Week Twenty-Six, 2025

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me (Rev 3:20).

As I walked along a strip center, I noticed a vacant suite with a sign in the window. A quick photo to use later caught my eye. It said “You Belong Here”… space available.

So quickly I adapted that to the call of Christ. The Bible tells us we belong in heaven with Him and He has made room for us. Life is often like climbing a mountain, as we strive alongside many others, competing to reach the top. This is true in sports, business, politics, and all endeavors where others might even try to knock us off our path to get ahead.

Heaven is different. It’s not a competition that only leaves room for one victor. There is plenty of room for everyone. And what’s more, we don’t call for Jesus; He calls for us.

Jesus’ call to us is primarily a call to relationship with Him, inviting us to follow Him in all aspects of life. This call is personal, powerful, and perplexing, leading to a transformed way of living and serving others. Jesus calls us to listen to Him, obey Him, and submit to Him, ultimately seeking to live in accordance with His will.

Here’s a more detailed look at Jesus’ call:

Jesus’ call is not just about external actions or rules, but about establishing a relationship with Him, knowing Him, loving Him, and being known by Him.

Jesus invites us to follow Him, which means putting His teachings and values into practice in all areas of our lives, whether that be in our work, relationships, or daily choices.

Jesus calls us to be His disciples, which involves learning from Him, imitating His example, and following His teachings.

Jesus’ call leads to a transformation of our lives, as we are changed from the inside out by His grace and power.

Jesus calls us to serve others, not because we are forced to, but because we are motivated by His love and compassion for us and the world.

Jesus calls us to trust in Him, to believe in His promises, and to obey His commands, knowing that He is faithful and true.

He is calling you and me. Our room is waiting. What is holding you back?

Sometimes True Stories

If you put 100 black ants and 100 red ants in a jar, nothing will happen. But if you shake the jar hard, the ants will start killing each other. The red ants will consider the black ants their enemies, and the black ants will consider the red ants their enemies.

The real enemy is the one who shakes the jar. The same thing happens in human society.

So, before we attack each other, we should think about who is shaking the jar!

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Young people are growing up in a world where almost nothing is certain. They’re told that their identity is something they can define for themselves—yet so many feel lost, anxious, and unsure of who they really are. They’re searching for truth, but the world is offering a thousand different answers. As believers, we have the one answer that never changes. The Bible tells us that every human being is made in the image of God. That’s where true identity begins. But when culture moves further away from that foundation, confusion is inevitable. Jim Denison

Quotes You Can Use

Starbucks is planning on selling beer and wine. Apparently, it’s getting difficult to sell sober people a $12 cup of coffee.

Paul had more joy in jail than some people do in church.

It is far better to be in jail than with bad company. George Washington

There will come a time when tears will come, not because of your troubles, but because God has answered your prayers.

Having more years behind you than ahead of you makes you think differently about things.

The opinions of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject.

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

It takes 90 gallons of water to baptize a Christian and 9 drops of rain to keep them from going to church.

Remember, being happy doesn’t mean you have all you want, but it means being happy with what you have. Snoopy

Did you know that butterflies rest when it rains because the water will damage their wings? It’s okay to rest during the storms of life because you will fly when it is over.

The church will never be the salt in our lives as long as we keep sugar-coating the message. I just read where eating real sugar causes the human body to age more quickly. So glad our church does not sugar-coat the Gospel!

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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 2025

June 21, 2025

Deuteronomy 31, part 11

Most of us don’t know when we will die. I’m not sure I’d even want to know if I could. But let me tell you about a man who did know. If you’re under forty years of age, probably even under fifty, you don’t think much about dying. Why would you? Someone probably told you when you got married that you needed a will and some life insurance, but after handling the necessary paperwork, you quickly got back into the rhythm of school, work and family, and the thought of death was long gone.

But there stands Moses, fit as a fiddle, according to Deut. 34:7, announcing to his people that he would soon die. He’d never step one foot into Canaan. He would die on the threshold of triumph. I know for sure that Moses wasn’t eager to die because he actually begged the Lord on at least one occasion, “I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan” (Deut. 3:25).

I suppose we’ve all prayed like that a time or two or a hundred. “Lord, please let me … please give me … please heal me … please promise me,” and though we don’t always understand why God won’t let us, give us, heal us or promise us, Moses knew exactly why he’d never taste even one cluster of grapes from the vineyards atop Mount Carmel or sip one drop of cold water from the Gihon Spring in Jerusalem. He had disobeyed, and not just inconsequentially. He had been arrogant about it, so when he pleaded with the Lord to let him go in to see the land, the Lord was angry with him for asking and responded abruptly, “Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter” (Deut. 3:26).

Moses was perhaps discouraged at not being able to enter the land, but he would still finish strong. As instructed he would climb the mountain of Nebo obediently—to his death. Deut. 34:1 reads, “Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo [and] died there.” Moses didn’t go kicking and screaming. God didn’t have to drag him to his tomb. No, he walked to his grave with a hopeful sadness, assured that God would take care of his people.

Live strong and finish strong—like Moses. There is a way to climb your mountain calmly and peacefully when it’s time, and it’s quite simple, so simple that I’m almost embarrassed to have to say it.

