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JUNE 26, 2026 REMAINING FAITHFUL AFTER A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE? #33 TAKING ON PHILOSOPHERS AND SPEAKING TO THEIR HEARTS

June 26, 2026

Acts 17:16-34 Paul Preaches in Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 17 He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.

18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”

19 Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20 “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21 (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)

If you’ve ever studied ancient Greek mythology, you might wonder how any bunch of people as intelligent as the Greeks could possibly have fallen for such a line of codswallop. Encyclopedia Britannica summarizes the ancient Greek religion in this fashion:

Though the worship of the sky god Zeus began as early as the 2nd millennium by, Greek religion in the established sense began c. 750 by and lasted for over a thousand years, extending its influence throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. The Greeks had numerous gods who controlled various natural or social forces (e.g., Poseidon the sea, Demeter the harvest, Hera marriage). Different deities were worshiped in different localities, but Homer’s epics helped create a unified religion, in which the major gods were believed to live on Mount Olympus under the rule of Zeus.

The Greeks also worshiped various gods of the countryside: Pan, nymphs, naiads, dryads, Nereids, and satyrs (see satyr and silenus), along with the Furies and the Fates. Heroes from the past, such as Heracles and Asclepius, were also venerated. Animal sacrifices were of great importance, usually made at a temple on the altar of the god. Other cultic activities included prayers, libations, processions, athletic contests, and divination, particularly through oracles and birds.

Great religious festivals included the City Dionysia at Athens and the festival of Zeus in the western Peloponnese that included the Olympic Games. Death was seen as a hateful state; the dead lived in the realm of Hades, and only heroes enjoyed Elysium. Great wrongdoers suffered in Tartarus. Mystery religions emerged to satisfy the desire for personal guidance, salvation, and immortality. Greek religion faded with the rise of Christianity and lost its last great advocate with the death of Julian in ad 363. 

In an African context, we would have called these people fetish worshipers. Yes, these people were spiritually hungry and in their hunger were worshiping real spirits; however, these spirits were some of the demons who accompanied Lucifer when he fell from heaven. One third of the angels fell along with Lucifer, allowing for plenty of demons to populate the earth. Even though some of the ideals were lofty, at the end, believers would wind up in Hades, no matter how many sacrifices, prayers, libations, athletic contests, or other acts of worship they had carried out.

Athens was not a major trading center; in fact, Athens was much more an academic community. An AI summary tells us: Athens during Paul’s time was not a wealthy economic hub. Instead, it was more akin to an academic center, similar to modern university towns like Oxford or Harvard. While it had a rich history in philosophy, arts, and politics, the city was not experiencing economic growth like other cities such as Corinth or Ephesus. The focus in Athens was primarily on intellectual pursuits rather than commercial prosperity, which influenced its cultural and social dynamics.

So Paul, one of the brightest minds ever to grace the Christian church in any age, now found himself in Athens, a place where philosophers abounded, education was prized, and many men gathered in hopes of learning something that would make sense of their lives and give them hope. How could Paul possibly reach these people effectively?

22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

Immediately, Paul grabbed the attention of his listeners, complimenting them on their search for truth and referring to an altar that might have stood close to where he was speaking. Paul was establishing common ground, identifying with his audience. But why would anybody erect an altar to a god whom they didn’t know? AI tells us: According to the legend recorded by Diogenes Laërtius, during a plague, the Athenians released sacrificial sheep on the Areopagus. Wherever the sheep lay down, they built altars to the appropriate unknown god, believing this would appease the deity and end the plague.

 
While no intact altar with the exact inscription has been found, archaeological findings support the existence of altars dedicated to unnamed deities in ancient Athens, affirming the city’s religious practices. This altar exemplifies the Athenians’ desire to connect with the divine, even in uncertainty, and highlights the cultural and historical layers of their worship.

Paul was speaking to men who instinctively felt that their ancient Greek religion was lacking and who found it unsatisfying. Now Paul continued.

Acts 17:24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

Now Paul had the rapt attention of his audience, for he was proving that he was highly educated and conversant with traditional Greek literature. This was a direct quotation of Greek sources-likely Epimenides for the first phrase and Aratus (or possibly Cleanthes) for the second. Therefore, Paul’s usage reflects both his scholarly exposure to secular writings and his willingness to connect with his audience on common ground.

30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them, 34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Resurrection? What a novel idea! Remember that the Greeks believed that once dead, always dead, and that they would all wind up in Hades unless they did something incredibly heroic. Most of the audience were realistic enough to know that they were simply ordinary people. Now Paul was offering those ordinary people the opportunity for something remarkable, eternal life with a loving Father God who had sent His own son to die for their sins. No more animal sacrifices. No more speculations about one’s eventual fate after death. Even though many in the audience clung to their ancient beliefs, some began glimpsing a new future full of hope.

Notice what Paul did not do during this meeting. Paul did not condemn the Greeks or criticize their traditional religion. Paul simply created an intellectual bond and then described a better way.

“Bob, if you don’t accept Jesus, you’re going to burn in hell!” It was 1979 at a factory in a small town in western New York. My husband found himself confronted by a coworker he later described as a “pushy Baptist.” Several times a day, this man would get in my husband’s face, confronting him with his need for Jesus. Somehow, it worked. Bob’s story is much longer than that, for he first heard the Gospel in a Sunday School at age five and later encountered Bible-believing Christians several times. But it was the “in your face” style of witness that helped turn Bob’s life around. One morning, he found himself turning back to that man and asking, “___, how do I get the Lord in my life?” That morning was the turning point. Bob received Jesus as Savior and Lord, began attending a church where he was mentored, and eventually embarked on a journey that wound up in a small village in northeastern Ghana.

