By: Zach Collins Eliam was the father of a beautiful girl. Like any loving father, he nurtured and loved his daughter, watching her grow into a beautiful young lady. She married a good and honorable man who served in the King’s army. What else could Eliam have hoped for? He could have never seen the tragedy that would befall his life. As Eliam’s daughter and son-in-law were making a life together, the unexpected happened. One day, as her husband was serving at the pleasure of the King, men came into his home, took his wife, and brought her to the King which he served. Her honor was taken, in part of our own decision, and adultery was committed. Yet, the tragedy had only begun. The news that began a spiral of regrettable actions came to the King in the form of four words, “I am with child.” If the people, who once sang his praises, found out about his transgressions, they would turn their faces from him! So, the King who sat in the palace connived and strived to conceal his sin. He summoned her husband and made casual conversation with the man whom he had betrayed. He even sent her husband with a gift basket of food! Believing the King was an honorable man, the husband was none the wiser. One day, the King’s spiral of sin reached a pinnacle of mythical proportions. The King sat her husband in the forefront of the hottest battle, so he might be …

By: Zach Collins Will you do an experiment with me, for just a moment? In this experiment, I ask you to be completely honest with yourself. Literally, no one will ever know the answer you provide.  Are you ready?  Let me supplant a setting in your mind. You arrive at the grocery store, grab a shopping cart, and aisle by aisle you mark red lines through each item that you have put on your grocery list. You pay for your groceries, head to your vehicle, and load the groceries into your vehicle.  Now, here’s the real question: Do you return your shopping cart to the “Shopping Cart Corral?” By the way, yes that is a real thing. I worked at a grocery store. Or do you hesitate and leave your shopping cart in your parking spot? Whatever your choice, it was between you and this article. Recently, I ran across a new theory called, “The Shopping Cart Theory”, which claims to be at the center of a moral question for the ages, “Am I a good or bad person?” In some ways, many have employed “The Shopping Cart Theory” as a new litmus test for citizenship, that is, whether someone is a good or bad citizen. That’s interesting.  Just to sum up this theory, so you will get the gist of this article and the spiritual application from this illustration, returning the shopping cart is an easy and convenient task. Outside of a dire emergency, there are no circumstances that would prevent …

By: Zach Collins School is back in session! It is a day of mixed emotions. Some children are filled with apprehension, others mention anticipation, and for some, it is a matter of convention. As we start the beginning of this school year, we wish our children a successful year. We hope they succeed in the classroom and in their extracurricular activities! However, let us never neglect to remember that secular education is not the top priority for Christians. Primarily, our priority is recognizing the authority of Christ and the supremacy of spiritual matters (c.f., Matthew 6:33). Secular education and ambitions ought to be tempered by established spiritual priorities. It was Paul who said, in Romans 16:29, “For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.”   Let us never become so consumed with our educational ambitions that we do not consider that this world and everything in it belongs to God (c.f., Psalm 24:1). Whether your child’s heart is filled with angst or honest anticipation, let us first fill the hearts of our children with prayer as they prepare for this upcoming school year. Many are focused on the school supplies list to help their children prepare academically, but I want to give you our spiritual supplies list of prayers to your children to prepare spiritually.  1.     Pray for Boldness (Psalm 27:1) 2.     Pray for Courage (Ephesians 6:10) 3.     Pray for Compassion (Ephesians 4:32) 4.     Pray …