Iyar on the Hebrew calendar, has been celebrated annually by Israelis as both a national and a religious holiday. Called Jerusalem Day, this year’s celebration of the reunification of Jerusalem ironically falls on May 15, my blue-eyed sister’s birthday and the 78th anniversary of Israel’s first full day of independence as a state.

As you can imagine Jerusalem Day celebrations are generally not celebrated by the city’s Arab population who mark it conversely as the beginning of Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem. Even so, the Jews celebrate the day with political speeches, a youth parade, music, dancing and prayer at the Western Wall, though not all participate, for some religious Jews do not recognize the secular government of Israel while some Israeli politicians have even tried to abolish the day, questioning what they describe as its aggressive nationalism, provocation and exclusion.

-Daniel McCabe

Christology—the Death, Burial and Ascension of Jesus, part 6

These events are simple matters of history as the Bible has revealed them to us. The death of Jesus was, of course, prophesied in the Old Testament (Isaiah 53:8; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 13:7) as well as by Jesus Himself (Matthew 20:18; John 12:23-24). His death, of course, was undeserved. He didn’t do anything wrong, and although undeserved, Jesus’ death was voluntary. He laid down His own life. He willingly went along with God’s plan to be that sacrifice. He was then buried in a new tomb, but He did not remain in the grave as we know because He was resurrected. Is there a greater aspect of anything than the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

We know that if Jesus was not raised from the dead, then we are to be pitied above all people. His resurrection too was prophesied in the Old Testament (Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 26:19) as well as by Christ Himself. Jesus was raised by the power of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All three members or subsistencies of the Trinity were involved just as they were all involved in the creation and in our salvation. They were all involved in Jesus’ resurrection, yet for me to say the word “they” sounds weird because there is one God. We use the word “they” because there are three persons of the Godhead, which transcends our comprehension, but agrees with Scripture. God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit were all involved in Jesus’ resurrection, which secured justification for the believer. This is clear from Romans 4:25 (it was necessary for the fulfillment of Scripture) and from Luke 24:45-47 (it was necessary for the forgiveness of sins). Jesus later ascended into heaven and is currently in heaven with the Father—simple matters of history that we know and love and need for our own salvation.

-Adam Keim

History and Geography—Amos of Tekoa

“The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake” (Amos 1:1).

The village of Tekoa, hometown to Amos the prophet, was established in the days of Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:6). It is nestled in the Judean hills, about 8.5 miles south of Jerusalem.

Tekoa has been a small town for all of its history and is a quiet residential area today. Amos famously said, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs” (Amos 7:14). His shepherd life would have been very similar to those of the shepherds who heard the announcement of the messiah’s birth (Luke 2:8-21), especially since Bethlehem is only a few miles away.

Amos is its most famous resident, but do you remember another biblical person from there? Joab brought a wise woman from Tekoa to go before David and convince him (by some tricky means) to bring Absalom back from exile after Absalom killed his brother Amnon (2 Samuel 14).

Letters from a leader of the Bar Kokhba revolt were found in a valley nearby the town. The Bar Kokhba revolt was fought from AD 132-136; also known as the Third Jewish-Roman War, it was the third and last of three major rebellions against the Roman Empire by the Jews.

Tekoa is one of those places that tourists seldom visit and most people have never heard of. But if you ever find yourself there, survey the landscape and take in the view that Amos beheld every day. To the east you can look out over the Dead Sea and see the country of Jordan. As visitors to Israel know, places are a lot closer together than what we often assume when reading the Bible.

-Adam Keim

Answer to the Trivia

C. Marhaba

Week Nineteen, 2026

“And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.” (Genesis 35:18)

“Almost everyone has a soul injury,” says hospice nurse Deborah Grassman.

She defines the condition as: “a wound that separates a person from their real self, caused by un-mourned loss and hurt, unforgiven guilt and shame, and fear of helplessness or loss of control.” We repress those injuries, deny them, and hide them – even from ourselves.

If you want to live your best life, Grassman writes in her new book, Soul Injury, you have to stop lying to yourself. Examine your pain. Forgive yourself, she says. Her book has become the touchstone for discussion groups across the world.

