Have you ever either received a call for help from far away, or sent word to someone far away that you needed their help? Yesterday I left you in the city of Syrian Antioch. The city was in spiritual chaos, similar to what had happened in Jerusalem, after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. Many people in Antioch, especially Gentiles, were turning […]
In recent years one of the major global issues challenging Europe and America in particular has been MIGRATION. Wave after wave of human beings fleeing war or government corruption or religious persecution or famine or starvation or even slavery. They flee on foot or in little boats, or by whatever means possible. In many cases they are […]
I wonder what situation you’ve found yourself in when you felt the most out of place? Yesterday I left you in the port city of Caesarea about 2000 years ago, and the Jewish apostle Peter had just been escorted into the house of Roman centurion Cornelius. Peter had said: “You are well aware that it is against our […]
We live at a time in human history when ethnic diversity is commonplace in big cities, large airports, universities, and large organizations of every kind. But it wasn’t always that way, was it? Did you know even the Jesus movement faced some major ethnic barriers not long after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension back to heaven? We’ve already seen that Philip, […]
When you watch the news summaries of what is happening around the world simultaneously are you amazed? What really astounds me when I watch global reports, is considering the fact that God is watching all of it happen in real-time and at the same time God knows the future of each of those newsworthy […]
We’ve probably all experienced being someplace where we did NOT feel welcome. In fact, the sooner we could get out of there the better! Do you remember that feeling? Join me again in Damascus, Syria, about 2000 years ago. By the way, YES, this is the very same city as today’s Damascus, Syria. Saul […]
I left you yesterday in a precarious situation, remember? And I invited both you and me to consider if we are at all open to God doing with us what God was doing 2000 years ago in Damascus, Syria with two men about to meet each other. Remember who they are? Saul the angry Pharisee, had been blinded by […]
I wonder what the most significant, life changing encounter with God has been in your lifetime thus far? I realize that’s not a question you probably consider very often. The Bible, of course, is filled with stories of people having life changing encounters with God, but the truth is most people, even most devoutly religious people, even most […]
When you think of the various miraculous things the Holy Spirit of God does in us human beings, I wonder if your list includes “miraculous transportation”? What? Yesterday I left you with Philip and the African official who was responsible for the treasury of Ethiopia! Philip had been explaining Isaiah 53 to this African official, who was a devout worshiper […]
Yesterday I left you with Philip, standing alongside the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. Have you ever been somewhere when you felt very much out of place? I think that is exactly what Philip felt. Why? Because a fancy chariot, with an obviously important African official, had just driven up and parked right near Philip. Philip […]
