The book of Esther brims with dangerous intrigue. Haman, a courtier consumed by greed, schemes to annihilate the Jewish people who live within the vast Persian realm. He persuades King Ahasuerus...

When I was seventeen years old, I attended a Methodist church where the pastor always encouraged and empowered others. One day I decided to ask him who his favorite student was,...

Why are the disciples afraid to ask? Is it because they cannot conceive that Jesus can suffer death after the notoriety of his ministry and miracles? It seems that their fear...

Obedience to God begins the fulfilling of God’s will in our lives. When James writes about submitting to God, he is simply saying: Obey God. Some of us wrestle with the...

“Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?” External conflict often reflects our internal struggles....

James writes to Christians experiencing conflict. In order to help them, James confronts them with this question: “Who is wise and understanding among you?” In other words, how do you know...

Today’s passage reminds me of a story from an anonymous author. A little boy named Peter is visiting his grandparents’ farm. Peter has a slingshot and plays with it in the...

We often assume that Proverbs 31 describes the perfect woman or the characteristics a “good” woman needs to possess. However, we need to be aware that this passage is a poem...

James offers a clear warning: harsh, critical, damaging language has no place in a faithful life. The text suggests it’s impossible for the two to coexist: “Does a fig tree produce...

Every Sunday many ministers utter the psalmist’s prayer just before offering sermons to their congregations. They have spent the week reading, studying, praying, and writing a spiritual reflection on a passage...