Here are 10 questions Grassman says to ask yourself to start healing:

1. What suffering in your life has been in vain because you have not yet reckoned with it?
2. In what ways are you being unfaithful to yourself?
3. What feelings do you tend to numb?
4. If you died today, what would be left unsaid or undone?
5. Does it make sense to feel guilty if you had no control?
6. How might others describe you? How closely does that match your own self-description?
7. Do you tend to hide your light or your dark side?
8. How would your world be different if you chose to forgive?
9. Who have you wronged?
10. When was the last time you said, “I’m sorry”?

In the Bible, the “soul” refers to the whole person—a living, breathing, physical being—rather than a disembodied immortal essence. It signifies the center of life, emotions, and consciousness, encompassing both physical and spiritual dimensions that are created by God and integrated with the body. It is defined as the whole person—a combination of the physical body and the divine breath of life—rather than just an immaterial part. It represents a person’s life, consciousness, emotions, and eternal nature, which is created by God and continues to exist after the physical body dies, returning to Him.

Remember, the two things that never cease are the soul of the person and the Word of God. Have you gotten your soul in shape for eternity?

Sometimes True Stories

The legendary actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke recently became a centenarian. He explains his longevity simply: he keeps a positive outlook and never gets angry. Scientists agree with his theory.

In one study, people who were optimistic lived between 11 and 15 percent longer than their pessimistic counterparts. In another, those who were more optimistic were more likely to live into their nineties than pessimists.

Research shows that chronic stress and anger are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes—diseases that account for roughly 75 percent of early deaths. Stress is also linked to cellular aging. And researchers studying stroke survivors have found that optimism lowers chronic inflammation, leading to less severe strokes and less physical disability.

However, you and I didn’t need scientists to tell us what we innately understood: that happier people are typically healthier people. If only knowing and doing God’s will were so obvious and intuitive.

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COMMENTS FROM EDGAR APONTE: God is our friend through Jesus. It is a beautiful relationship. Friends choose one another. Human relationships without God are shallow. A friend will harm you as he helps you. A true friend confronts you. Make no friendship with one prone to anger. A friend points you to wisdom. A friend sticks closer than a brother. A true friend walks in when others walk out. Be a friend to others. A true friend stays when everyone else walks away. Jesus is a true friend. A true friend is God’s gift to help us grow in wisdom; be that friend to others. A True Friend Loves. A True Friend Confronts. A True Friend Sanctifies. A True Friend Stays.

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Anatoly is a slightly built weightlifter who goes into a gym disguised as a janitor. He asks to lift a heavy barbell while the huge, muscled men warn him not to, as he will hurt himself. Then, to their amazement, he deadlifts 800 pounds with ease. They thought he was weak, but he was strong.

Jesus doesn’t say that in trusting Him we can be physically strong like Anatoly. Jesus says we can be strong in other ways. For His sake, we are able to do the right thing in all situations. We are able to resist sin like never before. We are able to stand up for truth and share it wherever we go.

So, believer, use the Grace given to you by Jesus Himself and stand strong against the enemy. Be an Anatoly. — Rich Jensen

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WORDS ON WISDOM FROM EDGAR APONTE: Wisdom is knowing what is right and applying it. How you approach work reveals whether you are working in wisdom or folly. Whatever has been entrusted to us must be done in love and wisdom. Approach work with duty, discipline, and diligence. You can’t lead others if you cannot lead yourself. The good news is that Jesus has done the work for you. We come to Him for meaning and significance. We don’t have significance because we are Christians but because we have trusted Jesus.

Quotes You Can Use

The greatest cure for discouragement is to get busy doing God’s work.

Peace is the presence of God, not the absence of conflict.

Our walk with God should always be progressing.

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.

All of God’s tests are OPEN BOOK! It’s called the Bible! — Dwight Short

If we have to choose between exercising humility and being right, exercise humility; we can always be right.

Half-hearted commitment will never result in total victory.

How different things look when our spiritual eyes are opened.

Heaven won’t be filled with good people. It will be filled with forgiven sinners who repented and trusted Jesus alone.

I want my house to be in order before the Lord calls me home.

