Living with the certainty of the resurrection of the dead

In Alexandria Troas, Paul bids farewell to the congregation in the evening. Then a man named “The Lucky One” (Eutychus) falls out of a third-story window.

Paul touches the young man, as Elijah once touched the widow’s child, and the dead man comes back to life.

They then celebrate the Lord’s Supper. In doing so, they remember that Jesus, through the cross and the resurrection, has overcome death. The listeners have just experienced this power before.

Those who walk with God are not spared all suffering and difficulties, but God glorifies himself again and again in our lives by intervening.

We experience God in times of need when he takes away our burdens or gives us the strength to bear them.

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Israel 2025

28.6.25

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, today (Friday, 27 June 2025): The State of Israel absolutely rejects the contemptible blood libels that have been published in the Ha’aretz newspaper, according to which “IDF Soldiers Ordered to Shoot Deliberately at Unarmed Gazans Waiting for Humanitarian Aid.” These are malicious falsehoods designed to defame the IDF, the most moral military in the world. The IDF operates in difficult conditions against a terrorist enemy that operates out of a civilian population and hides behind it, using it as human shields, and uses a complete industry of lies to harm the legitimacy of the State of Israel. The soldiers of the IDF receive clear orders to avoid harming innocents – and operate accordingly. Israel calls on all of the free and democratic countries to stand alongside it in its just and moral fight against the murderous Hamas terrorist organization.

President Trump goes off on Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei for “false” victory claim. “His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life.” “Since Khamenei didn’t thank me for saving him from death, I’m canceling the easing of sanctions on Iran.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi: If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt followers.

Continue reading Israel 2025

Shavuot and Pentecost

The Bible reports that on Shavuot, the day on which the Jewish people remember the receiving of the Torah, the followers of Jesus received the Holy Spirit. What does this mean?

On the fiftieth day (Pentecost), the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, is to be celebrated. The number 50 stands for union. According to rabbinical tradition, on the 50th day after the first Passover, Israel received the revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai. They promised to do everything that the Lord had commanded them (Exodus 19:8). They were to be a people of priests for the living God (Exodus 19:6).

Just as God appeared to the people of Israel in fire when he gave them the law (Exodus 19:18), God’s new law (Jeremiah 31:31-33 / Ezekiel 36:26-27 / Romans 8:2) was made visible on Shavuot in Jerusalem through tongues of fire.

Peter explained to the astonished spectators that the prophecy of Joel 3:1-2, 5 was being fulfilled, in that all could receive God’s Spirit.

This enabled them to live a holy, Spirit-led life and to be His witnesses.

God’s Spirit gives us a new perspective on God and our fellow human beings. We are in a constant process of change.

God is not distant, but works in and through us.

Jesus’ disciples now understood God’s work and told of God’s great deeds (Acts 2:11).

The business with the Queen of Heaven

A revival had just taken place in Ephesus.

Ephesus was a place of pilgrimage for the goddess Artemis. The belief in a Queen of Heaven is very old.

In Ephesus, silversmiths sold small temples and other sacred objects to which divine powers were attributed (Acts 19:23-40). Paul spoke out against the effectiveness of such man-made images (verse 26). However, he did not blaspheme against the goddess herself (verse 37).

Since many had turned to faith in Jesus, the business of faith seemed to be in danger (verse 27).

Sometimes it is better to remain silent, especially when emotions are involved.

It is also interesting that Paul never spoke negatively about the faith of others. In any case, he and his fellow believers could not be accused of blaspheming against the goddess (verse 37). It was important to him to show people that faith places its trust in Jesus and not in objects to which divine powers are attributed.