“Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you.” —King David, Psalm 55 While studying the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament, I came across a familiar allegory that is used repeatedly throughout Scriptures: the yoke. In his book, the “weeping prophet” frequently confronted God’s people concerning their sin and rebellion against His commandments and statutes. Jeremiah’s admonishment culminates in his prophecy concerning Jerusalem’s fall, which resulted in the Babylonian conquest in Continue Reading
Is God Republican or Democrat? {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
Before the pastor took the pulpit, a striking video with the song “America the Beautiful” filled the sanctuary’s giant screens. As the glorious soprano voice sang the patriotic song, various shots of America’s vast landscape and well-known landmarks appeared, together with pictures of our beautifully diverse population. One congregant rose, then another, and before the first chorus reached its climax, the entire congregation stood in honor of our great nation. Tears filled my eyes. My mind Continue Reading
Earthly Fathers Shape our View of God {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
I recently read a story published in Homemade magazine in 1999 that serves as an excellent illustration of the importance of a father’s influence in a child’s life. The story is about a young man who committed a crime and was sentenced by a judge who happened to know him since childhood. The judge was acquainted with the man’s father, who was also a famous magistrate and legal scholar who authored an exhaustive legal study. “Do you remember your father?” asked the judge. “I remember him Continue Reading
COVID-19 and the Impact in the Foster Care System {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” — Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and statesman The current unrest in America is just another drop in the bucket in the ways our society has hurt since the COVID-19 outbreak. As one browses the news, it has become increasingly challenging to find headlines that inspire hope and trust in the human spirit. I was walking in the park earlier this week, praying for our country, when I spotted a small group of children of Continue Reading
A Tribute to Ravi Zacharias {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
Atlanta. Home of Margaret Mitchell, Martin Luther King Jr., Ted Turner, and Kanye West. Coca-Cola, UPS, Delta Airlines and Home Depot are only a few of the Fortune 500 companies headquartered in this great city. Our town harbors the busiest airport in the world and is also home to the 1996 Olympic games. These facts are widely known and certainly contribute to the charisma of this beautiful metropolis. But a fact that is not widely known outside of Christian circles is that some of the most Continue Reading
Don’t Try to Manipulate God {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
The expression “putting out a fleece” comes from the story of Gideon in the book of Judges in the Old Testament. Gideon was a farmer who became the fifth leader during the Period of Judges in Israel. By analyzing chronological limits, there’s considerable agreement among Bible scholars that this period occurred between 1200-1020 B.C., a time followed by the reign of Saul, Israel’s first king. As we read the sixth chapter of Judges, we find Gideon committed to obtaining food for his family at a Continue Reading