People say I’m the luckiest guy… but luck had nothing to do with it; God had everything to do with it. — Chuck Norris

If you have a relationship with Jesus, God guarantees your future, no matter what.

The church does not determine what the Bible teaches. The Bible determines what the church must teach.

Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.

No amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot. — Mark Twain

If you can keep your head while all those around you are losing theirs, chances are you don’t understand the situation! — Wayne Short

If we truly believe and have faith in Christ, the solution is simple: pray and ask God to help us change. Nothing is impossible with God.

When we consider who God is and what He has done for us, how can we do less than offer Him our best?

***

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 2026

10025 Orange Grove Drive

Tampa, FL 33618, USA

May 2, 2026

Do you know how many times giants are mentioned in the Bible? According to the New King James Version, there are eighteen occurrences, the first one found in Genesis 6:4, which reads, “There were giants on the earth in those days and also afterwards.” Now, truth be known, in none of the eighteen occurrences does the straightforward meaning of the Hebrew word give us “giant(s).” Here in Genesis 6:4, for example, the word is “the nephilim,” which might be formed from a root word that means “the fallen ones” or something to that effect, but little else is known. The meaning of the other two Hebrew words that are commonly translated as “giant(s),” rapha and raphah, is likewise uncertain. This may explain why some translations instead prefer to transliterate these Hebrew words into English as proper nouns, e.g., the Nephilim and the Rephaim.

So, do these words refer to a biblical race of giants or not? Let’s start with “the nephilim” in Genesis 6:4. There’s nothing in the context to suggest that they were gigantic. Admittedly, it does refer to them as “mighty men,” evidently strong and valiant men, but it does not necessarily state that they were men of great stature even though later Greek translations of the Old Testament sometimes translated the Hebrew as “gigantes” (from which you can clearly spot the origin of our English word for giants).

Those who interpret “the nephilim” in Gensis 6:4 as the offspring of fallen angels and human women may be more readily disposed to see “the nephilim” as a race of giants, and they may be right, for there is another piece to this puzzle that has convinced many that the Nephilim are in fact a race of giants. Do you remember the ten spies who told Moses that the children of Israel could not possibly conquer the land of Canaan? In Numbers 13:33 they lamented that “we were like grasshoppers in our own sight and so we were in their sight,” and the word they use in describing “the giants” inside Canaan is the word “nephilim.” Does that convince you that “the nephilim” were once a great race of giants or do you think the spies spoke in hyperbole?

-Daniel McCabe

Trivia

In Hebrew the word “tapuz” is formed by combining the first four letters of “tapuah” (apple) and the first letter of “zahav” (golden). What is a “golden apple” in Hebrew?

For Your Children: ACT Kids Children’s Music

A friend of mine recently launched a YouTube channel, ACT Kids, that features biblically-themed music for children. ACT stands for “All Created Things,” and thus far he has uploaded twenty-one videos in two volumes, ranging from the story of creation to the account of Jesus calming the storm.

It can be difficult finding good music for our kiddos, and what started out for my friend as a project to channel the hearts of his own children closer to the Lord has turned out to bless even me. And perhaps now you! You might enjoy the songs for homeschooling, Sunday school, family worship, bedtime routines or just anytime.

I’ve included a link to his first song, entitled “Who Made Everything?” It’s a short listen at only one minute and thirty-five seconds, and I’d love for you to let us know what you think.

-Daniel McCabe

Scripture Study:

Christology—the Hypostatic Union, part 5

Hypostasis is a Greek word, and it refers to the essential being that underlies someone. Therefore, when we talk about the hypostatic union of Christ, it refers to the unity of His divine and human nature. Thus, Jesus is fully divine and fully human in one person at the same time. He is so unique, a God-man, that we see this phenomenon in Him alone. Jesus has both a divine will and a human will, which helps us understand many of His statements in the Gospels that would otherwise cause us to scratch our heads and say, “If you’re God, then why would you say something like that?” Well, He is also fully human, and while He was on earth in His humiliated state, He did say some things that would make more sense if we were to remember that He’s human.