Our strength comes from knowing God’s Word. Read your Bible. Read it to be changed by it, not merely to know it. 2 Timothy 3:17 teaches that you will be a “complete” man or a “complete” woman if you will learn the Bible, love it and live it. That’s the secret to finishing strong. Read it when you’re young and you’ll read it when you’re old. Read it all your days, and when it’s time to pass the baton to those behind you and to prepare to finish your race, you’ll be able to rejoice in your past without regrets. You’ll face the end with joy.

–Daniel McCabe

Trivia

Which of the following churches is NOT located in Jerusalem?

A. The Church of the Dormition

B. The Church of St. Anne

C. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher

D. The Church of the Nativity

Book Review: The Christian Traveler’s Guide to the Holy Land

by Charles Dyer

You don’t have to be planning a trip to Israel to appreciate this book. In fact any time you run across a place name in your personal or group Bible study about which you would like to know more, you can look it up in Dyer’s guide to find a summary of the key biblical and historical events associated with it. I counted one hundred place names outlined in the book, which Dyer groups by country—Israel, Egypt, Greece, Jordan and Turkey—and these summaries alone are worth the price of the book.

Charles Dyer is one of today’s foremost experts on the land of Bible, having served as a Bible teacher and tour guide for decades. His book includes pictures, maps and charts as well as a hearty section on preparing for one’s trip to Israel with helpful information regarding weather, packing, jet lag and required travel documentation. It even includes detailed Bible study plans and prayer tips that will help you get the most out of your upcoming trip.

I’ve really enjoyed this book, and I also listen regularly to his separate podcast, “The Land and the Book,” found across all major podcasting platforms. Try both the book and the podcast. You won’t be disappointed.

Daniel McCabe

Scripture Study: The Hall of Faith, part 1

The audience of the book of Hebrews is believing Jews who were perhaps tempted to go back to life under the Old Covenant and who failed to fully embrace Jesus as their Messiah and King. As we read every chapter of Hebrews, I think this intent of its author shines very clearly throughout the book. When we get to Chapter 11, known as the Hall of Faith because the writer gives us snapshots of the faith of so many heroes from Scripture, it’s important to understand the context there as well. As throughout the entirety of the book the author encourages his readers to look forward to something, to look forward to what embracing Jesus as Messiah would do for them. In particular, his Jewish readers would get to experience life in the Kingdom and enjoy the New Covenant. As he says in 10:39, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

Chapter 11 starts out with a famous expression, beautiful words of encouragement for believers (v. 1), “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The author is encouraging his readers to have faith in the Messiah. He wants to highlight all that would come for his readers if they did receive Jesus. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and they were hoping for life in the Kingdom and to enjoy the New Covenant and all the promises that they’d known their whole lives that were given to them throughout Scripture. It’s for the assurance of those things that they were hoping, things not yet realized in their lives. They did not yet have the Kingdom nor the fulfillment of their New Covenant, so the author was encouraging them to look forward to those things.

Next he’s going to use the example of the heroes of Scripture to show what faith did for them and how they always looked forward. So when we read Chapter 11, we need to realize that the writer by extension would be encouraging us too to look forward by faith. He says as much in verse 2, “For by it [faith] the people of old received their commendation,” that is, God looked favorably upon them because of the faith that they exercised.

He continues, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Now, it may at first seem funny that he starts with the creation of the universe, but he’s going to walk chronologically through Scripture and talk about how people looked forward. This will make more sense as he begins mentioning specific people, which we’ll explore next time

Adam Keim

Answer to the Trivia

D. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem–built on the traditional site of the birth of Jesus

Week Twenty-Five, 2025

Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book (Jeremiah 30:2).

From kindergarten on, one was frequently in my hand, and I learned to write with it. The object was a simple combination of graphite, clay, wood, metal and rubber. It was a pencil. Back then, it was a staple of the world.

Although there are now other types of writing instruments around, the pencil, with its ability to both write and erase, is still around. Today’s pencils are made from wood from the Northwest, lead from South America, and an eraser from the Middle East.

Time was when the pencil capital of the country was just north of where I live in a little town called Cedar Key. Millions of pencils were made there until they ran out of cedar trees.

Actually, something as apparently simple as a pencil is in fact the product of a very complex economic process based upon the division of labor, international trade, and comparative advantage.

There’s an anonymous story of a pencil maker who took the pencil aside just before putting it into the box. “There are five things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world, ALWAYS remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.

• ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.
• TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.
• THREE: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
• FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.
• AND FIVE: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.”

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

• ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
• TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
• THREE: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
• FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
• AND FIVE: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties. By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.

What kind of pencil for God will you be?

Sometimes True Stories

“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13 NLT)

King Frederick, the 11th, an eighteenth-century king of Prussia, was visiting a prison in Berlin. Each of the inmates tried to explain how they were innocent and had been unjustly imprisoned. All except one. That one sat quietly in a corner, while all the rest protested their innocence. Seeing him sitting there oblivious to the commotion, the King asked him what he was there for.

“Armed robbery, Your Honor.” The King asked, “Were you guilty?” “Yes, Sir,” he answered. “Entirely deserve my punishment.” The King then gave an order to the guard: “Release this guilty man. I don’t want him corrupting all these innocent people.”