Why tell this story? Believers are as individual as their DNA or their finger prints. God tailors each salvation story to the individual experiencing it. The believers in Athens required a totally different approach from the one that turned Bob around. But God knows people’s hearts and God knows what will work in each situation. May God help each of us so that when we are called upon to witness, we will do so, looking to Him for guidance.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that we are surrounded by spiritually hungry people and that You are the One who can best direct our testimonies. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

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JUNE 26, 2026 REMAINING FAITHFUL AFTER A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE? #33 TAKING ON PHILOSOPHERS AND SPEAKING TO THEIR HEARTS

June 26, 2026

Acts 17:16-34 Paul Preaches in Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 17 He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.

18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”

19 Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20 “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21 (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)

If you’ve ever studied ancient Greek mythology, you might wonder how any bunch of people as intelligent as the Greeks could possibly have fallen for such a line of codswallop. Encyclopedia Britannica summarizes the ancient Greek religion in this fashion:

Though the worship of the sky god Zeus began as early as the 2nd millennium by, Greek religion in the established sense began c. 750 by and lasted for over a thousand years, extending its influence throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. The Greeks had numerous gods who controlled various natural or social forces (e.g., Poseidon the sea, Demeter the harvest, Hera marriage). Different deities were worshiped in different localities, but Homer’s epics helped create a unified religion, in which the major gods were believed to live on Mount Olympus under the rule of Zeus.

The Greeks also worshiped various gods of the countryside: Pan, nymphs, naiads, dryads, Nereids, and satyrs (see satyr and silenus), along with the Furies and the Fates. Heroes from the past, such as Heracles and Asclepius, were also venerated. Animal sacrifices were of great importance, usually made at a temple on the altar of the god. Other cultic activities included prayers, libations, processions, athletic contests, and divination, particularly through oracles and birds.

Great religious festivals included the City Dionysia at Athens and the festival of Zeus in the western Peloponnese that included the Olympic Games. Death was seen as a hateful state; the dead lived in the realm of Hades, and only heroes enjoyed Elysium. Great wrongdoers suffered in Tartarus. Mystery religions emerged to satisfy the desire for personal guidance, salvation, and immortality. Greek religion faded with the rise of Christianity and lost its last great advocate with the death of Julian in ad 363. 

In an African context, we would have called these people fetish worshipers. Yes, these people were spiritually hungry and in their hunger were worshiping real spirits; however, these spirits were some of the demons who accompanied Lucifer when he fell from heaven. One third of the angels fell along with Lucifer, allowing for plenty of demons to populate the earth. Even though some of the ideals were lofty, at the end, believers would wind up in Hades, no matter how many sacrifices, prayers, libations, athletic contests, or other acts of worship they had carried out.

Athens was not a major trading center; in fact, Athens was much more an academic community. An AI summary tells us: Athens during Paul’s time was not a wealthy economic hub. Instead, it was more akin to an academic center, similar to modern university towns like Oxford or Harvard. While it had a rich history in philosophy, arts, and politics, the city was not experiencing economic growth like other cities such as Corinth or Ephesus. The focus in Athens was primarily on intellectual pursuits rather than commercial prosperity, which influenced its cultural and social dynamics.

So Paul, one of the brightest minds ever to grace the Christian church in any age, now found himself in Athens, a place where philosophers abounded, education was prized, and many men gathered in hopes of learning something that would make sense of their lives and give them hope. How could Paul possibly reach these people effectively?

22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

Immediately, Paul grabbed the attention of his listeners, complimenting them on their search for truth and referring to an altar that might have stood close to where he was speaking. Paul was establishing common ground, identifying with his audience. But why would anybody erect an altar to a god whom they didn’t know? AI tells us: According to the legend recorded by Diogenes Laërtius, during a plague, the Athenians released sacrificial sheep on the Areopagus. Wherever the sheep lay down, they built altars to the appropriate unknown god, believing this would appease the deity and end the plague.

 
While no intact altar with the exact inscription has been found, archaeological findings support the existence of altars dedicated to unnamed deities in ancient Athens, affirming the city’s religious practices. This altar exemplifies the Athenians’ desire to connect with the divine, even in uncertainty, and highlights the cultural and historical layers of their worship.

Paul was speaking to men who instinctively felt that their ancient Greek religion was lacking and who found it unsatisfying. Now Paul continued.

Acts 17:24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

Now Paul had the rapt attention of his audience, for he was proving that he was highly educated and conversant with traditional Greek literature. This was a direct quotation of Greek sources-likely Epimenides for the first phrase and Aratus (or possibly Cleanthes) for the second. Therefore, Paul’s usage reflects both his scholarly exposure to secular writings and his willingness to connect with his audience on common ground.

30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them, 34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Resurrection? What a novel idea! Remember that the Greeks believed that once dead, always dead, and that they would all wind up in Hades unless they did something incredibly heroic. Most of the audience were realistic enough to know that they were simply ordinary people. Now Paul was offering those ordinary people the opportunity for something remarkable, eternal life with a loving Father God who had sent His own son to die for their sins. No more animal sacrifices. No more speculations about one’s eventual fate after death. Even though many in the audience clung to their ancient beliefs, some began glimpsing a new future full of hope.

