All was dark. For those first disciples of Jesus, the story ended tragically and unjustly. Dreams of justice were crushed under the boot of oppression.  Lies and manipulation triumphed where truth and love had been offered. The end had come with the clang of the hammer pounding nails into raw flesh. The end had come, […]

A Roman crucifixion began by flogging.[1]   GOD ALMIGHTY was tied face first to a large post, with his hands stretched upward. He was naked, so his whole body, back, buttocks, and legs were exposed. He had already been beaten by the Jewish authorities, so his face was swollen, black and blue. The usual flogging instrument

We live in scary times. We have plenty of things to be troubled about in our world: inflation and economic uncertainties; dictators in China, Russia, and other places, with intents on world domination; political polarization at home and a divided government; and a constant barrage of information and social media that results in a 24-7

This is the second of a three-part blog addressing the question of how Christians should respond to a very secularized culture that, in places, is hostile to Christianity. One response is what has come to be known as “Christian nationalism,” and the first blog offered a critique of that viewpoint. This second blog will contrast

Our culture is becoming more hostile to Christianity. We are living in what is very much a “post-Christian” world. In times past, Christianity was seen as either a social good or at least tolerated; today, traditional Christian beliefs about sexuality and gender (which have been held for 2,000 years) are now viewed as dangerous.  Progressive

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? I like making New Year’s resolutions because they provide a reset, and that’s a good thing. This year my New Year’s resolution is a simple one, but one that I am going to try to remind myself of every day. This resolution came to me partly because of

Do you have a favorite Christmas movie? What about a favorite Christmas movie scene? Here are a few of my favorites: When Will Farrell, the Elf, is in the department store in New York, and he hears on the loudspeaker, “Santa is coming soon!” and he goes crazy: “SANTA!!” When Ralphie and the family have

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. One of the reasons for this is because it reminds me to be thankful, and giving thanks makes me realize how very blessed I am. Giving thanks can also open our eyes to what God might be doing in our lives, even in the middle of difficult times.

On July 12, we received the first images of the James Webb telescope, and they are incredible! The telescope is providing images from billions of light years away, allowing us to peer into what the universe looked like when it was just forming after the Big Bang.  The reaction from the public has been overwhelming and,

      I am blessed to have had, you might say, four fathers in my life. I cherish each one in different ways. I am thankful for my “real” earthly father, Tom Beasley. He was born in 1920 and raised in a small town in North Texas called Eliasville, which is now a ghost town. He