Archives For Great Commission

The Via Maris Highway—Israel’s Picture of Your Influence

Where God places us is no accident.

Throughout biblical history, the land of Israel sat in an amazingly strategic position as the only intercontinental land bridge between the superpowers of the ancient world.

The most important international highway of the Fertile Crescent ran the length of the land of Israel.

The Via Maris Highway—Israels Picture of Your Influence The Via Maris Highway—Israels Picture of Your Influence

(Photo: The Via Maris ran beside ancient Tel Hazor. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

Some call this international highway the Via Maris, or the “Way of the Sea.”

Any nation coming to or from Egypt, or traveling from the Mediterranean to the Gulf of Aqaba, had to go through Israel. For many years, Israel remained the crossroads for international imperialism, war, and trade.

It’s hard to believe at first, but this highway offers a practical principle for our daily lives.

It’s all about influence.

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Joppa’s Greatest Export—God’s Compassion

If you ever get to stay at a seaside hotel in Tel Aviv, be sure and stroll down the beautiful boardwalk to ancient Joppa. I try to do it every time I’m there.

Wooden statues of Napoleon and some Egyptian ruins suggest significant history occurred here. But very little remains visible to speak of Joppa’s significance.

But history tells a different story.

Joppa aerial from west tbs130070112 Joppa’s Greatest Export—God’s Compassion

(Photo: Joppa’s modern port, courtesy of Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

Only a few fishing boats float in Joppa’s modest harbor today, hardly representative of its significant past.

Beyond goods and trade, Joppa greatest export was something else.

It was God’s compassion.

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The Tabernacle at Shiloh—A Promise, Person, Place & Parable

Local schoolchildren ate their lunches across the olive grove from my wife and me.

Like the kids, we came on a field trip to explore ancient Shiloh. Although our lunch was hardly a feast, it reminded me of the reasons the young nation of Israel initially came to this site. They came to worship at the annual feasts before the Tabernacle at Shiloh.

Shiloh area of tabernacle tb051808076 The Tabernacle at Shiloh—A Promise, Person, Place & Parable

(Photo: Area of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. Courtesy of Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

Ask most Americans where Shiloh is, and you’ll likely get a blank stare.

  • Historians may point to a Civil War battle in Hardin County, Tennessee.
  • Music buffs may start singing the chorus to a Neil Diamond song.

But question someone who knows his or her Bible, and Shiloh means something far more significant.

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Are Your Big Dreams as Big as Your God?

Life gets fueled on dreams. Without big dreams or a purpose, we wither and die.

As Christians, we have more to do than get up, work hard, and come home for a few hours of television . . . only to rise and begin again.

vivozoom 15034344 Are Your Big Dreams as Big as Your God?

Photo: Kuzma, via Vivozoom

If that’s all we do, we will wake up at age 65 and realize life has amounted to a stack of paychecks and a few laughs.

God wants more for us than that.

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2 Reasons Why Serving God isn’t Fulfilling

I hold as my single claim to fame the day I danced for the judges at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. But I’ll be honest: I never intended to dance.

2 Reasons Thumbs Down 2 Reasons Why Serving God isnt Fulfilling

I auditioned as a guitar player, yet when the judges called me back the next day, they asked me to dance as well! Oh dear.

End of audition. I immediately lost the job.

Why? They misplaced me. 

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