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 … [Read more...] about Declaration of Independence (Conclusion)
Judith T. Lester
Declaration of Independence (Week 3)
The 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 this as … [Read more...] about Declaration of Independence (Week 3)
Declaration of Independence (Week 2)
“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 July 4, 1777, Philadelphia marked Independence Day by adjourning Congress and celebrating with … [Read more...] about Declaration of Independence (Week 2)
Declaration of Independence – Introduction
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 of Independence, a historic … [Read more...] about Declaration of Independence – Introduction
The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Conclusion)
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 to speak to my contemporary audience. These modern … [Read more...] about The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Conclusion)
The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Week 3)
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 Testament. However, for the sake of this series, I am only … [Read more...] about The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Week 3)
The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Week 2)
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 to live by. This month, I am looking at a few of Jesus’ … [Read more...] about The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Week 2)
The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Week 1)
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 month, I will look at 4 parables of Jesus and … [Read more...] about The parables of Jesus modernized for a contemporary audience (Week 1)
ALS Awareness Month – #ALSAwareness (conclusion)
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 focus has been on ALS (also known as “Lou Gehrig’s … [Read more...] about ALS Awareness Month – #ALSAwareness (conclusion)
ALS Awareness Month – #ALSAwareness (Week 3)
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 a way of promoting awareness of ALS (or … [Read more...] about ALS Awareness Month – #ALSAwareness (Week 3)