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Twelve backs were torn open by the lashing whip. Thirty-seven. Thirty-eight. Thirty-nine strokes. Some time had passed since Jesus’ ascension. The apostles had been arrested. They’d spent a night in jail, experienced an angelic rescue, and then appeared before the Jewish Council. And now, a flogging. You can find the story in Acts 5. Even…

Election Day. Finally. Regardless of the results, let’s focus on two things: God is sovereign, and He can use ungodly people to accomplish His purposes. Though Hebrews 11 is filled with Hall of Faith heroes, Scripture is filled with outside–the-box, even outside-the-faith people used to accomplish God’s plan. Check out this line-up: Egyptian pharaohs. Joseph’s…

The breeze from the north this morning whispered of autumn, sweaters, and boots. But who are we kidding? This is September. In Texas. While I love my boots and sweaters, they’ll stay on the shelf a while longer. Texans layer as temps swing twenty to thirty degrees in the course of a day, so my…

Ancient Israel. Located southwest of the Fertile Crescent in the direct north/south, east/west traffic from Egypt to Assyria. Like the small one-light town you drive through on the way to somewhere else. Yet Israel’s location was strategic. God planned to impact the world through this tiny nation. We read of Abram’s call in Genesis 12…

Running water. What a blessing! I turn on the faucet, and out it comes. Sometimes the water is hot. Sometimes it’s cold. But the water is consistently clean and available. I think Jesus was like that. Consistent and available. When people drew near, He gave clean, clear water. Sometimes a hot rebuke. Sometimes a refreshingly…

All the kids were home this weekend. That gets harder to pull off as the nest empties. Russell and I stood in the kitchen and watched our four, plus one daughter-in-law and one daughter-in-law-to-be. Laughter filled the house. It made my heart glad to know my kids and their relationships are healthy and strong. Surely…

Wails erupt in my backyard. I feel the neighborhood cringing. I teach swimming lessons each summer. At present, I’m several days into a new session. Learning to swim is stressful. For most kids, swimming sounds fun until… Until it’s not. It’s hard. It’s scary. And it takes work. While some kids truly are fearful, most…

A friend of mine recently had cataract surgery. Although a relatively young candidate for this procedure, she was informed by her doctor that she made his top three worst cataracts list. I’m sure she was thrilled. Today, colors are vivid, and she can pick up fine details—like all of her friends’ wrinkles. Her stories post-surgery…

My sister is my parents’ favorite. Not ready for parenthood when I arrived, seven years later they were more settled. Amy, whose name means “beloved,” was welcomed with open arms. Yet, when the two of us talk, she says I was the favorite. Comparison is a killer especially between siblings. Sadly, we see it in…

I recently attended a benefit concert with my daughter. She was checking out a modern dance company, and I tagged along. One of the dance numbers was a ballet solo. The ballerina looked like a body builder. Her muscles were so defined, I was distracted from her performance. I asked my daughter about it afterward.…