“Now, you shepherds, listen to what I, the LORD, am telling you.” Ezekiel 34:7 delivers a hard message to the leaders of Israel. In the midst of their neglect and abuse, God spoke. Loudly. “As surely as I am the living God, you had better listen to me.” The very… Read More

My friends are railing about politics on Facebook again. I’m exhausted. My social media feeds brim with news of violence, incivility, and decidedly un-neighborly behavior with no end in sight. And that’s just in the United States. Does it feel the same for you? Take a deep breath with me. Read More

Tensions run high in the world of Ben-Hur. Jerusalem is under Roman occupation. Jews live as political exiles in their own city. Soldiers march the streets, quickly resorting to violence in even minor altercations. Entertainment involves brutality and death. It is a culture ready to spill blood—only the strong survive… Read More

Last week I took the train from Philadelphia to New York to see Last Days in the Desert, a new film written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia about Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Garcia focuses on Jesus’ journey out of the desert toward Jerusalem, adding in an… Read More

Ever have one of those moments where you read a passage and cannot believe it’s actually in Scripture? Keep reading and you’re sure to find one—whether it’s Jesus teaching about hating our brother or sister, Elisha and the bears, or God commanding the slaughter of a nation, there are some… Read More