When we confess our sins, we receive mercy, that is the Christian bar of soap. When we confess our sins, God will restore us to full, untarnished fellowship with Him. God knows where we have been, and His grace allows us to know where we are going. Tony Ferguson

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Law of Gravity –

Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible place in the universe.

Law of Probability –

The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of Random Numbers –

If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal; someone always answers.

Variation Law –

If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now.

Law of the Bath –

When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone will ring.

Quotes You Can Use

Strong men discuss ideas. Average people discuss events and weak minds discuss people.

Be thankful for yesterday, grateful for today, and hopeful for tomorrow. Snoopy

Peace doesn’t come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat. John Ortberg

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost. When health is lost, something is lost. When character is lost, all is lost. Billy Graham

Study the Word so that your wisdom may not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. Charles Spurgeon

Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God. William Carey

The closer you get to God, the more you realize how pointless the things of this world are.

To be an atheist, I would have to believe that nothing produced everything, that non-life produced life, that randomness produced precision, and that chaos produced order. I simply do not have that much faith.

Don’t give up. It’s often the last key on the ring of keys that opens the door.

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

There is no reason to not teach children “please” and “thank you”. Manners are free.

Never argue with someone whose TV is bigger than their bookshelf. Emilia Clarke

If you want to reach a large audience, appeal to idiots. Arthur Schopenhauer

NEXT TIME YOU HEAR SOMETHING DESCRIBED AS “GOVERNMENT-FUNDED” REMEMBER THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS 100% TAXPAYER-FUNDED.

Stay away from people that act like a victim in a problem they created.

The best time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. Mark Twain

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

Week Twenty-Four, 2025

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

We live in a very materialistic world. It seems that importance is based on power, position and financial accumulation. Value is judged by where you live, what you drive and where you work. In the end, he who has the most toys wins.

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, Americans collectively hold $1.211 trillion in credit card debt, which is a record high. This represents a significant increase from the pre-pandemic record of $927 billion in Q4 2019, a rise of $284 billion. Last year, Americans spent $3.2 trillion on their credit cards.

Once, cash was king, but now it is credit, because you don’t have to pay for it immediately when you spend it. This allows people to spend beyond their means to get what they want. Only 16% of all transactions are paid for in cash.

The world largely operates on credit. People get dressed in clothes they haven’t paid for and drive cars that aren’t paid for, all to arrive at a job. They work to pay for those clothes and cars, yet their homes often sit vacant all day because they can’t genuinely afford to live in them – all often to impress others.

As I recently stood in line to check out a purchase, I saw the sign that said, “No Cash Accepted.”

Contrast all of that to the admission price to get into heaven. If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, then you will be saved. No cash, power or position will get you in. Heaven is a cashless place and credit cards aren’t accepted either.

Romans 10:9 outlines a two-part condition for salvation: a public confession of faith in Jesus as Lord and a genuine, heartfelt belief in the resurrection. Confessing Jesus as Lord acknowledges his authority and divinity, while believing in the resurrection recognizes the central truth of the gospel.

The relationship is ultimately personal between you and God. It doesn’t matter who you were or what you had; what truly matters is whose you are, and for this admission, no cash is accepted.

Sometimes True Stories

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder.” (James 2:19) Mere intellectual belief in God’s existence is insufficient for salvation. Demons recognize God’s power and existence, but their acknowledgement doesn’t lead to salvation, only fear and trembling. With wisdom comes the understanding that mere belief in God is not enough for salvation. We must first believe and then receive the gift of salvation to become children of God. Having intellectual agreement with Christian doctrine is important, but there has to be a time when we receive God’s gift of grace — not that we’ve earned it or merit it or deserve it — but receive this free gift of forgiveness and eternal life that Jesus purchased on the cross for us.

Believe + Receive = Become, a child of God! Tony Ferguson

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A Lutheran pastor preaching on Jesus’ encounter with Mary and Martha in Luke 10, declared that our Lord got it wrong. In his (very erroneous) interpretation, Jesus’ commendation of Mary for sitting at his feet and listening to his teaching (vv. 39–42) denigrated women, consigned them to silence, and denied them their proper leadership roles.

The pastor offered our Lord a caveat, however: “I really hope that it was the writer Luke who just put it on Jesus’ lips.” (This, of course, raises enormous issues regarding the integrity and authority of Scripture.) But assuming that Jesus spoke these words, the minister declared: “Jesus needed to have his worldview, and the purview of his goodness expanded. . . . Jesus needed to learn his lesson and stand corrected.”

He went on to assert that the passage, which he claimed was initially used to silence women, has been employed over the centuries to elevate the importance of theological education and engagement for them.

Then he declared, “Take that Luke, or Jesus, or whoever.” If the enemy can convince us to question God’s word and character, he (Satan) opens the door to every other lie he wants us to believe.

Quotes You Can Use

Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Ludwig van Beethoven

There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast. Charles Dickens

Doctors’ Law – If you don’t feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor; by the time you get there, you’ll feel better. But don’t make an appointment and you’ll stay sick.

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

Get the millstones ready for all those who are responsible for abusing children…there seems a special place for such people, and I don’t envy anyone who ends up there. Dwight Short

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. John Quincy Adams

Friends are the siblings God never gave us. Mencius

Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34

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. Dan Shock

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. Audrey Hepburn

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. Albert Einstein

The risen Lord is full of compassion and grace, transforming those who hear His voice. Edgar Aponte

AI does what the brain cannot do to free up the brain to do what the brain only can do.

