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Worldbuilding. It’s used by fiction writers to create a specific setting. Think of “a galaxy far, far way” in Star Wars, the Shire in Lord of the Rings, or Panem in The Hunger Games. Nadeem Kazi gives this a twist. Words. We don’t associate them with our world. Sometimes they gush like water from a fire…

This quote from one of my class lectures resonated with me. This semester, I have Acts and the Pauline Epistles. I’m deep in Acts, and, let me tell you, Acts is the textbook for cross-cultural communication. And, make no mistake, our present culture is at odds with our faith. What once drew respect now draws…

A semicircle of scholars wrapped around the two. Learned men. Men of means. Leaders in the community. Stumped. Flummoxed by a couple of blue-collar guys. Fishermen, no less. Followers of Jesus. Their scholarly noses wrinkled at the thought. Yet, the man, who had been crippled from birth, stood nearby, wiggling his toes and bouncing on his…

Time limits. Writers love them. An endpoint creates urgency, raises the stakes, and increases the tension. Will James Bond diffuse the bomb in time? Will the hero get to the airport before his romantic interest flies out of his life—forever? Will the police find the kidnapped victims before they suffocate in the deranged killer’s sweltering…

North Texas produced a bumper crop of wildflowers this spring. As I traveled from DFW to Wichita Falls, to Waco, and to Austin, my eyes feasted on bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, Mexican hats, buttercups, and blanket flowers. Blues and yellows, reds and oranges, and pinks and purples splashed the spring green of new grass. Jesus pointed…

Grace. Unmerited favor. A gift. The opposite of karma because with karma, it’s about work. What you get depends on what you do. God speaks to what we have earned, “ . . . for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  Looking forward to that paycheck? Me neither, but that’s what we’ve got…

Karma. The law of cause and effect. Hinduism and Buddhism claim it determines your destiny. In essence, you determine your destiny. Good choices lead to good things. Bad choices lead to . . . well, good luck with that. Sadly, the church has bought into karma. Does the Bible speak of consequences? Of course, it does…

“Worship the LORD in holy attire.” Psalm 96:9 NASB In Scripture, holy attire meant linen. Priestly garments were made from linen. God knew what He was doing because nothing outperforms linen when it comes to strength, luster, and durability. Stain resistant, linen gets softer with each washing and handles moisture well. Linen also: Filters chemical exposure,…

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13 NIV Disciplined. Usually a word that describes me. However, as I get older, I’m fighting the flesh more. The temptation to indulge myself grows stronger and stronger. To…

Altars. For the modern believer, the altar represents a place of surrender, perhaps of petition, intercession, or a step of faith. For biblical characters, the altar meant sacrifice. And sacrifice meant death. Death and bloodshed. When Abraham and Isaac climbed Mount Moriah, it wasn’t for prayer. It wasn’t to rededicate their lives. It was to…