Seven months before the 2001 terrorist attack on the United States, Taliban fanatics in Afghanistan made international headlines by passing legislation ostensibly designed to protect Hindus. The law required every Hindu to wear a yellow piece of cloth on his shirt pocket. Plainly, the Islamic fundamentalists’ real purpose was to stigmatize, isolate, and intimidate Hindus.…

Jesus and his apostles worked astounding miracles. They cured leprosy, opened deaf ears and blind eyes, caused the lame to walk, and even raised the dead. Though plainly unable to perform signs of this sort, modern faith healers claim to have the same power working within them. But when pressed for evidence, they fail to…

Some atheists and agnostics are fond of making the ludicrous declaration that “absolute truth is for absolute fools.” Inadvertently, many church-goers are guilty of giving credence to this view. When there’s a disagreement over an important biblical question, someone is likely to end the discussion by observing that “everyone interprets the Bible differently.” Although conflicting…

Paralysis is one of the most distressing afflictions a person can suffer. A healthy body lifts, pushes, pulls, twists, or whatever else it’s told to do. A paralyzed body, however, refuses to work. Because of injury or disease, it is unable to respond to the head’s commands. As physical paralysis handicaps the body, so spiritual…

On the Day of Pentecost in AD 30, Peter and the other apostles were together in one of the 30 spacious rooms (houses) at the temple complex. Suddenly, a sound “like the rush of a mighty wind” filled the place where they sat, and they “began to speak in other tongues” (Acts 2:2, 4). That…

Suppose that you search for a job at LinkUp.com. A publishing company is offering a position with extraordinary status, salary, and benefits. You submit a résumé and get an offer. You report for work first thing Monday morning. Someone from human resources shows you to the most splendid and spacious office in Dallas. And then…

Safety experts advise parents to make plans for emergency situations and then teach their children what to do. For instance, everyone should know where to meet if the house is burning. The family may agree to gather at the mailbox, the basketball goal, or the utility shed in the backyard. This safety procedure prevents a…

In the eighth century BC, the Assyrians were threatening to destroy the northern tribes of Israel. Because God’s people had forsaken him to pursue the worthless idols of surrounding nations, the Lord would deliver Israel into the terrible hands of the dreaded enemy. Although Israel’s betrayal both hurt and angered God, his love for his…

Vacationing in Florida some years ago, Patsy met Joseph. No, this isn’t a love story of the usual sort. Patsy was a Christian sister from Texas, and Joseph was a gentleman from Nairobi, Kenya. Joseph was manning a flea market booth near Orlando. One day Patsy stopped by to do some shopping, and the two…

Young people sometimes hear that they are “the church of tomorrow.” Only in a limited sense is this true. Today’s boys will one day serve in the Lord’s body as elders, deacons, and preachers. Today’s girls will soon be the older women responsible for teaching and guiding the young ladies of a generation yet unborn.…