Two of Jesus’ disciples are traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Luke says they are discussing recent events, which include Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, and reports of his resurrection. I think it would be fair to assume that these men were utterly confused. They believed Jesus to be their Messiah who would restore Israel to her…
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” Psalm 100:1 Neuroscience is making some interesting claims about the benefits of corporate singing. (You can read the article here: http://upliftconnect.com/neuroscience-of-singing/). The article claims that when people sing together as a group, their…
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 I recently read an article about oxytocin. This is a neurochemical that researchers are beginning to claim is the basis for morality in human beings. Numerous tests have been done measuring oxytocin levels in different circumstances. These tests indicate that when an individual feels greatly…
“Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 Have you ever bought something totally unique, only to see the same thing everywhere after your purchase? There is a biological explanation for this phenomenon. In the brain stem, there is a network of neurons that makes…
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 In the verses immediately preceding 17, Jesus describes citizens of the kingdom as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He wraps up his…
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:3 In teaching his disciples to pray, Jesus spends the first half of his prayer focused on asking God to make his glory known. Previously, I thought that after this, Jesus then teaches us to turn our…
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name.’” Matthew 6:9 I have been thinking about prayer a lot lately. Partly because of the weakness of my own prayer life, and partly because of the consequential nature of this election season. In reflecting on prayer, I went back to…
We always, infallibly act according to what we believe. More specifically, we act according to what we believe will bring us the greatest happiness. If one is faced with the decision to be disciplined in his/her diet or to have a slice of red velvet cake, then chooses the cake, it is because he/she believes…
Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women…
“Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, ‘Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.’ So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick,…
