The Declaration of Independence severed the 13 American colonies’ ties with Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence committee included: Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. After 86 changes to the initial draft of the document, which was drafted mostly by Thomas Jefferson; the Second Continental Congress officially adopted the… [Read More]
Judith T. Lester Archives
Declaration of Independence (Week 3)
July 23, 2020The Second Continental Congress officially adopted the final version of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 declaring the American colonies’ official independence from Great Britain. Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870 and in 1938 Congress reaffirmed it as a paid holiday for federal employees. Today, communities across our nation mark… [Read More]
Declaration of Independence (Week 2)
July 16, 2020“A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away.” – Ecclesiastes 3:6 Did you know on July 8, 1776, the first public readings of the Declaration were held in Philadelphia’s Independence Square to the ringing of bells and band music? A year later, on… [Read More]
Declaration of Independence – Introduction
July 9, 2020
On July 4, 2020, our nation celebrated Independence Day or “July 4th.” According to history.com, the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration… [Read More]
The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Conclusion)
July 2, 2020
The parables spoken by Jesus were all relatable to Jesus’ audience. Jesus often took an everyday, common subject to explain a deeper and valuable moral lesson to His hearers and followers. This month, my goal has been to take a parable of Jesus and recreate a modern scenario using the interpretive elements in the parable… [Read More]
The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Week 3)
June 25, 2020
Jesus’ parables are included in the Synoptic Gospels. (Matthew, Mark and Luke.) A parable is defined as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. If we use the definition of a parable loosely, then it must include all parabolic instructions (e.g. see Isaiah 5:1-7, 2 Samuel 12:1- 4, etc.), not just those in the New… [Read More]
The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Week 2)
June 18, 2020
When I think about how God’s Word still teaches us today through its timeless truths, my mind inherently turns to the spiritual insight we continue to glean from the parables Jesus spoke during His earthly ministry. While the Bible was completed many years ago, it contains the unchanging message of hope and values for us… [Read More]
The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Week 1)
June 11, 2020
The Bible contains the eternal Word of God. While times change, God’s Word never changes! Consider the parables of Jesus. Spoken over 2,000 years ago, Jesus used the parables to help His followers understand spiritual and moral truths. In the parables, Jesus used common everyday events to explain aspects of the kingdom of God. This… [Read More]
ALS Awareness Month – #ALSAwareness (conclusion)
June 4, 2020
ALS (or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Awareness Month is observed in the United States during the month of May. In Canada, June has been declared as ALS Awareness Month by the Canadian Minister of Health. It has been my resolve for nearly 20 years, to bring awareness to various topics through this column. This month, the… [Read More]
ALS Awareness Month – #ALSAwareness (Week 3)
May 28, 2020
The Ice Bucket Challenge is one example of an event designed to raise awareness that inspired unparalleled giving on behalf of ALS Awareness. The Ice Bucket Challenge is an activity involving the dumping of a bucket of ice water over a person’s head, either by another person or self-administered. The Ice Bucket Challenge began as… [Read More]
