—I was born in Brussels, Belgium as was Audrey Hepburn; attended the same high school as Matthew McConaughey; and lived for years in “Stephenville, TX,” which doubles as a song title by the versatile “Jewel” Kilcher, which she wrote while married to local boy and nine-time PRCA rodeo champion, Ty Murray. What famous people share your birthplace, your hometown or the place you now call home?

—In the Bible you’ll find Bethlehem on David’s birth certificate and you may even recognize Bethsaida as the hometown of Philip, Peter and Andrew, but when I say “Beersheba,” does anyone come to mind?

—In the beloved, unofficial anthem, “America the Beautiful,” we sing of our country’s beauty “from sea to shining sea,” and we could summarize our nation’s west-to-east dimensions as “from the City of Angels to the Big Apple” or our north-to-south dimensions as “from the Rust Belt to the Bible Belt.” In the Old Testament the Jews likewise used a similar idiom, “from Dan to Beersheba” (Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; et al), with Dan being their northernmost city and Beersheba being their southernmost city for all practical purposes.

—Situated astride the treeless, unforgiving Negev Desert, Beersheba often gets ignored by tour groups who prefer day trips to Israel’s glorious hill country northwest of Beersheba or to the Dead Sea, En Gedi and Masada northeast of the city, yet three of the Old Testament’s greatest names lived at least for a time in Beersheba—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and hearty groups who make the trek will gain tremendous insight into the lives of the patriarchs.

—Abraham called this city “The Well of the Oath,” sometimes translated as “The Well of Seven,” after having agreed with Abimelech to purchase the land rights for a well that Abraham had dug on the site and where he sacrificed seven lambs to seal the deal (Genesis 21:25-34). Isaac doubled down on the name when he himself found water there and dug his own well (Genesis 26:26-33). Do you remember Jacob’s deal with Esau to exchange a pot of lentil stew for the family’s birthright (Genesis 27:30-28:10)? That too took place at Beersheba. Later Jacob stopped at Beersheba to offer sacrifices before leaving his homeland for Egypt along “The Way of Shur,” the busy caravan route that passed through Beersheba.

—I’m starting to think that someone should write a song about Beersheba too. How about you?

–Daniel McCabe

Week Two, 2025

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

Recently, we lit a fire in the fireplace and looked for a movie to watch. We discovered “The Boys in the Boat,” the true story of a nine-man crew team from the University of Washington that, despite long odds, made it all the way to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and became the improbable winners of the gold medal, beating out Italy and Germany in a close race. It was a great movie with all kinds of suggestions for better living and how competition in life ought to be. This crew transformed the sport of rowing, overcame enormous odds and grabbed the attention and hearts of their nation.

The movie ends more than forty years later with one of the team telling his grandson of his adventure. His grandson asks if he enjoyed rowing an eight-man crew, to which Joe replies, “We were never eight. We were one.” This shows just how unified they were back then, embodying what it means to be a team. It’s the film’s final line, and it perfectly captures their journey.

The Bible verse Galatians 3:28 states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This verse is central to the Gospel and conveys the idea that in Christ, everyone is equal and the same.

The verse is interpreted to mean that people should look beyond the differences of race, color, abilities, and other external factors to build fellowship on the essentials of their new birth. The unity that Christ prayed for is a spiritual unity based on faith in Christ and the glory of God within. Relational unity in the church is the best witness to the reality of Jesus Christ and God to the world.

As Christians, we are called to be one, one in Christ. I have a gift of writing and teaching, but the church should pay me not to come near the choir. I can’t carry a tune. All have separate gifts, but all are one. It was so obvious in the movie. Each in the boat had a different role in the boat, but all together they were one.

It’s the same way in all team sports. Putting the quarterback on the offensive line would be a disaster, as would be the reverse. All have separate gifts, but together we are one in Christ.

What are your gifts and how committed to use in ministry so that your church is one?

Sometimes True Stories

”Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and suffering, such as happened to me….” II Timothy 3:10-11

The Apostle Paul was teaching Timothy how to live his life as a Christian and pastoral leader. He didn’t say read Aristotle or Plato. He said, “Look at me”. What you see in me, do yourself.

