Question: “Are birthdays pagan? Birthdays are mentioned three times in the Bible: In Genesis 40, and Pharaoh’s chief baker was killed; in Matthew 14:6-11 on Herod’s birthday, and John was beheaded; and how many children, including babies that were boy’s and two years old and under had to die at Christ’s birth. Yes, this is in the Bible. It seems that in the Bible bad things are associated with celebrating birthdays?” (R. in Virginia) Continue reading
You hear chanting permeating the darkness. As drums beat and worshippers dance around a ritual fire, their voices crescendo as the spirits of their “gods” enter their bodies. Their eyes roll back in their heads and they jerk, shake, roll on the ground, and act out the specific attributes of their possessing spirits. You are witnessing the worship of a follower of a number of cults scattered through Latin America, the Caribbean and the deep southern part of the U.S. Continue reading
I grew up in the suburbs of Richmond, Va. One fond memory is of a well-known Richmond institution—a family-owned chain of grocery stores called Ukrops. First opened in 1937, the stores were a regional phenomenon, known for quality products and attentive service. (You get a glimpse of their approach when you understand that their bag boys were known as “courtesy clerks” and they were required to take your groceries out to your car, no matter what the weather was like.) Their in-store delis were incredible. They became hot meeting places for people up and down the social scale. Indeed, their sandwiches were so good that many corporate executives would plan lunch meetings at the local Ukrops deli—power lunches in a grocery store! Can you imagine?
However, in my mind there was one overarching feature that stood out about the Ukrops stores: They exemplified Christian virtue. The Ukrops family were Christian people. And their Christian morals and principles carried over into how they ran their stores. The stores were clean, friendly and pleasant to be in. They did not sell alcoholic beverages. It was an annual tradition for the local newspapers to print a story about the grocery chain when the Sports Illustrated swimsuit was released—because Ukrops would not sell that particular issue. There were signs posted in their stores encouraging people to attend church. And get this, none of their stores were open on Sunday. Continue reading
Question: “We live in a time when it has almost become common to hear about school shootings, deranged killers in malls, or people going ‘postal’ at work. Something must really be wrong with the people who do these things! It seems that most of them have been mistreated or abused in some way—by family, bosses, coworkers, others at school, etc. Does this explain why these people go on these killing rampages? And does it excuse what they do?” (L. in Pennsylvania)
My Answer: I remember the horror at hearing about the Columbine shooting in 1999. Thirteen people senselessly killed at the hands of some misguided, disturbed, and (yes) very evil teenagers. My sense of outrage and sorrow over this tragedy was compounded by the way some people dealt with the event. At the time the media was tripping over themselves trying to find an explanation. It was Hollywood’s fault. It was the fault of the NRA and those rabid 2nd Amendment folk. It was their parents’ fault. Perhaps most commonly heard was the hindsight analysis that these two boys had been bullied, made fun of, and picked on. Here was the reason for their outrageous behavior. I distinctly remember one lady in our church almost defending the killers—she understood what it was like to be the brunt of bullies. She felt sorry for them. Continue reading
Today I write with no glib words, no zany humor, and no flowery expressions. I write with sobriety and solemnity. Today…I call on all of us to remember.
Today is April 8. I want to take you back to another April 8, on a Sunday, exactly 68 years ago. It is 1945, and although their end is rapidly approaching, for the moment the National Socialists still reign supreme in Germany.
In your mind’s eye see a prisoner, a German man incarcerated in a German prison. He has a squarish face, rather common looking. His rimless glasses help give him an ordinary look. He seems so average. Yet, his appearance belies the uniqueness, indeed, the brilliance of the man.
Although a political prisoner, a prisoner of conscience (these words have never been applied more truly), this man is also a Christian—and a pastor. He has gathered about him in Schoenberg Prison a group of faithful believers to worship and study together.
This imprisoned church has just finished its Sunday morning worship. The pastor has just said the final “Amen.” Suddenly two soldiers appear at the door. They call out the pastor’s name and deliver an order: “Make ready and come with us.” The small group of believers looks at their pastor with a mixture of terror and compassion in their eyes. They know the meaning of these words. This is the standard summons issued to a condemned prisoner.
The pastor rises and prepares to leave with the soldiers. However, just before he exits, he turns and says to one of his flock: “This is the end—but for me, the beginning—of life.” Moving words from a deeply spiritual man.
The next day, Monday, April 9, 1945, the pastor is executed by hanging. Continue reading
TRUTH BUILDERS MINISTRIES 