PAX ET SECURITAS, ‘Peace and security.’ PAX ROMANA, ‘Roman Peace.’ These were Rome’s promises. But the road between Capua and Rome seemed anything but peaceful that day in 71 B.C. as 6,000 dead and dying men lined the 120-mile span, the last prisoners of Spartacus’ slave revolt.[1] About every hundred feet, one would have seen a rebel grotesquely c
CAESAR AUGUSTUS DIVI PATER PATRIAE, “Caesar Augustus the divine, father of the country.”[1] Thus read the denarius that Jesus had asked for and examined in His hand. He knew that Caesar was not the first earthly ruler to claim divinity. One recalls the haughty decrees of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius during the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires, resp
“I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.” “I will instruc
“Meaningless! Meaningless! ... Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” — The Preacher, Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV Through the years, I have developed a passion and desire to reach those whom the church fails to reach most often—the secular, western individual. I have read and written blogs and books on the topic, listened to and preached
The sixth installment of our Proof-texts in Context series will focus on SDA Fundamental #11—Growing in Christ. This is the most recent addendum to our corporate codification of biblical understanding. For those who would like a more detailed synopsis of why we are publishing this series, please refer to the introduction to the first installment. W
Growing up, churches always intimidated me. Not the Church, as in the worldwide body of believers or the doctrines we all attest. I’m talking about the building. As a kid, going there was always such a chore: we often had to dress up, we couldn’t run and play in the building (the parking lot was fine, though), and in the sanctuary, we were supposed
The gathering in Atlanta was the second “One project” gathering I attended, the first being in Seattle a few years back, which left me with an overall good impression. I like the idea (and practice) of being seated around the table and having time to process the information received during presentations. Hearing the Voice of the Attendees This is s
Our origin as a Christian denomination, our current mission and message, our upcoming dangers and temptations, and our subsequent central role in the closing scenes of earth’s history—all of this is rooted in Biblical prophecy. The ramifications of prophecy are therefore very extensive—so extensive that a correct understanding of prophecy is not on
It is a Friday morning; I am kneeling by my bed. My Bible is to my right and my to do list is on my left. I really feel the need to have a long season of prayer, heart-to-heart talk with Jesus about my troubles, my family, my life and probably ten other important matters. Instead, I am asking Him if I can have a raincheck till later (whenever that
Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Him. In order to have spiritual life and energy, we must have actual intercourse with our heavenly Father. Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His works