As believers in the year 2026, it’s easy for us to understand His divine nature, but I think we fail to really appreciate and remember that He’s also human. In His day, as He walked around with other people, they would have readily seen His human nature. They likely had to get over the hurdle that He was also God. It’s the reverse for us. We see Him first as God. It’s harder for us to remember His humanity, but we must realize both. Whereas His human nature is currently located in heaven at the right hand of the Father, His divine nature is omnipresent. For example, He said, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20), and “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (28:20). His divine nature is omnipresent. He’s everywhere. His human nature was physically weak. He got tired and hungry. He felt pain. But His divine nature is omnipotent, able to do all things. His human nature, of course, died, but His divine nature has full control over life and death.

Here’s a statement from the Bible that might be hard for some people to grasp. His human nature had limited knowledge. Remember when He said that no one knows the time of the Son of Man’s return, not even the Son, but only the Father knows? That statement can be hard for us to understand if we don’t realize He’s fully human. That’s the human Jesus telling others that right now only the Father knows when He is going to send the Son of Man back.

Jesus’ humanity had limited knowledge. When Jesus was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph left Jerusalem without Him, heading back to Galilee in a large group. Eventually they discover that He is missing and return to find Him in the temple. I’m sure that they were worried sick about Him, so His mother asks, “Where were You?” And He replies, “Don’t you know? I was in My Father’s house.” He had been debating the rabbis who were amazed at His knowledge and wisdom. I think what’s going on there is also in His humanity. Jesus stayed back at the temple because He’s beginning to grow in wisdom and stature. He is coming to the point where He fully grasps who He is and what His mission is. He’s probably at the temple thinking, “Let’s get this started. Don’t you know that I must be about My Father’s business? This is what I need to do!” So in His humanity, He’s thinking, “This is what I should be doing.” But He, of course, although a perfect person, still comes under the authority of His parents, and they said, “No, You’re coming home with us.” But of course in God’s sovereign plan, He will begin His messianic ministry around the age of thirty. Even though His human nature had limited knowledge, His divine nature is omniscient. We see this in John 2:25; 16:30; 21:17. While He was on earth, He operated His ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit, which really floors me when I think about it—the miracles that the human Jesus does and the revelation that He gives, like any other prophet, were done by the power of the Holy Spirit. Moses didn’t turn the Nile into blood. God did. Moses didn’t turn his staff into a snake. God did. Moses didn’t know the future. God did. It’s the Holy Spirit who empowered Moses’ miracles, and it’s no different with Jesus’ ministry. The Holy Spirit came upon Him at His baptism, and all the miracles that He did and all the prophecies that He uttered were done by the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s why it was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit for His opponents to attribute His power to Beelzebub. I don’t think that for the first thirty years of His life, He went around performing miracles and giving prophecy. Instead, He lived a very human life, growing in wisdom and stature, and coming to a fuller understanding of who He was and what He was to do. Then, when the Holy Spirit came upon Him at His baptism, He was empowered to do these wonderful things. When He uttered things that no normal human could possibly know, it was the Holy Spirit giving Him that information and the power.

So that’s the hypostatic union. Jesus is both God and man.

-Adam Keim

Life in the Land—Lychees

Have you ever tried a lychee fruit, sometimes called an “alligator strawberry”? Did you even know that lychees were a thing? Helen, one of our September 2022 Israel trip members, encouraged us all to try one during an evening meal at our apartment in Jerusalem. Since the 1930s Israel has been growing lychees in orchards near the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee, but I honestly didn’t know anything about them.

I think everyone tasted at least one of Helen’s lychees that night. The plump, white fruit separates easily from its bumpy, pink peel, making it easy for you to pop it into your mouth in one whole piece, but watch out for the large brown seed. For me the texture was a bit like a grape, but lychees have an entirely unique flavor. It’s hard to compare them to anything. They’re medium-sweet, almost floral, and I’m told that they are commonly used in fruit salads, smoothies, juices and desserts.

Have you ever tasted one? What did it taste like to you? Let’s hear your lychee stories if you have any.

-Daniel McCabe (From the Archives, October 21, 2022)

Answer to the Trivia

B. Orange

Week Eighteen, 2026

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

It sits on my office desk, a large hourglass. Sometimes I use it to joke with clients, but most of the time it just decorates my desk. When I look at it, I am reminded of God’s gift of time. It has a globe on each end, one empty and one filled with sand. I can flip it over and the sand passes from the filled globe to the empty one in an hour: nothing more and nothing less.

