Archives For Bible

Mount of Beatitudes—Beauty that Illustrates Truth

The hills surrounding the Sea of Galilee frame the lake like a portrait.

In spring, the hillsides burst with wildflowers, fresh grass, and spectacular color. The tranquil slopes tower above fruit crops and fertile fields that stretch across the lush Plain of Gennesaret.

No matter where I stand to view the picture, the subject seems to be smiling.

Mount of Beatitudes and Sea of Galilee tbs75369303 Mount of Beatitudes—Beauty that Illustrates Truth

(Photo: Mount of Beatitudes and Sea of Galilee, courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

Numerous places around the lake offer splendid panoramas.

  • The best view, by far, is atop Mount Arbel. Windy and requiring a walk, the vast landscape stuns every first-timer.
  • Another grand vista is the view from Kfar Haruv on the eastern side—I can see the whole lake from tip to tip. Impressive, for sure.

But the picturesque view from the Mount of Beatitudes offers visitors more than simply a beautiful view.

It offers a place to consider truth taught there by One who knew it.

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Capernaum—Jesus Slept Here (And Why)

Not many places in Galilee can genuinely claim to be the “Town of Jesus.”

But every visitor who enters the ancient site of Capernaum passes a sign that makes that boast. And it’s right.

Capernaum synagogue panorama df101801201 Capernaum—Jesus Slept Here (And Why)

(Photo: The Synagogue in Capernaum, courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

After Jesus left His former hometown of Nazareth, He moved His base of operations to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee. This move fulfilled what the Prophet Isaiah had predicted centuries earlier (Isaiah 9:1-2; Matthew 4:14).

Today, millions of tourists visit Israel each year, the majority of them Christians. I think it’s ironic that so many people still come to Capernaum and its surrounding area for the same reason they did in the first century.

Because that’s where Jesus was.

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Dealing with Lonely Holidays

For many people, the holidays draw up painful memories.

Sore spots from childhood or the loss of loved ones hit hard during this sentimental season. While many people celebrate the joys of Christmastime, others suffer lonely holidays.

Dealing with Holiday Loneliness Dealing with Lonely Holidays

(Photo courtesy of stock.xchng)

During one of the most desperate times of King David’s life, the anointed future king of Israel found himself running from two separate enemies—hardly a time to celebrate. With the Philistines to the west and King Saul to the east, a distressed David sought refuge in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1–2).

David felt very alone.

His situation offers encouragement to us during lonely holidays.

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Apply the Wisdom of Creation to Your Struggles

The awesomeness of creation exists as more than beauty for us to observe.

In spite of the chaos in our culture, the world screams of order in its origin. Its predictable seasons and trustworthy laws of nature reveal wisdom in its design.

Laser Towards Milky Ways Centre Wallpaper Apply the Wisdom of Creation to Your Struggles

(Photo by http://www.ForestWander.com (CC-BY-SA-3.0), via Wikimedia Commons)

The wisdom of creation we see is explained in the Bible we read. Wisdom played such an integral role in creation that the author of Proverbs 8 personifies it as a person present with God:

“Before the hills I was brought forth . . . When He established the heavens, I was there . . . When He marked out the foundations of the earth; then I was beside Him, as a master workman”—Proverbs 8:25–33

God’s wisdom displayed in the wonders we see also proves His wisdom in all areas of life.

Including the painful ones.

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Giving Your Child Back to God

Giving your child back to God can be a tough decision for parents.

Eighteen years of sacrifice, commitment, and training suddenly bring you to a point of no return.

Giving Your Child Back to God Giving Your Child Back to God

(Photo by Monkey Business Images via Vivozoom)

Whether it is for college, for the military, or in the natural course of growing up, giving your child back to God is a point every parent has to face.

Hannah’s story shows us how to prepare for it, and then, how to do it.

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Hebron—the Cave of Machpelah Stands as a Testimony of Faith

Towering like a fortress over the shoddy buildings that surround it, the ancient structure in Hebron covers a site sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

Hebron Machpelah tb092204983 Hebron—the Cave of Machpelah Stands as a Testimony of Faith

Photo: The building that covers the “Cave of the Patriarchs” at Machpelah in Hebron. Courtesy of Pictorial Library of Bible Lands

In elevation, Hebron stands taller than even Jerusalem.

And other than the Temple Mount itself, no other place remains as revered to peoples whose hopes and faiths could not be more diverse.

Few other places offer such a powerful lesson in faith for those of us still drawing a breath.

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Impatience at God’s Drive-Through Window

I hate drive-through windows. There’s just something so incongruent with “fast-food” that’s not fast.

Once with my family in the car, I got so frustrated with the individual behind the unintelligible speaker who couldn’t understand me when I ordered, “pickles and cheese.”

So I repeated it with passion: “I want chickles and peas!”

799px Drive thru night Impatience at God’s Drive Through Window

Photo: by Derek Jensen (Public Domain), via Wikimedia Commons

After I realized what I said, I turned to my wife and daughters. They burst in laughter. For them, it was better than the meal.

I’m not sure what  “chickles” are, but I ordered some, and the cashier gave me a price.

Since that day a question has nagged me: Why do we treat God like the cashier at the drive-through window?

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Nebi Samwil—A Site with Wisdom Ignored

Most travelers to Jerusalem never think to come to Nebi Samwil.

The minaret towering above the hill looks like a misplaced lighthouse searching for the sea. On a clear day, a visitor can spy the Mediterranean to the west.

Nebi Samwil tb091405114 Nebi Samwil—A Site with Wisdom Ignored

(Photo: Nebi Samwil. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

Very few come here today. And yet, there were few more important places in David’s and Solomon’s time—if any.

In fact, it signified Solomon’s most defining moment.

What’s more, it represents the potential for ours as well.

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Must-Have Resources for Israel Bible Lands Study

Not everybody can travel to Israel.

But everyone can benefit from including Bible lands in their personal Bible study. You just need some good tools.

Tabernacle model and courtyard tb030807082 Must Have Resources for Israel Bible Lands Study

Photo: Tabernacle Model. Courtesy of Pictorial Library of Bible Lands

I have discovered that including Bible lands in my study has given me more understanding of the Bible than learning Greek and Hebrew. The benefits of including Bible lands in the study of Scripture are available to everyone.

I’ve created what I consider a must-have list of resources. These are the tools I reach for first when I study—those resources that have proven most helpful to me for years.

I’ll give you the full list, and then I’ll suggest which ones to get first.

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Expect God to Test Your Vision

I sit still with my face in a brace, wide-eyed and waiting for that imminent blast of air in my eyeball.

“Now sit still,” the optometrist says. “Don’t blink.”

POW! I know it’s coming, but my whole body still jerks. I feel like an idiot.

visiontesting Expect God to Test Your Vision

Photo: Design Pics, via Vivozoom

Then we do it again with the other eye.

This unpleasant procedure has to happen each year. Without it, my vision isn’t all it can be.

The Lord does a similar thing with the vision He gives us in the Bible. We think we see it clearly until a blast in the eyeball jerks our whole frame of reference.

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