8. 12,000 people died in Ai.Ai is destroyed in Joshua 8, with 12,000 people falling that day, “all the people of Ai.” Ai might’ve had more than 12,000 people, but the deaths of them showed a complete and perfect destruction of the place.9. Solomon appointed 12 governors.Solomon appointed 12 district governors over Israel, showing how 12 has symboli

1. Don't Ignore Your SymptomsMuch of the writings of the Apostle Paul that made it into the canonized Bible are epistles – letters to specific churches or individuals. Not only are they filled with theology and advice on Christian-living, they have personal touches. He acknowledges individuals, or details that give insight into their lives. One suc

“… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1b)In the sporting events of the ancient world, competitors usually ran in a much more “natural” way than athletes do today. Long before the days of special sprinting attire, the clothes of the

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8). Our godliness is a result of a real relationship with Jesus, not our diligence to keep up proper appearances. Now that we've done some background and Biblical study, what are some modern take-aways from this 19th Century saying? 1. The Messages We Push as Christians Matter"Cleanliness i

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for words of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” - Ephesians 4:11

for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:3-4).The apostle Paul speaks on this same value of emotional expression, encouraging believers to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:15).I wonder what it would look like to begin to value the emotions we experience and own the freedom to exp

What Does the Bible Say about Mothers?When we come across verses in the Bible that mention motherhood, they are overwhelmingly positive and convey the clear message that being a mom is a blessing. Motherhood shouldn’t be taken lightly and is significant in the eyes of God.Exodus 20:12 - “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long

What Does "Yeshua" Mean? There are several definitions of Yeshua that can be found in Hebrew and Aramaic biblical text, taken from the Hebrew verb, yasha, that means “to deliver, save, or rescue,” and also stated as “Yehoshua.” Pronunciation of “Yeshua,” in Hebrew, can be read this way: “Yod,” “Shin,” “Vav,” “Ayin.” In Aramaic, the term, “Yeshu,” w

The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, “From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of A

Jesus Came to Give Hope in the Hard Things The truth is, Jesus came into the world on Christmas because of the hard things.Advent means "coming," and He came because our world needs hope. I thought about my friend, the one who is hurting, and she needs hope. And I need hope too. I need hope that the hard things will be better...one day. We all do.I

Unfortunately, what you will discover is that many come to the general conclusion that no one really knows. The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) wrote a compelling article about this topic entitled Where Was The Garden Of Eden Located? One of the main reasons we are not able to pinpoint an exact location is the changes in the world that happen

What Can We Learn from Tamar's Story?Tamar’s story is just one thread woven into the dramatic story of humanity. It reveals the redemptive and compassionate heart of God holding. Tamar, like Ruth, was not one of God’s chosen people. Yet, she is one out of four women mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy. She was not only a Gentile but a woman. Though we ar

When is Christmas? Christmas is a fixed holiday and celebrated on December 25th every year, though the days of the week shift. Here are the dates for Christmas over the next five years:2024 - Wednesday, December 25, 20242025 - Thurday, December 25, 20252026 - Friday, December 25, 20262027 - Saturday December 25, 20272028 - Monday, December 25, 202

Second, there is the implication that God’s leading of decree may bring about acts that are contrary to his leading of direction, discernment or declaration. In other words, he may direct, “You shall not kill,” but decree the murderous death of his Son (Acts 4:28). There are mysteries here, but it is manifest in dozens of places in the Bible that G

6. Friendship Is the Goal of the GospelChristians rightly think about salvation as forgiveness of sins and eternal life. But it is more than this. Jesus gives all who trust him the privilege of being his friends (John 15:14–15). And what is eternal life, after all? According to Jesus, “this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, an

-When lighting the candles to celebrate Shavuot, a candle must not have been a created flame just to light the candle but can be lighted from a pre-existing flame, such as one from a candle lit before the holiday, one from a gas range, or a pilot flame.-It is important to have children, even babies, hear the Ten Commandments being read, as the Jewi

What Is Worship?Just about every church I have ever visited begins their service with a time called praise and worship. The order of service probably flows out of Psalm 100:4 which says “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.” With that being said let’s define these terms. Praise is acknowledging and thanking God for the thin

It Is Well with My Soul I’d only had my driver’s license for a few months when I visited my friend in the pediatric psychiatry ward at the hospital. There were several other families spending time with their sick kids in the visiting room. I really didn’t know what to say, so I wandered to the piano in the corner of the room. My friend and I had su

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you send me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23).John, Jesus’ closest friend on this earth, may have understood who God says we are more

5. Watch for openings to share a word for Christ. Peter said: "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15).6. If the right opportunity doesn't come naturally, create one. Sometimes we wait too long, looking for just the right time to invite