Notice what Paul did not do during this meeting. Paul did not condemn the Greeks or criticize their traditional religion. Paul simply created an intellectual bond and then described a better way.

“Bob, if you don’t accept Jesus, you’re going to burn in hell!” It was 1979 at a factory in a small town in western New York. My husband found himself confronted by a coworker he later described as a “pushy Baptist.” Several times a day, this man would get in my husband’s face, confronting him with his need for Jesus. Somehow, it worked. Bob’s story is much longer than that, for he first heard the Gospel in a Sunday School at age five and later encountered Bible-believing Christians several times. But it was the “in your face” style of witness that helped turn Bob’s life around. One morning, he found himself turning back to that man and asking, “___, how do I get the Lord in my life?” That morning was the turning point. Bob received Jesus as Savior and Lord, began attending a church where he was mentored, and eventually embarked on a journey that wound up in a small village in northeastern Ghana.

Why tell this story? Believers are as individual as their DNA or their finger prints. God tailors each salvation story to the individual experiencing it. The believers in Athens required a totally different approach from the one that turned Bob around. But God knows people’s hearts and God knows what will work in each situation. May God help each of us so that when we are called upon to witness, we will do so, looking to Him for guidance.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that we are surrounded by spiritually hungry people and that You are the One who can best direct our testimonies. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

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MAY 29, 2026 REMAINING FAITHFUL AFTER A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE? #5 PRAISE AFTER PERSECUTION MUST COME FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT!

May 29, 2026

Acts 4:23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John found the other disciples and told them what the Council had said.

24 Then all the believers united in this prayer:

“O Lord, Creator of heaven and earth and of the sea and everything in them— 25-26 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor King David, your servant, saying, ‘Why do the heathen rage against the Lord, and the foolish nations plan their little plots against Almighty God? The kings of the earth unite to fight against him and against the anointed Son of God!’

27 “That is what is happening here in this city today! For Herod the king, and Pontius Pilate the governor, and all the Romans—as well as the people of Israel—are united against Jesus, your anointed Son, your holy servant. 28 They won’t stop at anything that you in your wise power will let them do. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and grant to your servants great boldness in their preaching, 30 and send your healing power, and may miracles and wonders be done by the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After this prayer, the building where they were meeting shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly preached God’s message.

The new believers might have been shaking in their sandals. Peter and John have just been released after having been interrogated by Jewish religious authorities. All attempts at intimidation have failed, and the two men have returned to report to their friends. But instead of responding with fear, the group immediately breaks into shouts of praise. And these people are even begging for more holy boldness. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and grant to your servants great boldness in their preaching, 30 and send your healing power, and may miracles and wonders be done by the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

While this reaction might seem weird, remember that Jesus has already warned the disciples that they will face persecution and that they will even be cast out of the synagogues. Once more, Jesus’ prophecies are being fulfilled. But there is more. As the believers are praising and glorifying God, the Holy Spirit shakes the building, filling all who are there, and empowering them to speak even more boldly.

There’s an interesting thing about courage-the more courageously you stand, generally, the more you are inspired to continue to act courageously. Consider the situation of these believers. Religious authorities have no shortage of informers willing to give lists of names for a small fee. Many of the believers are poor or middle class, lacking any political clout. All these people have families who might suffer as a consequence of their becoming targets.; they have every reason in the world to remain silent and even to hide. And yet, the Holy Spirit emboldens these people so that they are all willing to go out to spread the Gospel, rendering themselves even more visible and more vulnerable.

In 2011 we took part in a Community Health Evangelism training program in Kansas City. Three of the other participants were Korean Christians who were seeking training in preparation for moving across the border into North Korea to witness. These men knew the risks were horrific, for only a few months previously, one North Korean believer had been run over by a bull dozer in the town square while his family was forced to watch. His crime? He showed a Christian video in the privacy of his own home.

There’s a song by Ray Bolz, “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb,” that testifies of the sacrifices made by Christians through the centuries. We live and work in West Africa, where parts of Burkina Faso and Northern Nigeria have been decimated by Islamic terrorists attacking Christians. Innocent church goers have been slaughtered as they have gathered for worship. Now we are hearing of increased persecution of Chinese and Russian Christians. Ukraine, which is largely Christian, remains under vicious attack by the Russians. For many people gathering to worship might cost them everything, but they still come to worship and go out to tell others about Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit can give this kind of boldness. May God anoint us with His Holy Spirit so that we too will be bold to tell others about him.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please anoint us with Your Holy Spirit and give us holy boldness to tell others about You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

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TRIBUTE TO RUSSELL DENNIS YOUNG, MAY 14, 2026

May 14, 2026

He was a small man with a quick wit and a word of encouragement for everyone he met. He was a retired factory worker, a skilled craftsman, and a dedicated hunter and fisherman. He often wished that he had lived 150 years earlier so that he could have been a mountain man, and being outdoors was one of his passions. Cooking was another passion, and he always insisted on feeding guests, no matter when they appeared. He was a devoted father and grandfather and great-grandfather. Russ Dennis was a U.S. Navy veteran and remained proud of his service for his entire life. But above all else, Russell Dennis Young loved Jesus Christ and wanted everyone around him to learn about Jesus.

