Steve’s Books
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Cities of Israel — Capernaum
I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next … Continue reading
Cities of Israel — Nazareth
I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next … Continue reading
Cities of Israel — Magdala
I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next … Continue reading
Cities of Israel — Mount Carmel
I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next … Continue reading
Cities of Israel — Caesarea
I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next … Continue reading
Cities of Israel — Joppa
I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next … Continue reading
Understanding our Ways
A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord. How then can man understand his way? (Proverbs 20:24) Joseph in the Old Testament had no idea that his imprisonment was ordained by God to keep him in place against the day he … Continue reading
Christ in the Proverbs
How do we find Jesus in the book of Proverbs? The proverbs regarding the good and wise represent the very values of Jesus. They give us clarity regarding the good and evil persons, and the wise and foolish. They are … Continue reading
Sharing in His Divine Nature, part 2 of 2
A study in 2 Peter 1:5-11. 1:5-7 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”Why should … Continue reading
Sharing In His Divine Nature, part 1 of 2
A study in 2 Peter 1:1-4. 1:1 “Simon Peter,” This writer’s name is Simon. After he glimpsed the truth of the glory of Christ, our Lord gave him a new name, Peter, a rock. He now wears that name to remind him … Continue reading
Doing the Will of God
Jesus took a moment to make a correction we church-goers need at times. We may get so carried away with doing good things that we end up following our wills more than the will of God. Jesus corrects our notion … Continue reading
Easter’s Over—Now What?
For many of us, when we think about what it means that Jesus rose from the dead (the Easter story), we usually conclude that we’ll rise from the dead too. We will live forever because Jesus beat death. He will … Continue reading
No Other Way to the Father
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV). How do these two halves of the verse work together? What do the three attributes of the Son … Continue reading
Strengthening Ourselves in Christ
David was a master war strategist before and after he became king. In 1 Samuel 30 we see one of the reasons why. In this incident, we also learn how to discover and boost the God-given talent, ministry, or gift … Continue reading
Isaiah 9 Meditation: A Son is Given
Here is my chapter breakdown for Isaiah 9: 1-3 From gloom to gladness 4-5 Breaking the yoke, the rod of their oppressor 6-7 A divine son is given, and his government of peace will increase 8-21 God is angry with proud Israel The end … Continue reading
Suffering: the training ground for spiritual maturity
How does the Spirit get mature, spiritual fruit in us? He doesn’t wave his hands over us or sprinkle pixie dust. No; he does it through suffering. That seems like a negative way of looking at the process, doesn’t it? … Continue reading
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To learn, unlearn; to believe, disbelieve
In Philippians 3:4-6, we have a list of beliefs Paul had to disbelieve in order to believe, to unlearn that he may learn. For instance, according to this list, he believed in God and country until God corrected it to … Continue reading
Modern Family: Talking to the Camera
The TV sit-com Modern Family integrates a technique used in reality shows such as Survivor and Master Chef in which the contestants talk candidly about themselves on camera away from the others. The Office also used this means to comedic … Continue reading
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Tagged Master Chef, MasterChef, Modern Family, prayer, Survivor reality show, The Office
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Dying With Honor
The Bible is hard to understand in places. It’s also a thick book – who can remember it all? Therefore, many of us have ultra-simplified our theology, condensing it down to, “When I die, I go to heaven.” That’s simple … Continue reading
“Once upon a time there was an Atheist”
Some atheists claim that the Bible is full of fairy tales that Christians have contrived in order to find order, purpose, and comfort in this life. But what about the fairy tales the atheists believe? And why do they think … Continue reading
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Tagged atheists, church, creation, fairy tales, hypocrites, judgment, reward, secularism
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“When I Die, I’ll Go to Heaven”
A lot of assumptions are found in this statement: “When I die, I’ll go to Heaven.” What’s missing? No mention is made of how you live from now until death, and no mention is made of the eternity-defining event between … Continue reading