It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up. Eckhart Tolle

There is power in the Name of Jesus to both heal and save through your witness. Edgar Aponte

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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 2025

June 14, 2025

Deuteronomy 18

The head coach of Auburn’s men’s basketball team never played competitive basketball; my boss at the aerospace company where I worked as a young engineer majored in art; and several men have been elected president of the United States despite never having held any previous public office. It’s not always about your experience. It’s about God’s calling on your life. Even so, when a young man with no theological training attracted a crowd in the Judean Wilderness that repented at his preaching and requested baptism, the priests and Levites from Jerusalem began asking John for his credentials. “Who are you? … Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (John 1:19, 25). The Baptizer humbly responded to them and to others that he’d been sent as prophesied by Isaiah to prepare people for the coming of the Lamb of God, the Son of God (vs. 26-34).

Not all, but many began to connect the dots, for when Jesus later performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, the questions started up again, leading some of the men that day to conclude, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (6:14).

So, Jesus wasn’t just a prophet, but he was THE Prophet, the one prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15-22 of whom the Lord would say to Moses, “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him” (v. 18). The passage doesn’t give many details about the coming of this Prophet, but clearly the Jews expected him to come before the final “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21), meaning the kingdom of God. Since Deuteronomy 18:18 describes this Prophet as “like [Moses]” and since to reject this Prophet would lead to personal “destruction” (Acts 3:23; cf. Deut. 18:19), a lot rides on the acceptance or rejection of Jesus by both the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day and every one of us.

I believe that Jesus is the Prophet, the Lamb of God and the Son of God. Who do you say that he is?

–Daniel McCabe

Trivia

How many times per day do observant Jews pray?

A. 1

B. 3

C. 5

On Location: Antonia Fortress

Believing that the apostle Paul brought a Gentile companion with him past the public barrier that leads into the temple courtyard, an action punishable by death, a murderous mob of Jews seized Paul, dragged him out of the courtyard and began beating him to death atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27f). Fortunately someone alerted the Roman soldiers stationed not more than 100-150 yards away at the Antonia Fortress, which the Bible calls simply “the garrison” (v. 31). The soldiers quickly intervened, detained Paul and questioned him, but with the mob shouting over Paul’s every word and unable therefore to get a clear picture of what had transpired, the Roman commander ordered Paul taken into custody. Retreating to the garrison, Paul requested that he be allowed to speak to the people from the safety of the steps that led up the fortress. These steps, mentioned in Luke 21:35, 40, are not visible in the attached picture, but it at least captures the massive size and beauty of the fortress. From there Paul would soon be transferred to Caesarea for safety, and from Caesarea he would eventually appeal to Caesar and be taken to Rome.

All that remains of the Antonia Fortress today is a 13-foot long section of the south wall. Built by King Herod sometime around 35 B.C. and named for Herod’s patron, Mark Antony, the Antonia served to protect the northern wall of Jerusalem from any hostile armies and to keep the peace for all visitors to the Temple Mount. At the outbreak of the First Jewish Revolt in 66 A.D., Jewish rebels occupied the fortress, and in 70 A.D. after two bitter months of fighting, Roman General Titus finally smashed through the walls of the Antonia and spilled out on the Temple Mount. Soon the city and the temple lay in ruins, and by order of Titus the fortress too was demolished.

Daniel McCabe

Life in the Land: The Statue of Liberty

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.” These well-known words are aptly inscribed on a plaque inside Lady Liberty’s accompanying museum on Liberty Island in New York Harbor within New York City. Some four million visitor’s take the ferry to see her up close each year and there are hundreds of replicas of her around the world in places like Taiwan, Pakistan, Japan, Ukraine, Ireland, Mexico and even Israel. Below are the pictures of two of at least three known replicas located in Israel, the first, a 15-foot high statue that stands at the western entrance to the village of Arraba, and the second, an abstract skeletal replica at a highway intersection in Jerusalem called “New York Place.”

Daniel McCabe

History and Geography: Tel Dan

August 9, 2022

No one suddenly becomes bane. Unchecked doubts progressively open the door to discouragement, which creates a feeling of defeat or emptiness that one either chooses to fill with the Lord or with a ruinous self-reliance or self-righteousness. But spiritual ruin doesn’t happen overnight. We all know that unsuspecting frogs cook in kettles, not microwaves. Sadly over time unchecked doubts can grow into a monstrous rebellion, and such is the story of the people of Dan.

The good land given to the tribe of Dan after Israel’s conquest under General Joshua included beautiful, rolling foothills, sunny coastland and the fertile Sorek Valley of Samson fame, yet the people already living there “forced the children of Dan into the mountains … [and] would not allow them to come down to the valley” (Judges 1:34) despite God’s promise to his people that he would drive out their enemies if they would love him (Joshua 23:11-13). Sadly many of the Danites doubted that they’d ever be able to conquer their God-given allotment, so instead they chose another way, their way. They moved to the far north of the Promised Land, burned down the Canaanite city of Laish, renaming it Dan, and settled in this new land at the foot of Mt. Hermon, which feeds the surrounding verdant valley with fresh water and, along with a river and nearby springs, forms the headwaters of the Jordan River.