Often times the most effective learning in our lives is the modeling of someone we respect. What model are you following? Parents? Coach? Grandparents? Pastor? Teacher? Jesus? Be sure you look to the one who has positive, Biblical qualities to emulate.

What about you? Are you that person who displays Biblical attributes; that person that others want to emulate? You never know who is watching you, and who will be influenced by the way you live your life.

Be a Paul. Rich Jensen

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Bible sales are up 22 percent in the US through the end of October compared with the same period last year. By contrast, total US print book sales were up less than 1 percent in the same period. What accounts for the rising popularity of God’s word?

According to Jeff Crosby, president of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, “People are experiencing anxiety themselves, or they’re worried for their children and grandchildren. It’s related to artificial intelligence, election cycles … and all of that feeds a desire for assurance that we’re going to be OK.”

Cely Vasquez, a twenty-eight-year-old artist and influencer, recently bought her first Bible, explaining: “I felt something was missing. It’s a combination of where we are in the world, general anxiety, and the sense that meaning and comfort can be found in the Bible.”

Much of what worries us in the world hasn’t changed. As Paul Powell observed, “It’s not that people are worse—the news coverage is just better.”

At the same time, a world facing the threats of nuclear annihilation, global war, and runaway artificial intelligence is objectively more dangerous. And American society possesses fewer tools for dealing with such crises than ever before.

Quotes You Can Use

The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see. Albert Einstein

Just having a desire to live a godly life is not enough. Dan Shock

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. Samuel Johnson

The Lord is near—and He is willing and able to take my burdens and carry them for me. Dan Shock

I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.

John Locke

I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well. Alexander the Great

Hard to tell at this point, but the fundamentals are in place for a massive change in American politics. What happens next is up to us.

If the Lord should come today, would you be ready to meet Him? Dan Shock

Common sense without education, is better than education without common sense. Benjamin Franklin

God wants you to overcome the temptations of Satan. Dan Shock

The dominant characteristic of an authentic spiritual life is the gratitude that flows from trust—not only for all the gifts that I receive from God, but gratitude for all the suffering. Because in that purifying experience, suffering has often been the shortest path to intimacy with God. – Brennan Manning

The kind of experience of humility and happiness that comes with gratitude tends to crowd out whatever is coarse, or ugly or mean. – Kevin DeYoung

I think the key to passion, to zeal, is gratitude. Or to put it another way, the fuel to motivate is gratitude, and gratitude comes by just backing up a little and realizing how much you’ve sinned against God. – Ray Comfort

Gratitude’s not a natural posture. The prince of darkness is ultimately a spoiled ingrate, and I’ve spent most of my life as kin to the fist-shaker. – Ann Voskamp

To come to terms with our beginning requires a truthful story to acquire the skills to live in gratitude rather than resentment for the gift of life. – Stanley Hauerwas

For three things I thank God every day of my life: thanks that He has vouchsafed me knowledge of His Works; deep thanks that He has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deep, deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to—a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song. – Helen Keller

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.

Email us: [email protected]

Break Out is a new novel for teens and young adults, written by Joy Becker. It is the story of Jason, a young rebel who refuses to conform to the crushing demands of his remote community.

It’s a restrictive, and punishing society where all enthusiasm and initiative are drowned, where reasoning is circular, like the white-domed buildings precisely spaced around the concentric streets, and where nothing may be questioned because that is the Master’s will.

Denied the right to think, and with the word “freedom” removed from the city’s only dictionary, any attempt to question is not only denied but severely punished. Argument is not an alternative. Reason is defined by the Master.

Jason has no memory of mother or father—just a lifelong teacher who insists on fulfilling the Master’s desires—a minor monarch who makes his subjects squirm because he holds the power of life and death.

Jason lives with “yes” kids who remain stubbornly silent rather than expose themselves to greater tyranny. Fear surrounds them. There is no life except in one’s dark dreams. The whispered specter of torture and death is ever present.

Every day, he feels more stifled. Every day, more pressure is exerted, more control exercised, more demands made.

There is no place to hide, and Jason wants out!

With visions of escape, he is continually reminded that escape is impossible. Still, he dares to sneak out in the dark evening hours to wander empty streets, searching for a way.

Night after night, he risks his life in hope of finding a solution. As he continues stalking the streets, he discovers another world.