Although Russ Dennis was raised in the Catholic Church, he committed his life to Christ and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit sometime in the 1970’s. By the time I entered the Young family in 1982, Russ was a fervent Jesus believer who would witness to anyone, anytime, anywhere. One of his favorite means of witnessing was to take friends fishing in Lake Ontario. After all, as Russ once said, if his fishing companion didn’t want to hear about Jesus, what was he going to do? Swim two miles back to shore? (In addition to his commitment to Jesus, Russ also had a wicked sense of humor.)

Coming from a family with abundant musical talent, Russ played drums. He also learned to play the trumpet so that he could blow “Taps” at funerals for veterans. One of my husband’s and my fond memories is of Russ Dennis playing “Taps” for my husband’s brother Tink’s funeral in 2021. We can only hope and pray that someone will honor Russ in the same manner.

The last few years, Russ faced all kinds of health challenges, including multiple hospital admissions and kidney failure requiring dialysis. But whenever we would call Russ, he remained upbeat and enthusiastic, praying for us each time we called. We last spoke to Russ a few days before he died, learning that he had entered hospice care.

When we tried calling Russ’s family on May 13th and got no answer, we guessed that Russ might be in his final hours on earth. This morning we learned of Russ’s death through a Facebook post from his son Scotty.

When thinking about Russell Dennis Young and his life, the passage that most comes to mind is one from John Bunyan’s seminal work Pilgrim’s Progress. Bunyan is describing the death of Mr. Valiant-for-Truth. The Scottish author John Buchan quoted it in his book Mr. Standfast:

Then said he, “I am going to my Father’s; and though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles who now will be my rewarder.“

So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.

On May 13, 2026, the trumpets sounded for Russell Dennis Young. For now, those of us left behind must remember, grieve, and treasure our memories as we are grieving. But we know that Jesus has told us that He is the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Now Russell Dennis Young is forever with the Lord. And one day, we too will join him.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we praise You for the life of Russell Dennis Young, who has joined You at the Throne. Help us to be as passionate for You and to demonstrate Your love and compassion as he has. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound,
and time shall be no more,
and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather
over on the other shore,
and the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there.

Refrain:
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

2 On that bright and cloudless morning
when the dead in Christ shall rise,
and the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather
to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there. [Refrain]

3 Let us labor for the Master
from the dawn till setting sun;
let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over,
and our work on earth is done,
and the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there. [Refrain]

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IN HONOR OF AMOS BIYIMBA APRIL 19, 2026

April 20, 2026

He first came to the attention of the missionaries when he rode in on a cow being led by his brother, Bilitiib, one of the early Konkomba Christians. His legs were so riddled with yaws that he couldn’t walk well. The missionaries gave him penicillin, healing the yaws, and then trained him as a cook using their wood stove. From that point onward, he became a member of the AG Clinic staff, eventually completing his career by working as a watchman at the mission bungalow where he had once cooked.

By the time we met Amos Biyimba, 33 years ago, he had become the watchman at the mission bungalow in Saboba where we were living. Amos was a highly intelligent man with a sharp sense of humor. Years earlier, when one overweight missionary nurse was working at the clinic, Amos’ nickname for her was “Usakpen,” which means “she is large.” With no electricity, we spent many evenings sitting with Amos, chatting,

Amos taught his wife to bake bread, and she did so for many years. During the Northern Ethnic Conflict of 1994 when flour was scarce in Saboba, we once brought a large bag of flour to Amos’ place. With our help, Amos’ wife put the bag of flour on her head and carried it into the compound.

Once Amos was physically able, he began farming in addition to his work at the clinic. Even when Amos was elderly, he would tie a cutlass to the back of his bicycle and slowly ride out to work the land. After Amos retired from farming, he still rode his bicycle around Saboba until the last year or so.

When did Amos become a Christian? We never asked and now it’s too late to ask. But by the time we knew Amos, he was a vibrant Christian. If Amos wasn’t in church, it was because he was sick; otherwise, he would always be there. Amos and his wife had several children as well as extended family who were treated like biological children. Nobody was ever turned away from that household. Eventually, Amos lost two of his sons at different times, and his response echoed that of Job, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Although Amos and his wife had a fairly nice traditional compound by local standards, in the last few years, his children built him a lovely house where his older brother’s compound had once stood. We visited Amos regularly, bringing him Lipton tea bags and other small treats. We last visited Amos about a week ago, and it was obvious that our friend was turning his face away from earth and looking toward heaven.

Yesterday morning, Jesus decided that it was time for Amos to join him. We don’t know details, but we are sure that Jesus reached out his hand and that Amos took Jesus’ hand. We like to think that Jesus and Amos danced kinachung all the way into heaven. Now Amos has been reunited with friends and loved ones, with the missionaries who were his friends, and with all the company of heaven.

We cannot grieve, for our friend has been released from a failing body into a glorious new one. 1 Corinthains 15:51-58 tells us: 51 But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! 52 It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky, and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die; and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies too. 53 For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever.

54 When this happens, then at last this Scripture will come true—“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55-56 O death, where then your victory? Where then your sting? For sin—the sting that causes death—will all be gone; and the law, which reveals our sins, will no longer be our judge. 57 How we thank God for all of this! It is he who makes us victorious through Jesus Christ our Lord!

58 So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection.

1 When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound,
and time shall be no more,
and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather
over on the other shore,
and the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there.

Refrain:
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

2 On that bright and cloudless morning
when the dead in Christ shall rise,
and the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather
to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there. [Refrain]

3 Let us labor for the Master
from the dawn till setting sun;
let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over,
and our work on earth is done,
and the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there. [Refrain]

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we thank You and praise You for the life of our brother Amos Biyimba, for his bright and consistent witness, and for his homecoming. Lord, help us to follow his example of steadfast faith, even in the face of adversity. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

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MARCH 27, 2026-GOD CARES FOR ISRAEL #8 HOW DID THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL FALL APART?

