Why Israel? Good question!

You don't have to be a Bible scholar to know much about this Middle Eastern country the size of New Jersey. The country of Israel is in the news on a very regular basis.

What is Zionism, anti-semitic, and the End Times nation have to do with Christians in the world? Let's find out.

Today, we look at the history - His story - of how God has raised up a nation to be the instrument of God's revelation of Himself to the world. We delve into the history of this nation that has been a pivot point in international politics and faith for millennia.

Why has so many nations sought to eradicate the Jewish people from the Earth? Why, after not being a nation for so many centuries has Israel established itself in spite of the surrounding nations seeking its destruction.

One thing is for sure: "He is faithful Who promised." Hebrews 10:23. Israel is an incredible example of God's enduring faithfulness.

How do you fit in the wealth scale of the world? (Tom's million dollar bill is obviously not real.)

- $2,920 is the approximate median annual income across the globe.

- The average global income is $12,235.

- Monaco's average income is $186,000 per year.

JD Rockefeller was asked how much money is enough. His simple answer was, "Just a little more."

That seems to be the attitude of a vast majority of people. We see wealth as a goal to reach yet many have no clue just how wealthy they already are. And because of this ignorance, they continue to chase the gold while at the same time amassing more and more "stuff."

So, the biggest question is, "Is your wealth a blessing or a burden?"

Today we look at the Biblical foundation of what and why we are wealthy and also the snare of chasing wealth.

Is having more wealth really the answer to life's problems or is there something to this "contentment" idea?

Biblical fasting is not just a diet.

Need to lose a few pounds? Not eating for a while help with that.

But there's more to Biblical fasting than just not eating. And the benefits of this kind of fasting are more than just losing weight.

There's one declared fast in the Old Testament that the whole nation of Israel participated in: The Day of Atonement. It was a face to face dealing with sin.

And like the feasts we talked about last week, this day pointed forward to the sacrifice Jesus gave to set us free from sin.

We deal with the different types of fasts, from the 40 day fast of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah to the different partial fasts like that of Daniel.

It's important to remember that we're not just hanging around here on earth awaiting our final trip to heaven but we have been called to fight spiritual battles. It takes discipline and intention to walk in Christ's victory.

Fasting with a spiritual purpose is so much better than just trying to lose some weight.

Eating is a necessity for living, but it's also a luxury for many in the world. When it comes to smorgasbords and potlucks, it's way too easy to overeat. But enough said about that.

In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, God established seven festivals in which eating was a major part. So, why was this so important?

Today, we walk through those seven festivals/feasts, not only to find out the why of back then, but to also discover how each one of them points to Jesus.

The most important aspect of these celebrations is how they connect people to God. Many people get lost in the ritual while God is constantly drawing people into a personal relationship.

It's time to celebrate!

Most everyone knows The Lone Ranger. And most everyone knows that he wasn't really alone. That's how he survived many of his encounters with those he faced who were on the bad side of the law.

Moses also had a couple of sidekicks or, in today's vernacular, his posse. One was his older brother and the other a friend of the family.

If it wasn't for Aaron and Hur, Israel would have been defeated as they fought the Battle of Rephidim against Amelek, the grandson of Esau.

We tell the account of how these two men came along side of Moses and turned the tide of the battle through their faithfulness.

Too many people don't have someone to "come along side them." They fight life's battles alone and too often end up on the losing side.

In this podcast, we encourage those who need an Aaron and Hur as well as those who can be an Aaron and Hur, to activate that relationship and win the battle.

We aren't supposed to do this alone.

Happy birthday to the land of the free and the home of the brave!

250 year is a record for the length of existence for a democratic republic. We've made it this far, living in the freedom that has been purchased and sustained by those willing to give of their lives.

Our name, the United States, has been challenged by some, off and on over the twenty-five decades of our existence. Just how united is our "United?" We've fought off many who have desired our country's demise and, at times, we've even fought against each other.

But has kept this nation functioning?

Good leadership is important. Strong military gives us some security. Our economy has fluctuated but hasn't crashed lately.

We believe the song, "God Bless America" holds the key. Our nation exists because of God's grace shed on us.

It's definitely time for America to bless God!

Gorp. A wonderful blend of energizing foodstuffs that some people pick at, taking only their favorites. Too many treat the Word the same way.

One of the most confusing and misused word from scripture is the one that has created an incredible amount of division in and outside the church body.

Submission.

In this podcast, we tear down the misconceptions of the word and expose the intent of those who substitute the word submission with the word subjection.

Both men and women will benefit from today's discussion. Clearing up the confusion, as well as laying out the Godly concept of true submission, will open up a whole new level of relationship for those who struggle in this area.

And it goes beyond marriage. Ephesians chapter 5 can't be sliced and diced to fit our own design. We all need to understand what Paul is saying here.

If you're going to "eat the gorp," you have to take the whole handful and not just cherrypick your favorites and leave the rest. When living by the Word, it's the same way.

Fathers. Time to honor those who choose to be a "Dad."

There is a difference. Fathering a child is biological, a title. Being a "Dad" is a role that takes the three "Ts": Time, talent, and treasure.

In the day and age when men have been belittled, portrayed as lazy, ignorant, self-absorbed, and bumbling, and demeaned, there are those men who take the time to teach and train their children. These are the "Dads."

Men don't have be to a "Schwarzenegger" to be an effective father. In fact, if men spend that much time in the gym, they just might be short-changing their children, especially both time and self-image.

Then again, men need to not be "Walter Mitty" as well. Or if you're a Brit, "Oliver Milquetoast." Keep from the extremes when choosing to be a Dad.

The Book of Proverbs is an incredible resource for men training up their children. "The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom." Proverbs 4:7

Solomon sought that more than riches, influence, or even long life. And that's a great example for men to follow. Dive into the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and we can learn a lot about fathering and life in general.

Gentle strength. Norman Rockwell's "The Saturday Evening Post" August 15, 1923 is a great illustration of this great quality men should exhibit.

In this podcast, we don't dress-down men but encourage us all to be who we can be, if we let God make us His men.

"Not all men will be fathers but all fathers must be men." - Derf Nerfel