Join this turbulent story, with its twists and turns, occasional bright spots, and intense relationships. Meet someone who understands what it is to be both alone and together, making unique friends, growing together against all odds, and hoping, always hoping, to somehow keep the dream alive in spite of bitter loss.

Will Jason find a way of escape? Or will he, like all those who preceded them, slip into a life of submission, conformity, and “normality?

Will he submit to slavery…or die!

It’s time to Break Out!

Break Out! by Joy Becker, is available from Amazon.com.

January 4, 2025

“After this, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem,” (2 Chronicles 32:9).

—The final stop on our Shephelah tour is the Lachish Valley. Perched on the west end, the city of Lachish was massive for ancient standards—and very important.

—Sennacherib famously besieged Lachish on his conquest of Judah during Hezekiah’s reign. The Bible highlights the campaign and how Sennacherib left the Lachish siege to move against Hezekiah in Jerusalem. As we know, God destroyed the Assyrian army and Sennacherib returned home (2 Kings 19:35-36).

—The Assyrian king bragged that he shut Hezekiah up “like a bird in a cage,” as recorded on the Sennacherib Prism. Notably he could not claim to conquer Jerusalem. But Lachish was so important that he supposed the taking of that city was proof of a successful campaign, based on wall carvings known as the Lachish Reliefs found at his palace in Nineveh. Ultimately Sennacherib’s boast was not received well as his sons killed him and Esarhaddon reigned in his place (2 Kings 19:37).

—In the picture you can see a walkway up to the city gate complex, which is quite well preserved compared to many other ancient cities in Israel. Close by are the remains of a siege ramp that Sennacherib built to attack Lachish. If you dig around in the dirt above and below the siege ramp, you might even find an Israeli or Assyrian arrowhead left over from the battle!

—On the eastern side of the valley you can search caves at Makkedah, the place where five kings hid from Joshua after the time when the sun stood still (Joshua 10:16-21).

—The Shephelah is an area with many important places, home to great events and people of the Bible. Not many tourists go there (other than the Elah Valley to collect their own smooth stones), but be sure to explore the wonder of its valleys if you ever make a trip to Israel!

—Adam Keim

Pastor Daniel McCabe, Shalom Y’all Ministries, 104 County Road 1633, Cullman, Alabama 35058, US

Week One, 2025

At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31

Well, believe it or not, a new year is here. 2024 is history and 2025 is a blank slate. What are you going to write on it?

January is the month of “resolutions”, many of them. People make more resolutions in this month than in all the remaining ones combined…. Loose weight, quit bad habits and the list goes on. More gym plans are sold this month than in all of the remaining ones.

People focus on worldly and personal resolutions more than on spiritual ones, yet those are the most important. Remember that God makes resolutions as well. We, as believers, are His people and He will guide our paths and watch over us. But what will we resolve for Him.

First, as we are His people, He wants us to resolve that He is our God. Resolve to be in His word daily and to pray to Him for all things in our lives. He also wants us to be a part of His community. But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” I Corinthians 12:18

The Swiss are famous for their precision watchmaking. Generations of highly skilled craftsmen assemble many different and essential parts to make their timepiece. Even the smallest gear, if not installed at the right spot, will render the watch inoperable.

It is much the same in other facets of our lives. The right combination of employees performing their specialties makes the company run smoothly. A family whose members function as God intended runs well. A community must have all its departments and leaders on the same page to serve their citizens.

And God has equipped the church to have members who come together like a finely tuned watch in order to further the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Some are gifted as teachers. Some are administrators. Some are givers. And so on.

Just as watchmakers look for the right parts in the right place; just as a family fulfills its roles; just as a community serves its people; so also, the body of Christ, when believers fulfill their given gifts in the right way, functions as God ordained.

Resolve to get to church, find your gift, you are needed.

Resolve to get spiritually and morally straight and become a functioning part of the family of God.

Sometimes True Stories

God’s Will for Our Lives

To love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

To love your neighbor as yourself

To flee evil

To be joyful and give thanks in all circumstances

To praise Him and worship Him

To dwell on all that is good and pure and true

To go therefore and make disciples

To daily put on the full armor of God

To daily take up your cross and follow Him

To pray continually

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At some point in our lives, we begin to think about what we will leave behind, for our family, our community and beyond. We go through careful thought about our physical assets. Which of our children should get particular items of sentimental value? How should our money be distributed? Should we leave something to charities or the church?

