Category Archives: Be Zealous. 2025 Theme

I have an extra day off this week,” Carl told his wife as he walked into the kitchen. I think I’ll use it to fix Donna’s bike and then take Larry on that museum trip he’s been talking about.”

“Fixing a bike and visiting a museum hardly sound like exciting ways to spend a day off,” his wife replied. Continue reading →

“The human heart has so many crannies where vanity hides, so many holes where falsehood lurks,” once lamented John Calvin, “that it is difficult to be persuaded of the simple truth that nothing is more profitable than the wholehearted pursuit of God.”

To be zealous and ignite our spiritual passion, it must be rooted in pursuit of and in a relationship with God.” Continue reading →

The Bookseller magazine compiles a shortlist of titles nominated by readers and Twitter users with the oddest title of the year.

The rules stipulate that the book must be non-fiction, of serious intent, unintentionally odd, and not created to be deliberately humorous. One year. The winner was “Highlights in the History of Concrete.” Continue reading →

Christ burned with such zeal for the glory of his Father that he could not endure to see it profaned without expressing his indignation…He who was so gentle and meek toward men was like a roaring lion when the honor of God was at stake,” wrote John Calvin in his commentary of the Gospel of John

This reference speaks to one of the most vivid illustrations of Jesus’ zeal when He cleansed the Temple (Jn. 2:13-17). Continue reading →

There’s an old story about a preacher visiting a member of his congregation who had become distant from the church-family and absent from the worship assemblies.

It was a cool evening and the man was sitting by a fire place. After the initial greetings, the man confided in the preacher that he felt disconnected from the church, but insisted that he could be a good Christian on his own. Continue reading →

In 1985 Dr. Robert Bellah, an American sociologist, co-authored a book entitled Habits of the Heart. In one chapter he discusses the cultural shift in religious beliefs.

In chapter 9, he shares the story of a young nurse, Sheila Larson who said, “I believe in God. {But} I’m not a religious fanatic.” Continue reading →

“The world says love yourself, grab all you can, follow your heart. Jesus says deny yourself, grab your cross and follow me,” wrote contemporary author Francis Chan.

This challenge Chan describes is not new nor unique to our 21st century culture. It’s as old as the succinct description during the Old Testament Judges “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Continue reading →

I recently read about a young man who was driving home late one night on a quiet country road. He had traveled the route many times and knew every turn, sign, and intersection. Confident and relaxed, he turned up the music, pulled out his phone to check a message, and thought, “Just a quick glance—it’s no big deal.” Continue reading →