Our Sunday morning Bible class has been studying the book of Daniel. As we studied chapter 4, I realized an unusual link between the great Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and Israel’s greatest leader, King David. It was not in their leadership styles or military prowess. It was definitely not – at that point – their shared faith in God. What struck me about both of these great leaders was they both got in trouble wandering around on their roof! In the well-known account of 2 Samuel 11, King David strays from his normal mode of operation and sends his army out in the spring of the year without him at the…

We see these signs all over town. They are triangular in shape and red and white in color. When we approach we know that our job is to wait and see if there is other traffic before we proceed. These signs say, “Yield.” In context, to yield means, “to give up possession of one’s claim or demand; to surrender or relinquish physical control; to surrender or submit (oneself) to another.” We know it is not only the law that demands that we yield, but it is in our best interest and safety to do so. Sometimes patience pays off. Sometimes we are delivered by our willingness to surrender. Years ago…

The recent shootings in Charleston, South Carolina have only brought into stronger relief the need to discuss an ugly issue: race relations. Each time there is a crime where race plays a role, it not only reopens the conversation, but it tragically opens old wounds, too. Racism is sin. We know that, but I want to use an even stronger word today. Racism is heresy. I choose that word very carefully. I do not throw around the word “heresy” lightly. It is, admittedly, a loaded term. To describe something as heresy is basically to say that there is such a chasm between this issue and what is Biblically correct that…

[NOTE: This post from Jeremiah Tatum was originally posted on his personal blog, Ancient Words, in 2008. We have reprinted it here with his permission for his article this week.] Everybody needs somebody. Once on the road to Gaza a man came upon a chariot. In the chariot he saw a man who was reading from the book of Isaiah. But the man didn’t understand what he was reading. So the man in the chariot invited the man on the road to join him in his chariot. Everybody needs somebody. One of the greatest honors one can ever receive is an invitation into someone else’s chariot. Seldom do people allow…

A number of years ago, I read a book that disturbed me and challenged me at the same time. The book was written by individuals who had left the church I read about in my Bible and had either joined with various religious groups or had given up on religion entirely.  My spiritual journey had taken me in the opposite direction as was the case with these people. I had left a religious group composed of sincere and well-intentioned people, but who wore a name not found in God’s Word for His people. These people whom I loved then and love now also believed and practiced some things for which I found no…