It’s not just our assets that are our legacy. What kind of world are we leaving? Have we cared for and preserved the value of life that was given to us by our parents, including a government that enables liberty and prosperity to grow?

Those may be good things to think about, but they are all temporary. What about the legacy that our children will follow us into an eternal paradise, which is Heaven, because we have shown them that the way there is through Jesus Christ, and Him alone. That’s the everlasting legacy into which we should invest.

Now, start building your legacy.

Quotes You Can Use

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. – Melody Beattie

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. – John F. Kennedy

It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves. Edmund Hillary

How many lives have been shattered— all because of the tongue? Dan Shock

When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. – Gilbert K. Chesterton

Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves. – Henry Ward Beecher

Naturally we are sinners in search for a savior.

Some problems will never be solved because there are people who simply do not want them to be.

Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Our natural tendency is to be led by the desires of the flesh, which only leads to sin and death. Resist the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit is the work of the Spirit that we bear as we walk by the Spirit. Walk by the Spirit. Edgar Aponte

It’s hard to see one’s generosity when our grip on the checkbook is so tight that our closed fists prevent our best intentions of ever being expressed. Dwight Short

Society allowed intolerant people to gain control through our tolerance. It’s time to fight back.

Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for. Zig Ziglar

God will continue to remove the imperfections within us until He can look at us and see His reflection.

Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse. – Henry Van Dyke

Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind. – Lionel Hampton

Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty. – Doris Day

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

Archaelogy

Let’s make our way to the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the largest church in the Middle East, where we’ll find multiple layers of archaeology that tell quite a story.

The modern church to which visitors are taken in the heart of the city has been standing there since 1960. Before that an older church of the same name stood on the same site from 1730-1954. Before that the site featured a Crusader church, dating to approximately 1100, until a Muslim, Egyptian sultan destroyed it in 1263. Before the Crusader church a Byzantine church stood there from the early fifth century until 1009.

And finally, under all these archaeological layers a synagogue/church has been discovered that dates to the second century and in which archaeologists have found columns, capitals, bases, cornices, decorated stones, one wall, a mosaic floor with symbols of crosses, a crown, and letters from the name of Christ, demonstrating that the church’s second-century, Jewish worshippers believed that Jesus was both their King and Messiah. Archaeologists also found plaster inscriptions at the second-century level, one of which read “Jesus.”

However, I haven’t even told you the best part. Under the second-century synagogue archaeologists found a first-century house with cisterns, caverns and finally a Jewish ritual bath, known as a mikveh, that had been later incorporated into the baptismal of the second-century synagogue. In other words, the people of Nazareth built a synagogue over a house. But whose house?

Another one of the plaster inscriptions found in the synagogue yields the fuller story, for it reads, “Rejoice, Mary!” Jewish Christians living shortly after the time of Jesus clearly believed this house to be none other than that of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the inscription just noted was likely intended to reflect the very words of the angel Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:28, 30, “Rejoice … Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

—Daniel McCabe

Week Fifty-Two, 2024

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).

It all began thirty years ago, back in 1995, as a way to communicate with a Sunday school class that I was teaching. Few had email so we used the old-fashioned U.S. Mail. There were only about seventy-five copies. Soon the mail list grew, especially with the availability of email. Now, it has gone international to several thousand and through CRU, it is reproduced to about 22,000.

It begins as I get an idea and mull it through my mind for several days and once it is mentally structured, I sit down at the computer and type it out. Then my wife edits my spelling and punctuation and then it goes to my publisher in the Philippines. Each Saturday at six in the morning, the button is pushed, and it is on its way. People read and often will comment.

As I write this, it is a Saturday evening and I have had many emails, including one from India and one from Africa. People are blessed with now over 1,500 editions, but not as much as I am blessed with the satisfaction of spreading the Word to others. Space is not large enough in this writing to tell the stories of people who have been impacted. I claim no credit but am blessed to know that God has blessed me by allowing me to have this ministry.

The most important reason to share the Gospel is to help save souls. In Mark 16:15, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Sharing the good news of the gospel isn’t simply a suggestion. It’s a command that Jesus set out for us: to be the catalyst for eternal heart change in our neighbors and throughout the world as we share God’s Word with others.

