After King David died, his son Solomon became king of Israel. The son of Solomon, Rehoboam, was the legitimate heir to the throne. But Rehoboam’s right to rule was challenged by an enemy of the king and of the established system of government. Jeroboam, son of Nebat, had fled to Egypt from King Solomon; but when Solomon died, some of the Hebrew people called him back to Israel to be their king. (See I Kings 12-14) Thus Israel was divided into 2 kingdoms -- the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. The northern kingdom under Jeroboam was composed of ten tribes and was called Israel. The southern kingdom, led by legitimate King Rehoboam, was composed of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and called Judah.

The original nation of ...

In the month of January, we begin a multi-part series on the End Times. Theologians call this eschatology or “study of last things.” Why do a series on the end times? Here’s the reasoning. Few churches are preaching on it. Few Christian podcasts are speaking about it. Few Christian magazines are publishing articles on it. The podcast, Hope for the Hurting, which my daughter, Laura, and I broadcast, is tackling it but few others. Why not? Why aren’t many Christian voices speaking about the End Times especially in light of all we’ve gone through in 2020. Here are three possible reasons: 1. It requires taking stands on controversial End Times doctrines. Some are faint of heart and shy away from controversy. 2. It ...

Blood is fascinating stuff. I’m not trying to be gory here, but it is fascinating. It is both attracting and repelling at the same time. Take the rush hour “gawker’s slowdown” at a traffic accident. Why do people slow down? The prospect of seeing blood at the scene. Why do people go to prize fights or ultimate fighting events? Blood shed by one or both opponents. It is equally repelling. Consider surgery. Most of us don’t have the stomach to perform or even watch surgery. Why? We are repulsed by the sight of all that blood.

Here are some interesting facts about blood. It can be frozen and is unaffected. It can be taken from one race and given to another without influencing the color of the recipient. Blood ...

Depending on the situation all of us have used the terms justice, mercy, and grace at one time or another. We think of evil people and we long to see them brought to justice. Judges are often asked in courtrooms across the land to deal with defendants in mercy. Grace, a uniquely Christian word, is how every believer found salvation. God showed them grace in response to their faith and saved them from the penalty of their sins. Because all three terms are critical to the understanding of the Christian life, it’s important that we differentiate between them.

What is justice? The Hebrew term for justice used in the Old Testament is the word tzedakah and means righteousness, fairness, or justice. Simply put, justice ......