But the beauty now surrounding them belied their ruinous and rebellious self-righteousness, for Scripture tells us that the tribe of Dan became a center of false religion with the installation of a golden calf, “shrines on the high place,” and attending “priests from every class of people who were not of the sons of Levi” (1 Kings 12:28, 31).

A tel is small hill or mound that has built up over centuries and that when excavated will reveal layer upon layer of past civilizations at that location. At Tel Dan archaeologists have found evidence of a high place and housing for the priests, literally uncovering the monstrous rebellion of the tribe of Dan, and it all started with doubts that they would not be able to do what God had already said that he would do. May that never become our story!

Daniel McCabe

Answer to the Trivia: B. 3

June 7, 2025

History: Skeptics Once Believed

—1. … that Moses couldn’t have written any part of the Bible because writing hadn’t yet been invented, BUT now we know that Egyptian hieroglyphics, Akkadian and even ancient Hebrew all existed in Moses’ day.

—2. … that Belshazzar could not have been the king in Babylon at the time of its fall as stated in Daniel 5 because cuneiform records list Nabonidus as the king, BUT now we know that late in his reign Nabonidus left Babylon to live in Arabia, leaving Belshazzar, his eldest son, on the throne.

—3. … that the prophet Isaiah’s reference to King Sargon of Assyria in Isaiah 20:1 should be dismissed as untrustworthy history, BUT then Paul Emile Botta discovered the palace of King Sargon in 1843 in modern-day Iraq.

—4. … that King David of Judah was no more a real person than King Arthur of Camelot, BUT then archaeologists found an inscription in northern Israel that bore David’s name.

—The skeptics have now moved on to other criticisms of the Bible, but my confidence in the historicity of the Bible remains unwavering.

–Daniel McCabe

Trivia

—According to Pew Research, what percentage of US Jews believe in the God of the Bible?

—A. 26

—B. 45

—C. 67

—D. 81

On Location: Bethesda

—Perhaps you recognize the name of this city in Maryland, near our nation’s capital, that’s perhaps best known for its Bethesda Naval Hospital where almost every president since Franklin Roosevelt has received medical care. The city of Bethesda takes its name from a local Presbyterian church built there in 1820, called the Bethesda Meeting House, that’s been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1977. The church in turn takes its name from a reservoir described in the Bible as follows, “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda [literally ‘House of Mercy’], having five porches” (John 5:2).

—For nearly four decades a cripple sat poolside in the shade, hoping for healing, but finding none, when one busy Saturday a stranger without introduction and no time for small talk healed the man almost before he knew what had happened. In the passage there’s no specific mention of the crippled man’s faith in God, no apparent recognition of Jesus as his Messiah and no word of gratitude from him for his miraculous healing. It’s as if Jesus simply wanted to demonstrate to the man (and to us) that he, like God the Father, can give life to whomever he desires, and the Jewish leaders caught on quickly, understanding clearly that by his actions and words Jesus had declared his equality with God, so they subsequently redoubled their resolve to kill Jesus for such unmitigated blasphemy. Jesus responded calmly, “The Son gives life to whom He will” (v. 21).

—Today near St. Stephen’s Gate inside the Old City of Jerusalem visitors can see the remains of the five-porched Pool of Bethesda over which were built additional healing pools in the time of Emperor Hadrian as well as Byzantine and Crusader churches where long-ago Christians gathered for worship. The extensive excavations have uncovered layer upon layer of buildings down through the centuries that testify with little doubt that a crippled man with hollow eyes once met the merciful eyes of our Savior on that spot.

—Daniel McCabe

Life in the Land: The Talmud

—To explain the Talmud, one must first explain the Mishnah, which isn’t easy to do. The renowned Israeli archaeologist, Dan Bahat, once quipped, “In order to define the Mishnah I think I need a whole book.” But I’ll do my best in just a paragraph or two.

—The Mishnah is a commentary on the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which includes long-ago discussions of Jewish sages who explain how the laws in the Torah should be interpreted. For example, the Bible says, “Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy” (Deut. 5:12). In other passages we learn that one must not plow or harvest (Exod. 34:21), light a fire (Exod. 35:3) or gather sticks of wood on the Sabbath (Num. 15:32-35). But the sages explained that there are many more things one must or must not do to fulfill this fourth commandment and the other remaining 612 commandments, and in 200 A.D. Judah ha-Nasi collected and organized all the sages’ writings into 63 topically-arranged tractates known today as the Mishnah, which codifies the oral Law that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai and that had been passed down through the sages from father to son for centuries. This oral Law bears equal authority to the written Law engraved by God on the tablets of stone at Sinai and recorded by Moses in the Torah.

—After Judah ha-Nasi completed this written record of the oral Law in 200 A.D. Jewish scholars and rabbis living in both Palestine and Babylon began commenting on the Mishnah. Their commentaries, analyses and debates comprise the Gemara. Thus, the Mishnah and the Gemara together form the Talmud.

—Aren’t you glad that I didn’t write a book on this topic?

—Daniel McCabe

Trivia Answer: A. 26%.