One of my most treasured verses is 2 Timothy 4:2… Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. The Bible calls us to be ready to share the gospel at all times and in all circumstances.

We can “preach” in writing and by voice or by the lifestyle we demonstrate to others. The key is to be ready.

So, to all who read my weekly words, thank you for reading and thank you for sharing. I trust the 52 editions of Thoughts on Life for 2025 will bless many as much as I am blessed by writing.

May each and every one of those who follow this writing have a most prosperous, healthy and joyous 2025.

John and Beverley Grant

Sometimes True Stories

“For You formed me in my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:13-14

When the sperm and the ovum come together, the miracle of birth, that God intended to be, happens. In that nanosecond, that human being has DNA unlike any other person who ever lived or ever will live. Already determined is the sex, color of the eyes, color of the hair, the body type, the general appearance, the intellect and even the personality. (Just ask the parents of twins) It is a masterpiece that could only have been orchestrated by God Himself.

This is not a political statement. It is a moral one. All that baby needs from that point on is nourishment and protection which happens in the mother’s womb. But nourishment and protection are what we all need….at one year old, at fifteen years old, at thirty-five, and at eighty. Nourishment and protection. May we all have both. Rich Jensen

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One of the reasons Jesus gained such a diverse and devoted following throughout his ministry is that his words and actions demonstrated how much he loved and valued the people who crossed his path. They felt accepted by him, even while he challenged their thoughts and confronted their sins. As his ambassadors to the world around us, we need to do the same. Will you? Jim Denison

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The riches Jesus desires to share with you are eternal riches, which cannot be measured by temporal things like gold or silver. Dan Shock

Quotes You Can Use

God is working in you because you are His workmanship. May we yield to His touch.

A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits. Dan Shock

Jesus’ presence in the world offers hope to all.

Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. George Washington

Affliction often results in our greatest spiritual growth. Dan Shock

Don’t be afraid to start all over again. This time you are not starting from scratch. You are starting from experience.

God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart. Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Bad companions ruin good character. 1 Cor 15:33

God has already prepared the way. Now He is just preparing you.

It is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error. Thomas Paine

We have roadmaps back to traditional America. We just need to follow them. Michael Smith

Without God, we can only bluff our way through unknown territory; with God, we can see The Master’s plan and be part of the solution. Dwight Short

There are many things that I don’t know or understand… but I do know the importance of trusting an unknown future to a known God. Marty Stubblefield

Morality may keep you out of jail, but only the Gospel will keep you out of hell.

It is through the Word of God that I gain truth about God and about myself. Dan Shock

The Gospel is only good if it gets there in time. Carl Henry

Not all those who wander are lost. J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Selected portions of Thoughts On Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2024

Were they just humble shepherds who visited the baby Jesus that night, or were they priests?

Micah 4:8, “And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.”

A popular view today is that this verse refers to a shepherd’s watchtower just north of Bethlehem. Why? Because the only other mention of such a tower (called in Genesis 35:21 “Migdal Eder” or “the Tower of Eder”) places it near Bethlehem and because Micah 4:8 shadows Micah 5:2, which names Bethlehem as the Messiah’s birthplace.

It is therefore presumed that the shepherds associated with Jesus’ birth were a special group of Levites who raised sheep for the temple; that they regularly swaddled newborn lambs in the lower level of this tower to keep the lambs from injuring themselves (which would disqualify them from being used for temple sacrifices); and that these Levitical shepherds hurried from their fields on Christmas night to find the baby Jesus, the Lamb of God, inside their tower lying in the very manger that they used to swaddle their lambs.

In support of this view most modern proponents refer to the following excerpt from Alfred Edersheim’s book, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, “That the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem was a settled conviction. Equally so was the belief that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, ‘the tower of the flock.’ This Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks which pastured on the barren sheepground beyond Bethlehem, but lay close to the town on the road to Jerusalem. A passage in the Mishnah (Shek.7:4) leads to the conclusion that the flocks, which pastured there, were destined for Temple-sacrifices, and, accordingly, that the shepherds, who watched over them were not ordinary shepherds.”

