Steve

Holy Week – Sunday – Jerusalem Arrival

Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:9-19 Palm Sunday is the day that we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem the week prior to His crucifixion and resurrection. Anyway, here’s what I learned about the culture of this whole: During Jesus’ day, Pilate ruled over …

Holy Week – Thursday – Last Supper

Matthew 26:17-75; Mark 14:12-72; Luke 22:7-71; John 13:1-18:27 On Thursday of Holy Week, Jesus celebrated a traditional Passover meal with His disciples. (well… maybe not so traditional) He sent John and Peter ahead to get the meal prepared. When they arrived the disciples thought it …

Holy Week – Wednesday – Quiet Strength

Matthew 26:6-16 – Mark 14:3-11 – Luke 22:3-6 Wednesday is a quiet day for Jesus, but God is still at work – A quiet strength. After all that had been said on Tuesday, Jesus gave the Pharisees a little break from Him. They had already …

Holy Week – Tuesday – Confrontation and Determination

Matthew 21:23-26:5; Mark 11:27-14:2; Luke 20:1-22:2; John 12:37-50 The Tuesday of Holy Week is full of confrontation. Jesus is determined. After the events of Monday (running money changers out), the chief priests and scribes have seen enough and they are ready to kill Jesus. However, …

Holy Week – Monday – Moneychangers and Soreq Wall

Matthew 21:12-22; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48 Most scholars believe that Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple on the Monday of Holy week so I thought I’d post about it today. I have always wondered about the time Jesus got mad and threw …

He died. I sighed.

(written in Dec 2014) It’s a week before Christmas. There’s lots to do. I’ve been working all week and finally get to come home. I’m so ready for the holidays away from students – away from work. I’m tired. As I drive home, I start …

50 Things to do at Christmas (revised for 2018)

Everyone should experience these 50 things sometime in their lives during the Christmas season. I have already experienced some of these, but some are things I hope to experience. 50 Things to do during Christmas: 1. “A Christmas Story” marathon. 2. Sit in Santa’s lap …

Loyalty, Treaties, Covenants, and Sinai

Ancient Treaties and 10 Commandments Before we launch right in, I’ve got to lay some groundwork. There are two types of treaties that are common in early Biblical times: 1) A parity treaty – an international agreement/covenant between two equals 2) A suzarain/vassel treaty – …

Be a Hero

Personal Story: This is really more of an anti-hero story. This is one of those times in my life that I wish I could have a “do-over.” I was in 9th grade. I was insecure and overly concerned about what my “friends” thought of me. …

Be Optimistic

Personal Story: “Better” from Stevecorn.com When I was in High School, I worked in the paint department at Sears. Mr Mahoney was an older man (maybe early 70s) who worked across the aisle from me in the sporting goods department. He was always smiling and would …