Week Twenty-Three, 2025

Happy Anniversary John and Beverly Grant

“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).

Once upon a time, we built a house, not an easy undertaking. We began seeking the plans of a designer. As the construction moved along, we added, deleted, and made modifications, sometimes necessary to keep our spending within the budget.

It was a daunting experience and more than we had ever expected, but when it was over and we moved in, everything was actually completed according to the plans. Why? ….. because the designer saw the finished product from the plans he designed.

God’s plans for each of us are revealed in Jeremiah 29:11. This is a popular verse often used to offer comfort and assurance, promising God’s plans for His people are good and lead to a hopeful future. While often interpreted as a guarantee of immediate prosperity, it’s important to understand the context and the true meaning of the verse. In essence, it speaks of God’s ultimate plan for His people, which includes a future of hope and prosperity, even amidst current hardships and challenges.

The verse was spoken to the Israelites in exile in Babylon, a period of great suffering and despair. They were likely looking for an immediate return to their homeland and a rescue from their difficult situation. Jeremiah 29:11 assures them that God has a plan for them, not one of harm, but one that will lead to their prosperity and a future filled with hope.

The verse does not promise an immediate escape from hardship or suffering. It speaks of a future plan that God will work through their current circumstances to bring them prosperity and hope. The promise of “welfare and not harm” speaks to God’s desire to see His people thrive and prosper, both spiritually and materially. The promise of a future and hope emphasizes God’s continued faithfulness and His ultimate plan for restoration and redemption.

While the verse was spoken to the Israelites in exile, its message of hope and God’s plans for His people remains relevant for Christians today who may be facing difficult circumstances. It encourages them to trust in God’s plans, even when they don’t understand them, and to seek Him in prayer and obedience.

What plans does God have for you for the remainder of your life?

Sometimes True Stories

Sam Cunningham is a Sophomore at Auburn University, and one of the team managers selected by Bruce Pearl, the head coach for the Auburn men’s basketball team.

Sam also attributes his being alive and able to be a team manager to the never-ending encouragement and challenge of Coach Pearl.

At the age of twelve, Sam was diagnosed with Leukemia.

Two weeks later, a fever hit him, and he was hospitalized for eighty-three days.

It was a storm which could potentially end his life.

Learning of his situation, Bruce Pearl sent Sam a video letting him know that he was thinking of him and praying for him.

The video contained one particular line which Sam embraced throughout his fight through the storm of cancer—

“Cancer picked the wrong hombre. It picked the wrong dude to mess with.

You are going to beat this!”

Bruce Pearl was a blessing as he walked with Sam through the storm he faced.

Three years after his initial diagnosis, Sam went through what the medical team thought was to be his last day of treatment.

But seventeen months later the cancer returned.

So, the battle through the storm continued. As did Coach Pearl’s support and encouragement. Visiting him in the hospital, inviting him to practice when Sam was able.

While always reminding Sam that—

“Cancer picked the wrong hombre. It picked the wrong dude to mess with.

You are going to beat this!”

From Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, we are called to reflect the love of God for others, by following the example and sacrifice of Christ, and heeding the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Not when convenient. Or when we feel like it. Or when it won’t be too difficult.

But always and forever—

To be a blessing to the world around us.

To serve and lift anyone in need God brings before us.

And to touch the world, serve, lift, go, and do whatever is needed for anyone around us—near and far—as if we were doing it to Christ Himself.

Certainly, Sam Cunningham attributes his being alive today to attend Auburn University and serve as a manager for the men’s basketball team, to his medical team.

But also, he attributes it to the caring heart, never-ending devotion, and encouragement to fight on through the storm, of Auburn University’s head basketball coach, Bruce Pearl.

Blessing, serving, lifting, encouraging, challenging, and reflecting Christ to a young man, who is now one of Auburn’s students and basketball team managers.

Praise God. And thank you, Coach.

Quotes You Can Use

If you enjoy living, it is not difficult to keep the sense of wonder. Ray Bradbury

God’s plan of salvation is another example of how He works instead of how we do; don’t confuse your ideas with God’s plans, you may regret it for a very long time. Dwight Short

Even those who are not religious, I have witnessed that some are generous in helping the poor in their needs, because, I believe they love the Lord, though, they do not profess to believe in a particular religion. But God is manifested through them as, it proves that He created them too, and they bear His image. Stephen Bernard

The resurrection of Jesus turns grief into grace and mourners into missionaries. Edgar Aponte

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9

No work we undertake will be of any value unless the Lord is with us. Dan Shock

Laughter is the closest distance between two people. Victor Borge

The fastest way to have a loving, supportive, understanding spouse is to become a loving, supportive, understanding spouse. Gary Chapman

Salvation is what brings the flesh of a human into perfect alignment with the Spirit of God, and forgiveness is the greatest evidence that the Truth of God lives within each of us. No one who is the receiver of forgiveness walks away unaffected! Tony Ferguson

Promises do come with a cost, and we should take our promises to God as seriously as if they were legal contracts, otherwise we may find ourselves in a contract with the devil. Tony Ferguson

Believers live life together. Edgar Aponte

Evil is alluring, attractive— and utterly deceptive. People are drawn to the forbidden because they believe, wrongly, that it will bring satisfaction and contentment. “If I just had that … whatever “that” is, then I’d be completely happy.” The reality is, however, when we chase after what is forbidden, we’re left feeling emptier than before. Temporal excitements never last long. Dan Shock

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, JOHN…..Love, Beverley

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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 2025

May 24, 2025

“Herod was borne upon a golden bier studded with precious stones of various kinds and with a cover of purple over it… And they went [200 furlongs] toward Herodium, for it was there that the burial took place by his own order” (Josephus, Antiquities, 17.197-199).