However, here’s what Shekalim 7:4 (in the Mishnah) actually says, “An animal that was found between Jerusalem and Migdal Eder, or a similar distance in any direction, the males are [considered] burnt offerings. The females are [considered] peace offerings. Rabbi Yehuda says, those which are fitting as a Pesach offering are [considered] Pesach offerings if it is thirty days before the festival.” This tractate teaches only what to do with lost things. It’s not discussing shepherding as a profession or temple flocks in particular.

I like the writings of Alfred Edersheim very much, but here he uncharacteristically reads too much into this quote from the Mishnah. Let’s always be careful before popularizing a view that has weak biblical or historical support.

The story of the Christmas shepherds raising sheep for the temple and their discovery of baby Jesus lying in the very manger that they used to swaddle newborn lambs sure captures the imagination, but sadly there’s little to no sound, supporting evidence for it that I can find.

Daniel McCabe

Luke Chapter 2 explains: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Week Fifty-One, 2024

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

He was a leader in his community, a faithful Christian, a successful businessman and my friend for over fifty years. He also had an incredible sense of humor, and I was not surprised to see a “RETURN TO SENDER” sign on his casket.

It was his idea and made all in the church laugh as they passed by, but I thought that it sent a spiritual statement of living a Christian life and it was the real message of Christmas.

God sent His Son to be born unceremoniously in a smelly dark manger when His pregnant mother was turned away from the inn. But there is more. His tenure on earth was temporary, about 33 years. Then He arose and returned to the side of His Father, as he sacrificially bore the pain as a price for forgiveness of my sins and yours.

Christmas and Easter are like bookends with His earthly life in between. God temporarily send His Son. They called Him – Jesus. He came to heal and forgive. He lived and died to buy my pardon. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, my fears are gone. I know He holds my future, just because he lived and died and lives on.

So, Jesus came to be returned to His sender, just as you and me. Christmas is like the first act of a two-act play. All are born, but only those who have the ticket of salvation get to be part of the second act. Do you have the ticket of eternal live to be returned to your sender.

Merry Christmas one and all. May it be a most blessed time for you and your family. -John and Beverley Grant

Sometimes True Stories

“How do we put our faith to work?”

1) By living out day to day, moment to moment what we say we believe. That is by glorifying God through our day to day living… through our work… through our fun… even in the mundane.

2) By doing what Jesus did – loving others, helping others, sharing life with others. Not because we have to, but because He first did for us.

3) By going therefore – That is, by going to make disciples. Whether next door, down the hall, across the country or around the world. Put your faith into action.

4) By loving your neighbor as yourself (goes back to number 2). And who is your neighbor? Everyone – even if they don’t look like you. Overcome hate and disdain with love. Shine where you are.

5) By taking up our cross daily and following Him… loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – loving him with all that we are. Love like Jesus. See as He sees. Respond like He would respond. Allow His heart to become our heart.

Let’s be clear – Faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ, the Son of God is what saves us. But as we live and grow in our faith in Him, we are called then to put our faith to work. So, others can see Him in us… so others might know of His great love, grace and mercy.

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The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, and has nobody to thank. – Dante Rossetti

Someone said, “Truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth”. So, now we have the definition of hate speech as anything that goes against one’s opinion. If you utter what they determine as “hate speech”, they will unfriend you or block you on social media or any public venue. The fact is, there is not their truth or your truth independently of any standard. There is only one Truth, that which is found in the Bible.

How, then, does one find this Truth? By faithfully reading the Bible. That’s where you meet Jesus daily. He is the way the Truth and the life. When you speak the Truth of Scripture, people will recognize that you have been with Jesus. His Truth will be offensive to some, or many, but stand firm and do not waver.

Fear not, God will not unfriend you. Rich Jensen

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Quotes You Can Use

Edgar Aponte:

Beware of false teachings disguised as the Gospel.

The Lord Jesus came to rescue us from sin and death. Trust in Jesus alone!

To compromise the Gospel is to abandon God. Be thankful for Jesus and remain faithful to Him.

You cannot be faithful to the Lord Jesus if you are driven by a desire to please people. Please the Lord regardless the cost!