March 27, 2026

Deuteronomy 29:9-29 “Therefore, obey the terms of this covenant so that you will prosper in everything you do. All of you—tribal leaders, elders, officers, all the men of Israel—are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God. Your little ones and your wives are with you, as well as the foreigners living among you who chop your wood and carry your water. You are standing here today to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God. The Lord is making this covenant, including the curses. By entering into the covenant today, he will establish you as his people and confirm that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“But you are not the only ones with whom I am making this covenant with its curses. I am making this covenant both with you who stand here today in the presence of the Lord our God, and also with the future generations who are not standing here today.

“You remember how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the lands of enemy nations as we left. You have seen their detestable practices and their idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold. I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you—no man, woman, clan, or tribe—will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit.

“Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin! The Lord will never pardon such people. Instead his anger and jealousy will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will come down on them, and the Lord will erase their names from under heaven. The Lord will separate them from all the tribes of Israel, to pour out on them all the curses of the covenant recorded in this Book of Instruction.”

“Then the generations to come, both your own descendants and the foreigners who come from distant lands, will see the devastation of the land and the diseases the Lord inflicts on it. They will exclaim, ‘The whole land is devastated by sulfur and salt. It is a wasteland with nothing planted and nothing growing, not even a blade of grass. It is like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord destroyed in his intense anger.’

“And all the surrounding nations will ask, ‘Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why was he so angry?’

“And the answer will be, ‘This happened because the people of the land abandoned the covenant that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. Instead, they turned away to serve and worship gods they had not known before, gods that were not from the Lord. That is why the Lord’s anger has burned against this land, bringing down on it every curse recorded in this book. In great anger and fury the Lord uprooted his people from their land and banished them to another land, where they still live today!’

“The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.”

The Israelites are camped on the east side of the Jordan River. Moses knows that God will not allow him to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. When you read the Book of Deuteronomy, you realize that God uses Moses to repeatedly issue stern warnings in hopes that the Israelites will actually listen this time, although even as Moses is speaking, he doubts that his words will accomplish anything. Moses has been leading these people for forty years and he has no illusions about them.

Much of the Old Testament documents the disastrous moral and spiritual slide of the Israelites into oblivion. After repeated revivals under several judges and under King David, King Solomon promotes whole-scale idolatry even as he is erecting the most magnificent temple ever built. When King Solomon’s hapless son Rehoboam tries to bully the Israelites, ten tribes leave forever, leaving only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to form the Southern Kingdom. Jeroboam, the leader of the Northern Kingdom, forms his own idolatrous religion and allows gross paganism. Despite the best efforts of prophets to warn members of both kingdoms, eventually, God brings the punishment that He has already promised. The Assyrians conquer the Northern Kingdom in 722 BCE, slaughtering or carrying off most of the population of the Northern Kingdom and importing people from other areas to settle Samaria. Then in 597 BCE and 586 BCE, the Babylonians carry off citizens of Judah, destroying Jerusalem in the process. At that point, the nation of Israel appears to be completely dead; however, God is not through with Israel, not at all.

Isaiah 44:26-28 But I carry out the predictions of my prophets! By them I say to Jerusalem, people will live here again,’ and to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be rebuilt; I will restore all your ruins!’
When I speak to the rivers and say, ‘Dry up!’ they will be dry. When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’ he will certainly do as I say. He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’; he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’”

Isaiah 45:1-4 This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never to shut again. This is what the Lord says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. “And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.

Even as things are falling apart in both Israel and Judah, God is already beginning to speak about a Persian king named Cyrus who will spearhead the rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem. Is Cyrus a secret believer? Only in heaven will we know the answer to that question; however, Cyrus evidently knows the Voice of God when he hears it.

2 Chronicles 36:21-23 So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said. In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!”

Cyrus is also quoted in Ezra 1, and there’s an itemized list of the items from Solomon’s temple that Cyrus is returning to grace the new temple in Jerusalem. Why must citizens of Judah live in Babylon 70 years before returning to Jerusalem? God wants them to experience what it’s like to live in a fully pagan society so that they will appreciate a society built on the worship of the One True Living God. Groups of Jews do return from Babylon under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, and the temple and the walls and gates of Jerusalem are rebuilt.

No matter what people do, God remains faithful and true, just in all His ways. God fulfills His promises, even when people disappoint Him. But God has no patience with a sense of entitlement. The people of both kingdoms wound up in exile because they were sure God would give them a free pass because they were His people. But when people fail to behave as God’s people, God allows them to suffer the consequences of their own actions so that they will repent.

Today, God is calling each one of us to come to Him so that He can transform our lives and our hearts. We are free to choose; however, we are not free from the consequences. When we delay or postpone following God, we are playing with fire, for who knows how long we will live? Today, let us run to God, confess our sins, and accept God’s Son Jesus as Savior and Lord.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, let all who read these words turn to You completely. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

c

Deuteronomy 29:9-29 “Therefore, obey the terms of this covenant so that you will prosper in everything you do. All of you—tribal leaders, elders, officers, all the men of Israel—are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God. Your little ones and your wives are with you, as well as the foreigners living among you who chop your wood and carry your water. You are standing here today to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God. The Lord is making this covenant, including the curses. By entering into the covenant today, he will establish you as his people and confirm that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“But you are not the only ones with whom I am making this covenant with its curses. I am making this covenant both with you who stand here today in the presence of the Lord our God, and also with the future generations who are not standing here today.

