3.31.2020 I was reading this morning about how, like in 2 Chronicles 20, our worship is warfare. In this passage, King Jehoshaphat learned that a vast army was coming against Judah from Edom, on the East side of the Dead Sea. When Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one…Read more …
2 Kings 6:8 – 7:20. The context: In the time of Jehoram King of Israel, the Arameans have besieged Samaria, the capital of Israel. The famine has become so severe that the price of a donkey’s head—completely undesirable food—is 80 shekels. Contrasted to this, during Israel’s golden age under King Solomon, an entire live horse…Read more …
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts He found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money…Read more …
Scientists used to think that the observable universe had about 200 billion galaxies. Now they believe that estimate is quite low. It’s also estimated that there are between 100-200 billion stars within our galaxy alone. Our sun is a modest star and travels in an orbit at 500,000 miles per hour, taking 250 million years to orbit…Read more …
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of leading my first HSI team to Eastern Europe! We gave two songwriting workshops, one in each country. Some very beautiful songs emerged in Albanian from these two workshops. The depth of lyrics and quality of the songs are obvious, even to a non-native, non-Albanian speaker. One of…Read more …
Heart Sounds International’s mission statement includes helping ignite worship in places where Christ-followers are “restricted, persecuted or unknown.” Because of our focus in these places, many stories are hard to share online. But I’d like to share what I can from this past year over a series of blog posts. Here’s a story from Southeast…Read more …
Each year for Lent, I am always thankful for my pastor, Mike Castelli, who comes up with a new way to think about the season. This year, we have just begun a study of Revelation, and are in the midst of the Seven Churches. With six and a half weeks until Easter, he suggested that…Read more …
I’ve been encouraged during this season of waiting by a short Advent devotional called Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, by Asheritah Ciuciu. (It’s available on Amazon.) One name that has been meaningful to me is “The Vine.” In John 15, Jesus likens Himself to a vine and His followers to branches. Without Him, we can do nothing, but if we…Read more …
For the past few months at church, we’ve been studying my favorite Old Testament book (and perhaps my favorite in the whole Bible), Isaiah. It’s my favorite for countless reasons, but these are my top: The passage the Lord used to give me assurance, comfort and strengthen my faith during the years which I was…Read more …