History always provides answers to current questions. Michael Smith

In these changing times, we need to be anchored to the unchanging Christ. Dan Shock

There are those who want riches and will work hard to the detriment of all else. They believe that riches will give them importance, security or happiness. Then there are those who want riches, but don’t want to work for them. Their ends may be the same, but hard work isn’t their calling. So, they gamble and play the lottery. In both cases it’s an economy that leads to sadness, depression and emptiness. Rich Jensen

As we begin to walk with Jesus, the Holy Spirit then teaches us the deep truths of God. Dan Shock

The law says do and live where the Gospel says believe and live!! Jim Wilson

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare. To ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3: 20

When you recognize your insufficiency, it causes you to lean upon God for His all-sufficiency. Dan Shock

You will always go backward when you try to look forward but only focus on your rearview mirror. Dwight Short

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. Albert Einstein

There are those who reason well, but they are greatly outnumbered by those who reason badly. Galileo Galilei

Edgar Aponte:

The Gospel is God’s power that transforms sinners into saints.

The Gospel is true and powerful because God is its source. Trust the power of the Gospel.

The reputation of the message is connected to the reputation of the messenger. Watch your life.

In Christ, we are a new creation!! Don’t allow your past to determine your present or your future.

When we let our vision become earth-bound, we lose our eternal perspective. Dan Shock

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 2024

—I’ve lived on at least three streets named for women: Aurel Avenue, Victoria Drive and Evelyn Drive. Twenty-three years of my life, filled with wonderful memories.

—You would have recognized my family’s home at the far end of Evelyn Drive by my mom’s hanging baskets that overflowed with Boston ferns. I mowed Mrs. Jackson’s lawn next door for $10 (she paid well), played football in front of the Brazelle’s house, and smiled every time I saw different religious groups visit the home kitty-corner from us that belonged to Dr. McKinley, my future Bible professor at LeTourneau University and the founder of my childhood church. Oh, how I wish even now that I could have been a fly on his wall as he talked with them!

At the opposite end of Evelyn, about a four-minute walk from our home, lived “Mom” LeTourneau, the widow of the founder of LeTourneau University and the one for whom Evelyn Drive was named. Standing there in front of her home you could throw a rock and hit my favorite “nineteen-cent-hamburger” joint, Burger Chef.

I spent six happy years walking and biking up and down those two blocks, perhaps 300 yards from end to end, but today my childhood memories of Evelyn Drive bring to mind another street, David Street, that has likewise forged great memories and a street that’s almost exactly the same length as Evelyn from one end to the other.

—In the Old City of Jerusalem there aren’t many streets on which I’ve spent more time than David Street, located just inside Jaffa Gate. As you pass through this 500-year old gate, the preferred entrance gate of tourists, you’re immediately flooded with sights and sounds—bread vendors, car traffic, an ancient fortress, a tourist information center, coffee shop, police station and more.

Keep walking straight ahead for about 100 yards and you’ll find yourself standing at the top side of David Street, which descends steadily almost 300 yards past scores of shops that sell spices, rugs, ancient coins, luggage, toys and just about anything you want or need. It’s rare to find any prices marked on their goods, so expect to barter, but don’t make any eye contact with shop owners unless you’re ready to buy. Even so they’ll probably spot your Cowboys t-shirt and try their hand at “Howdy, y’all,” hoping you’ll smile, stop and spend your shekels.

—Named for King David, the modern east-west street runs roughly along the line of a first-century wall that once stood there between two hills—Zion to the south (sometimes called the Western Hill) and Acra to the north (the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion at a place along the brow called Golgotha). Because of David Street’s steep descent and because much of the street isn’t covered, Jerusalem’s winter rains rush down the street with ferocity, forcing the municipality to install an enormous number of manholes under your feet.

—Fans of the Crimson Tide should look for the “Alabama, the Heart of Dixie” shop at the corner of Muristan St or you might like to purchase a “Winnie the Jew” t-shirt or a “David and Goliath” slingshot for your little ones. Avoid the shady currency exchanges just inside Jaffa Gate, but instead look for Ghaleb Assila Change on David Street for better rates. When you’re ready for a break, find a juice stand or grab a soda, and carry your wallet in your front pocket just to be sure.

—You can spend hours along David Street, but you should also consider taking a detour down one of the quieter, intersecting streets, particularly Christian Quarter Road or Muristan Street.

David Street is a world away from Evelyn Drive, but my memories of both are enduring.

—Daniel McCabe