“You remember how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the lands of enemy nations as we left. You have seen their detestable practices and their idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold. I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you—no man, woman, clan, or tribe—will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit.

“Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin! The Lord will never pardon such people. Instead his anger and jealousy will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will come down on them, and the Lord will erase their names from under heaven. The Lord will separate them from all the tribes of Israel, to pour out on them all the curses of the covenant recorded in this Book of Instruction.”

“Then the generations to come, both your own descendants and the foreigners who come from distant lands, will see the devastation of the land and the diseases the Lord inflicts on it. They will exclaim, ‘The whole land is devastated by sulfur and salt. It is a wasteland with nothing planted and nothing growing, not even a blade of grass. It is like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord destroyed in his intense anger.’

“And all the surrounding nations will ask, ‘Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why was he so angry?’

“And the answer will be, ‘This happened because the people of the land abandoned the covenant that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. Instead, they turned away to serve and worship gods they had not known before, gods that were not from the Lord. That is why the Lord’s anger has burned against this land, bringing down on it every curse recorded in this book. In great anger and fury the Lord uprooted his people from their land and banished them to another land, where they still live today!’

“The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.”

The Israelites are camped on the east side of the Jordan River. Moses knows that God will not allow him to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. When you read the Book of Deuteronomy, you realize that God uses Moses to repeatedly issue stern warnings in hopes that the Israelites will actually listen this time, although even as Moses is speaking, he doubts that his words will accomplish anything. Moses has been leading these people for forty years and he has no illusions about them.

Much of the Old Testament documents the disastrous moral and spiritual slide of the Israelites into oblivion. After repeated revivals under several judges and under King David, King Solomon promotes whole-scale idolatry even as he is erecting the most magnificent temple ever built. When King Solomon’s hapless son Rehoboam tries to bully the Israelites, ten tribes leave forever, leaving only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to form the Southern Kingdom. Jeroboam, the leader of the Northern Kingdom, forms his own idolatrous religion and allows gross paganism. Despite the best efforts of prophets to warn members of both kingdoms, eventually, God brings the punishment that He has already promised. The Assyrians conquer the Northern Kingdom in 722 BCE, slaughtering or carrying off most of the population of the Northern Kingdom and importing people from other areas to settle Samaria. Then in 597 BCE and 586 BCE, the Babylonians carry off citizens of Judah, destroying Jerusalem in the process. At that point, the nation of Israel appears to be completely dead; however, God is not through with Israel, not at all.

Isaiah 44:26-28 But I carry out the predictions of my prophets! By them I say to Jerusalem, people will live here again,’ and to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be rebuilt; I will restore all your ruins!’
When I speak to the rivers and say, ‘Dry up!’ they will be dry. When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’ he will certainly do as I say. He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’; he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’”

Isaiah 45:1-4 This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never to shut again. This is what the Lord says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. “And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.

Even as things are falling apart in both Israel and Judah, God is already beginning to speak about a Persian king named Cyrus who will spearhead the rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem. Is Cyrus a secret believer? Only in heaven will we know the answer to that question; however, Cyrus evidently knows the Voice of God when he hears it.

2 Chronicles 36:21-23 So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said. In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!”

Cyrus is also quoted in Ezra 1, and there’s an itemized list of the items from Solomon’s temple that Cyrus is returning to grace the new temple in Jerusalem. Why must citizens of Judah live in Babylon 70 years before returning to Jerusalem? God wants them to experience what it’s like to live in a fully pagan society so that they will appreciate a society built on the worship of the One True Living God. Groups of Jews do return from Babylon under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, and the temple and the walls and gates of Jerusalem are rebuilt.

No matter what people do, God remains faithful and true, just in all His ways. God fulfills His promises, even when people disappoint Him. But God has no patience with a sense of entitlement. The people of both kingdoms wound up in exile because they were sure God would give them a free pass because they were His people. But when people fail to behave as God’s people, God allows them to suffer the consequences of their own actions so that they will repent.

Today, God is calling each one of us to come to Him so that He can transform our lives and our hearts. We are free to choose; however, we are not free from the consequences. When we delay or postpone following God, we are playing with fire, for who knows how long we will live? Today, let us run to God, confess our sins, and accept God’s Son Jesus as Savior and Lord.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, let all who read these words turn to You completely. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

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IN MEMORIAM: BOBBY WALTERS

March 12, 2026

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Sometimes, the men who are the most effective are also the quietest ones in the room. Our friend Bobby was one of the quiet ones, not because he had nothing to say but because he was thoughtful, considering every word before opening his mouth.

Bobby was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Highly intelligent with a sharp sense of humor, Bobby was one of those men who wait until everyone else had said everything they were going to say and would then make a short telling comment that would be far more effective than all the verbiage that others had already produced.

Bobby was a man of great faith, and he needed that faith. During the more than forty years we have been friends, we have seen Bobby and his wife Cindy face all kinds of challenges, including health problems and family problems of various kinds. When Bobby’s grandson Christopher died tragically in a car accident, Bobby and Cindy found themselves struggling with their own grief as they comforted others. Wherever Bobby and Cindy attended church, Bobby could always be found helping, quietly serving.