The Herodium makes this list due to its intriguing nature. It is the kind of place that you would never think to exist unless you have learned about it before (much like Masada).

Herod the Great out of paranoia built many fortresses and palaces to which he could escape if need arose, yet still live in luxury,. Three miles southeast of Bethlehem was one such location, the Herodium. It was the place Herod was ultimately buried.

A jaunt up a steep incline will bring you into a fortress that Herod built into the very hilltop. At the base of the hill at ground level sat yet another grand palace—because the king shall always lack for nothing!

The Herodium featured many assets, including a bathhouse, a meeting hall, a theater, and a triclinium dining room that Jewish rebels later converted into a synagogue when they took over in AD 70.

Most notably, Herod was buried here. His mausoleum was desecrated and ransacked not long after he was laid to rest, but it was recently discovered by Ehud Netzer in 2007. You can explore an extensive cave network that was used for storage and living, but also served as an escape route. You will typically enter the tunnels from the fortress atop the hill and exit on the hillside by the theater and Herod’s tomb.

A similar structure, the Alexandrium, lies to the northeast along the Jordan rift. It was named after the Hasmonean king, Alexander Jannaeus, in the first century BC. Herod imprisoned his second wife and mother-in-law there, and he buried two of his sons that he had executed, Alexander and Aristobulus.

A visit to Israel will reveal many wonders from every era, and they shed light on how major historical events of the world surrounded the land of the Bible!

–Adam Keim

Week Twenty-One, 2025

But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. Job 23:10

We boarded the elevator and as it descended, everything was dark. We passed the one mile mark and then stopped at the second. We were then two miles below the surface of the earth. It was over a hundred degrees, with friction heat caused by the shifting of the earth’s platelets. We then boarded a mining train and stopped at the source and there it was…… sparkling gold. We watched as they loaded the ore trains to begin the process of removing the ore to the surface.

Gold refining is a process that transforms crude gold, containing impurities, into a highly pure form. We walked through each process. Each ounce of gold recovered requires the processing of about 100,000 ounces of ore…… that’s 3.125 tons. Finally, we got to the pots of melted pure gold and saw it poured into forms where it cooled and could be removed as a gold brick weighing seventy-five pounds. At today’s price, each brick was worth several million dollars. I saw mounds of discarded trash that grew as the refinement gets closer to pure gold.

There is a spiritual parallel here. The gold ore represents our salvation. When we confess that Christ is Lord and are saved, we attain the “gold” of life. It is forever until we stand before Christ at life’s end. It represents a new life we gain to live on earth and pass into eternity.

But then, there is sanctification, a growing process. It is one where we refine our relationship by off-loading the sin and yuck in our life. It piles up as we cast off the impurities in our life…… thoughts, actions, language, habits and all the things that don’t belong in the life of a saved person.

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 1 Cor 3:1-3

The Bible uses the refining of gold as a metaphor for spiritual purification and testing. It suggests that trials and hardships can refine and purify individuals, much like how gold is refined by fire to remove impurities. This process of refinement leads to greater spiritual maturity and value, both in this life and in eternity.

Where are you in your refinement process and what do you need to throw out in your life?

Sometimes True Stories

We know that salvation is found only through faith in Christ (cf. John 3:18; 14:6; Acts 4:12). But here’s what many evangelicals get wrong: We lead people to trust in Christ as their Savior but take them no further.

This is like parents who bring a child into the world and then leave it at the hospital. The “new birth” is only the beginning of the Christian life. Jesus wants us not only to be saved from hell, but to experience the transformation only He can make in our lives.

He did not call people to be “believers”, but “disciples,” consistently inviting them to “follow me” (Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 16:24; 19:21). The Greek means to “walk with me, going where I go.” It describes not just a “decision for Christ” but a lifetime of experiencing Him in an intimate, transforming way. Jim Denison

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No matter what letter may follow their name, those elected into governmental positions and those appointed have embraced only part of what it means to be a public servant. Many are more than willing to adapt to the public part by gravitating to the cameras when on, but nearly all have neglected or completely rejected the servant part.

We have the perfect model of a public servant in Jesus Christ. His ministry was certainly very public, yet His demeanor and actions were that of a servant. And He could have asserted His divine sovereignty at any time.

If Jesus is our model, are you husbands a servant leader to your wife and family? Are you wives a servant leader to your husbands and family? Are you employers’ servant leaders to the needs of your employees? And so on.

Jesus didn’t give up His position of authority to display servanthood. Neither must we. But He was a servant first. And so should we be. Be like Jesus. Rich Jensen

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During your years in school did anyone ever hold up wisdom, discipline and insight as important goals for your life? If you are like me, it never happened. We learn a lot of so-called facts, but there is little attention given to wisdom, discipline and insight. The truth is these three attributes will do more to help our lives than all of the facts we could ever learn. Wisdom will give you the right answers to the questions of our lives. Discipline will form and protect our lives, and insight will give us a great understanding. Remember, God doesn’t expect us to understand everything. He asks us to trust Him! That’s wisdom. Tony Ferguson

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The number of Americans who believe our country is on the right track is now the highest it has been in 21 years.

