When the Menu is Manna

  At some point in life, most children threaten to run away. Their rationale is simple. Life did not turn out as they wished on that particular day, so they grabbed a suitcase or scooped up the essentials, which most likely included a beloved stuffed animal, a favorite blanket, and a few cookies from the cookie jar. Their mission is on until they reach the end of the sidewalk. What lies ahead? Suddenly, they realize that even with all their justifications, they are alone in this venture if they leave. With a few thoughts, they decide it is best to wait until morning; after all, it will be dark soon. Sound familiar? Maybe yes or no, but regardless of the side you are on, sometimes life is just hard, and the most logical action we can think of is to escape, but such a thought is short-lived. We reach the end of the sidewalk and consider a lot of things: darkness, danger, uncertainty, and the possibility there may be a better way.  We all have those moments when we are coming to ...

  At some point in life, most children threaten to run away. Their rationale is simple. Life did not turn out as they wished on that particular day, so they grabbed a suitcase or scooped up the essentials, which most likely included a beloved stuffed animal, a favorite blanket, and a few cookies from the cookie jar. Their mission is on until they reach the end of the sidewalk. What lies ahead? Suddenly, they realize that even with all their justifications, they are alone in this venture if they leave. With a few thoughts, they decide it is best to wait until morning; after all, it will be dark soon. Sound familiar? Maybe yes or no, but regardless of the side you are on, sometimes life is just hard, and the most logical action we can think of is to escape, but such a thought is short-lived. We reach the end of the sidewalk and consider a lot of things: darkness, danger, uncertainty, and the possibility there may be a better way.  We all have those moments when we are coming to ...

                                                       I've got a lot of questions. Why did Moses' father-in-law have three different names? What was his name? Reuel, Jethro, or Hobab? Wouldn't it be much simpler to call him by one name throughout the Bible? Were these aliases? Was he a criminal running from something? Three names. Really, that's a little too much! And Moses? Why choose him for such an essential job of taking the Pharaoh of Egypt to task? After all, he was on the run, a murderer, a less than eloquent speaker, and kind of a fraidy cat when it came to confrontation. Of all the places Moses could run, he chose the desert. That seems a dismal choice. To the average human, like me, all these inquiries and more seem less than sensible, but we are in good company as I am pretty sure Moses felt the same way, at least in the beginning... w...

  No legacy is so rich as integrity. William Shakespeare   They had finally made it! Standing on the bank of the Jordan River where their forefathers stood almost forty years ago, this time would be different. Yes, today, they would be responsible for making history. They were ready to forge ahead and take the land promised to their ancestors but withheld because of their unbelief. Nothing would stop them this time. Giants in the land? No problem. Outnumbered by the inhabitant that paid no homage to their God? Okay. Walls so tall that they seemed to reach beyond the heavens. Not today , nothing would stop them.  Just before crossing the river, the Lord spoke to His chosen people. Most likely, His message caught them by surprise, for His plan that day was not the plan they had rehearsed, but the Lord knew His people well. Time had not changed their inconsistency in following Him, and they were still bent to walk away from Him when a more enticing opportunity presented its...