Bobby was a fond grandfather whose grandchildren are now posting tributes indicating their love for him. Never underestimate the influence of godly, loving grandparents, for they can be mighty healers when life wounds.

Live long enough and your friends and loved ones begin leaving you to take their places in heaven. While it is true that Christians do not grieve as those who have no hope, it is equally true that we fear the pain of separation and the loneliness when a life partner is no longer there. As we remember Bobby, we also pray for his family and especially for Cindy, his wife. And we beg God to fill family homes with His Holy Spirit and send angels to watch over family members.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we praise You for the life of Bobby Walters even as we mourn his passing. You are infinitely kind and infinitely wise, and You have all our lives in Your hands. Lord, help us to continue to trust You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

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MARCH 10, 2026 ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2023 “WHO KNOWS BUT WHAT YOU HAVE COME TO THE KINGDOM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?#3 ESTHER 2:12-18 ESTHER WINS THE BEAUTY CONTEST BECAUSE OF HER MODESTY, NOT IN SPITE OF IT

March 10, 2026

Esther 2:12-18 “Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.

When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.”

Twelve months! Twelve anxious months passed while Esther underwent the finest beauty treatments. Daily, Esther watched young women leave the harem to visit the king for one night, and daily she learned that yet another young woman had been sent to stay in the section of the harem reserved for the concubines. Daily, Mordecai continued casually walking past the courtyard of the harem in hopes of getting some word about Esther. The strain for both Mordecai and Esther must have been unthinkable. Daily, the two of them prayed for each other, begging God to bless and keep them and to one day unite them.

Esther watched as other young women carried all kinds of things with them from the harem to impress the king – jewelry, seductive clothing, special perfumes, musical instruments, and anything else the lady thought might make her stand out. Finally, Hegei informed Esther that it would be her turn tomorrow. “What should I take with me?” Esther asked Hegei. Hegei advised Esther, “Don’t worry about playing instruments or dancing, or making a big show. The king is really looking for someone loving, kind and virtuous, someone who will care about him and who can be counted on to be discrete. Your character, your grace, and your virtue shine from you, and those are the best things you can carry with you. For the rest of it, allow me to suggest the garments you should wear, for the king is searching for a queen, not for a prostitute. Rest assured, you have endeared yourself to all of us, and you will also endear yourself to the king.”

Esther listened and followed Hegei’s advice. Wearing a simple but striking gown, Esther came to the king without any gimmicks or strategies. Before entering the king’s presence, Esther prayed, “Lord God of Israel, help me!” And God did. Xerxes was enchanted by this lovely young woman who was well – spoken, kind, modest, and intelligent. The longer Xerxes spent in Esther’s presence, the more appealing he found her. “Finally,” thought Xerxes, “I have found my true queen!” Xerxes was so thrilled that he immediately crowned Esther and held a royal banquet in her honor. To celebrate the new queen, Xerxes distributed lavish gifts throughout all the provinces, celebrating Esther in a magnificent way.

APPLICATION: Esther won the heart of the most powerful king in her world, not through stratagems or tricks but by the obvious goodness of her heart and her character. Sadly, these days many young women are failing to follow her example.

In 1 Timothy 2:9 Paul advises Timothy to caution the women who are believers to “adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing.” Evidently, there were controversies about dress 2000 years ago just as there are today. And some of the ladies of the early church had evidently adopted the “if you’ve got it, flaunt it!” philosophy. But showing off one’s wealth or one’s physical assets scarcely promotes worship. Recently, one famous Gospel musician here in Ghana stated that he would no longer sing special numbers during church offerings because some of the ladies of the church were dressing in such a provocative fashion that it distracted him from worshiping the Lord. Years ago, we lived in mid-town Memphis in a tough area where prostitutes were flagging down cars less than a block from our house. These days, some of the dresses young women are wearing to church remind us a great deal of the outfits worn by those prostitutes.

Does this mean that we are horrible old fuddy-duddies who are opposed to young people dressing nicely? Far from it! But when young women appear in church with dresses so tight that they can scarcely breathe and with extremely short skirts and extremely low-cut tops, such dress does not glorify God, nor will it attract young men of good character. Young men will definitely look; however, the question remains that if the young woman is willing to dress like this before marriage, will she change or will she continue to dress like that after marriage? And if she dresses like that after marriage, why should she dress in such a fashion? Will she remain faithful? Such dress is more likely to attract rapists rather than husbands!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” If we claim to follow God, we must reflect His character, His holiness, His righteousness, His goodness, His purity. Esther won a crown and ultimately saved her people from annihilation by her character. Who knows what we might accomplish?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please help us to please You in our mode of dress and not merely to dress to attract attention. Help us to remember that others are watching us and judging us on the basis of our behavior, just as all in that harem watched Esther for those twelve months. Let these scriptures speak to the hearts of all who read them! In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

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MARCH 8, 2026 ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 24, 2023 WHO KNOWS BUT WHAT YOU HAVE COME TO THE KINGDOM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS? ESTHER 1:1-22 GOD CAN EVEN USE A DRUNKEN DESPOT TO WORK OUT HIS WILL

March 8, 2026

In view of the Iranian conflict, I feel God wants me to re-post the series I originally wrote on the Book of Esther in 2023.

The Empire Has No Clothes (Esther 1:1–22) — Refuge ChurchQueen Vashti Deposed

“This is what happened during the time of Xerxes,(Ahasuerus in Hebrew) the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush(the Upper Nile Region):  At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.