Quotes You Can Use

Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it. Lou Holtz

Our walk with God should always be progressing. Dan Shock

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

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. William Penn

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair. C. S. Lewis

Some people put religious activity before obedience to the Lord. They are wrong! The Lord wants us to do what is right and just as a first priority! It is really a matter of the heart. If we truly love the Lord, we will do what He says and not try and impress Him and others with our religiosity. We will never regret doing the right thing. Tony Ferguson

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. Benjamin Franklin

How different things look when our spiritual eyes are opened. Dan Shock

God has never over-promised or under-delivered. Edgar Aponte

Speech is great; but silence is greater. Thomas Carlyle

Jesus told us that what the world believes to be highly esteemed, is often detestable in God’s eyes. Dwight Short

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil…. It has no point. Billy Graham

In this time… Choose worship over worry. Choose faith over fear. Choose peace over panic. Pray that God will protect our nation, our families and us as individuals. Marty Stubblefield

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

May 17, 2025

—For a word that only appears once in Scripture, it packs quite an historical punch, for it’s at Gabbatha where Jewish and Gentile leaders sealed Jesus’ fate. “Pilate … brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha” (John 19:13).

—Do you remember what Pilate says next after taking his seat? Not “What is truth?” Not even what for many is his most memorable line, “Behold the Man!” But rather “Behold your King!” (v. 14). Those three words enraged the gathered crowd which then responded with two horrifying words, “Crucify Him!” From there they delivered Jesus to the cross and the rest is His-story.

—King Herod built a first-century palace in Jerusalem that adjoined the western wall of the Old City near its southwest corner. Then he added an outside gate to expedite easy entrance into and out of his palace and to facilitate a quick escape in the event of a local political uprising or any approaching danger. According to the first-century historian Josephus, Herod’s palace complex baffled all description, for “in extravagance and equipment no building surpassed it.” It even contained beds for one hundred quests. Thus, it follows that dignitaries like Pontius Pilate would have chosen the opulence of Herod’s palace during their stays in Jerusalem, and Philo, a contemporaneous Jewish philosopher, notes that Pilate had even dedicated some shields to Herod for his palace. It is evidently here where Pilate stayed during the Passover festivities that preceded Jesus’ crucifixion and just outside this gate where he addressed the chief priests and officers who brought Jesus before him for authorization to move forward with his execution.

—Outside the palace gate archaeologists have made the remarkable discovery of two first-century sections of stone pavement, connected by a staircase. The upper pavement shows evidence of a bema seat, a place of judgment where Pilate or other dignitaries could speak to the crowds gathered outside the palace complex, for Jews in particular would not have dared enter the palace complex of a Gentile ruler, especially one filled with statues of Roman gods (cf. John 18:28). Although tour guides will show you an underground section of stone pavement along the Via Dolorosa inside the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, a consensus of opinion exists among modern scholars that Jesus was condemned to die just outside Herod’s palace gate found in the exterior wall of today’s Armenian quarter.

Life in the Land: The Palestine Viper

—If you don’t like snakes, then might I suggest a move to Hawaii or Ireland (the land of my surname) where you won’t find nearly as many snakes as here in the mainland of the U.S., for example, the 4-foot, gray, rat snake I found not long ago in my laundry room curled around the vent hose of the dryer. You can also find plenty of snakes in the pages of your Bible, including venomous cobras and vipers.

Jesus once referred to the Pharisees as a “brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7), which they clearly didn’t take too kindly, and the Bible both starts with a snake (Genesis 3:1) and end with one (Revelation 20:2). The word “serpent” and its plural form appear in roughly five dozen verses with even Solomon fascinated by “the way of a serpent on a rock” (Proverbs 30:19).

—The Palestine Viper, as you might imagine from its name, lives only in the region of Palestine, which has historically included parts of Israel, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. On average they measure between 2½ and 3 feet with a triangular head and large dark blotches along the body. They live in burrows dug by rodents, feeding on the rodents and on fish from ponds. Although highly venomous there is a safe and effective antivenom available, so deaths from their bites are rare. Voted as Israel’s national snake in 2018, they are thought to be the viper mentioned in Isaiah 14:29.

–Daniel McCabe

Life in the Land: My Shofar

—I received it last year as a gift. I always wanted one from Israel, but for some reason I just couldn’t spend the 125 shekels for even an inexpensive one. But now that I have it, I’m quite happy. My first attempt at blowing it, however, confirmed to me that my trombone playing days have passed me by.

—The shofar is a musical instrument, typically made from a ram’s horn, which has been bored out to permit the free flow of air, producing a bugle sound when blown. The shofar first appears in Exodus 19:16 at Mount Sinai where the Lord instructs Moses to make a long, loud blast on a ram’s horn to signal the people to approach the foot of the mountain in order to witness the power of God. Shofars were used to assemble the people for worship or war in ancient times, and today the shofar is blown inside the synagogue on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).