There are two things that last forever: the soul and the Word of God. Everything else runs out. There is a time for everything, including our worldly departure.

The hourglass, or sandglass, likely evolved from ancient water clocks (clepsydras) in Egypt and Babylon, with early glass versions appearing by the 3rd century BC. These were used in Rome for speeches and became common in Europe by the 14th century. They were documented in art and used on ships for navigation, timing sermons, and household tasks, eventually becoming a symbol of mortality and the passage of time.

What does the time of life mean in the Bible? God is the one that sets the times of our lives. There is an appointed time for everything, and there is a time for every event under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Note that Solomon says there is an appointed time for everything, dispelling the modern idea that everything that happens does so randomly.

Ecclesiastes 3 focuses on the sovereignty of God in orchestrating the timing of life’s events, famously noting there is a “time for everything” (a season for birth, death, joy, and sorrow). It highlights that God makes all things appropriate in their time, encourages finding contentment in daily work, and notes that eternity is placed in human hearts.

While human life has seasons of struggle, verse 3:11 indicates that God ultimately makes all things “beautiful” or appropriate in their appointed time.

God has given humans a desire for something beyond temporary, earthly existence. Instead of striving to control the uncontrollable, people should find joy in their work and accept their circumstances as gifts from God. This is meant to bring humility and encourage an appreciation for the present.

What time is it in your life?

Sometimes True Stories

COMMENTS FROM EDGAR APONTE: Evil will give you a little fun, but ultimately it will destroy you. Don’t use people to get what you want. Don’t join the wrong group. Sin is a great recruiter. We have an innate passion to belong to other groups. What is the bait? People play where they can belong. It is better to be alone with Jesus than in a crowd of sinners. Sin will always hook and destroy you. If you don’t fear God, you will fear everything. If you have listened to the world, Jesus died for you. Come to Jesus.

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“It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” – Luke 15:32

The prodigal son looked at the world and thought that it would bring him more joy than he felt at home. So, he took the opportunity to experience it, finding that it was temporary at best.

We may have a prodigal of our own, but we are also prodigals ourselves. We look at the world and think it will give us joy. So, we take an opportunity to indulge all of our personal, physical desires. But like the prodigal above, we ultimately run out of stuff, and what we thought was our answer deserts us.

The good news is that, just like the Biblical prodigal, we have a heavenly Father who will run to welcome us home. The prodigal repented and renewed a right relationship with his father. If we repent, we will also have our relationship renewed with our Father. There is no reason to stay in that pigpen and eat slop. Come home. – Rich Jensen

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The thief on the cross beside Jesus is in Luke 23:42. He said to him, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The man on the cross may have been a thief, but in his final minutes of life he was gracious in speech and purity of heart. Imagine the thief’s arrival in Heaven; his resume was horrible, and yet there he stood in paradise. He didn’t deserve to be there, but Jesus’s grace allowed him in, because “the man in the middle said he could come.” The thief’s works did not get him in, God’s grace did. Our King is our friend if we accept His grace.

Quotes You Can Use

The Father made a plan. The Son made the plan possible. The Holy Spirit makes the plan work: The Father elects us. The Son justifies. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us. — John MacArthur

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

Just remember, whoever is trying to bring you down is already below you.

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

If you don’t know to which port you’re sailing, no wind is favorable.

Music begins where the possibilities of language end.

Hypocrites and flatterers are first cousins. The hypocrite will say behind your back what he will not say to your face. The flatterer will say to your face what he won’t say behind your back. — Adrian Rogers

A true friend is the person who walks in when everybody else walks out. — Walter Winchell

God desires to give more than what we ask. Too often, people seek the eyes of God instead of the heart of God, but it is in the heart of God to bless us.

If you find that every time someone tries to share with you, you stop the conversation by topping them with your own experience that exceeds their experience, you are a “topper”… stop it! — Dwight Short

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 2026

10025 Orange Grove Drive

Tampa, FL 33618, USA