For a full 180 days (6 months) he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished. (Some versions say “the drinking was not compulsory,” indicating that some rulers would force their guests to get drunk.) Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas—to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. (It’s possible that Xerxes wanted Vashti to be naked apart from her crown; he was drunk enough to do that!) Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom. “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”

Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.

“Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.”

Talk about celebrating your achievements! King Xerxes has been celebrating himself and his empire for the last six months. There have been parades, military demonstrations, athletic games, horse races, and every other entertainment an immensely powerful ruler can imagine. Now Xerxes has given a final banquet lasting seven days for all the men in the kingdom. (What? You thought “people” referred to women? No way!) Xerxes himself has probably stayed drunk for much of that time, although he has allowed his guests to drink as much or as little as they wish. This fact is noted because in those days, some rulers would have forced their guests to become completely wasted. Gee, what a great guy! After drinking and feasting for seven days straight, Xerxes suddenly decides that Q               ueen Vashti should appear in her royal crown – likely in her crown and nothing else – so that he can flaunt the fact that his queen is the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. Being sober and in her right mind, Vashti refuses. But this refusal infuriates Xerxes. Having spent the last six months celebrating himself and being thoroughly drunk, Xerxes is in no mood for refusals by anybody, especially a woman, no matter how beautiful she is.

Xerxes consults his seven advisers, who are probably just as drunk as he is. Thanks to some anonymous scribe, we even know the names of these men: “Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.” These guys might be drunk, but they aren’t stupid, and they realize that their own positions depend on whether or not Xerxes accepts their advice. There are probably lots of other sages in the kingdom who would be more than happy to replace them. Given the reality of the situation and the unspoken threats from King Xerxes, the advisers have little choice but to suggest that Queen Vashti be retired to the royal harem, where she will spend the rest of her life in seclusion. Then Xerxes can find some new and even more gorgeous queen and women throughout the empire will be afraid to say anything against their husbands for fear of similar banishment. And to hide Xerxes’ embarrassment, the advisers send out a royal edict stating that “every man should be ruler over his own household” in all the various languages used throughout the various parts of the empire.   

APPLICATION: The Book of Esther is quirky. Why preserve the account of a six-month long royal indulgence capped off by a seven-day long drunk and followed by a capricious royal edict? And yet….and yet God has allowed this small Book to be included for lots of reasons. Most of us have relatively little control over many of the circumstances of our lives. As the line from the song from Fiddler on the Roof says, “Life has a way of abusing us, blessing and bruising us!”

Through the years, God has used this small Book to encourage believers in all kinds of circumstances, including concentration camps, prisons, poverty, joblessness, etc. TODAY GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT HE IS ENGINEERING YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, WEIRD AS THEY MIGHT SEEM! GOD WANTS YOU TO WATCH, BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO USE THE VERY THINGS THAT HURT AND CONFUSE YOU TO WORK OUT SOMETHING WONDERFUL!

Let’s pray.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are bewildered by the chaos around us. Help us to realize that Your hand is never shortened and that You are never confused or bewildered and that You are a God of peace. Please send Your peace into the hearts of all who read these words. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

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WE ARE ALL FERAL CATS! DECEMBER 26, 2025

December 26, 2025

We have mourned for two months, ever since losing our beloved kitty Mr. Cat. As conscientious and loving cat owners, we have mercilessly beat ourselves up-should we have gotten medical attention earlier? Did he die because we somehow neglected him, even though we thought we were doing everything correctly? It’s no exaggeration to say that the two of us have been reduced to tears on a daily basis.

Christmas morning, one of our friends came holding a small sack. When we asked him what was in the sack, he said, “A cat.” And there was a two-month-old male kitten, grey with dark stripes. We immediately named the cat Gabriel because he came bringing good news at Christmas.

Poor little Gabriel is still in shock. Just a day ago, he was running freely around our friend’s compound. Now we have confined him to a large cage, albeit with food, water, a litter box, and a box he can use as a den to hide in. For now, we are using the cage while we try for him to get used to us. Eventually, we hope he will have the run of the house, as well as the outdoors. We are offering him our fingers and hands to sniff, but we are not forcing ourselves on him.

Will we be able to tame Gabriel so that he will become a purring cuddly kitty? Who knows? Cats are always individuals, and you must respect their personalities. Forcing a cat only injures everyone. But when we picked Gabriel out of the sack, I picked him by the scruff of his neck and set him on my chest, where he promptly curled up without biting or scratching. I am hoping for good things in the future.

When it comes to loving God, we are all like feral cats. We want our freedom, and we aren’t interested in being tamed. We have no idea that God’s nature is love and that He only wants good things for us. Even when God provides everything for us, we are still like poor little Gabriel; we fear that this Great Being may harm us. But there is good news for all of us.

Romans 8:18-23 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body.”

There is one difference between Gabriel the kitty and us: As humans we have a sin problem. When sin entered the world, God was forced to subject the entire creation to futility because of the sins of mankind. Gabriel is part of the creation that waits for redemption. Gabriel does not need a Savior, but we humans do.

Jesus has promised that one day, he will return, not as a baby but as a conquering king. On that great day, all creation will be released from the consequences of human sin.

Isaiah 11:6-9 tells us, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze;
Their young ones shall lie down together;
And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,
And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
As the waters cover the sea.”

In that day, none of us will act out of fear, for in that day, there will be no more feral cats. God’s love will unite us all in His Creation as He intended it from the beginning of time, for the knowledge of God and the peace of God will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.

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