Shadows

Recently, on a New York transit train, politicians of both major parties have used the parable in both the defense and rebuke of a stand-your-ground act. This study will not directly look at the events in New York. However, it is worth our time to see exactly what this parable was about and what it teaches us.

Did you ever wonder what Adam and Eve did that got them kicked out of paradise? Surely, it wasn't eating an apple! This study looks at understanding the fall of humanity.

Values, the basic characteristics of who we are drive our behavior in this world. Where do they come from and how do we know they are in concert with God's plans?

Sounds like an easy question to answer. Yet the world is busy redefining sins as personal rights and lifestyle choices. What does God say about sin and what should we do about our everchanging definition of sin?

There is plenty of fear going on these days. It forces us into the "flight or fight" response humanity is programmed with. But are we running when we should be fighting?

Our values define who we are. They explain our beliefs and behavior. What does God have to say about them?

Did Jesus really say do not judge? If so, a lot of us are in deep trouble. Let's look at what our God tells us about being judgmental.

Never discussed, the definition and perspective of God on idolatry may surprise you.

Chaos abounds. Who's at fault? This study looks at a society in trouble and what one cause may be.

One needs to ask whether the absolute chaos in our nation and the world is a warning or punishment from God. He has done that in the past through the form of exile. Are we now exiled in our nation?

There is something new to fear: ChatGPT. This is called the future of Artificial Intelligence. Some claim it will replace humans on our planet. Let's ask God what He thinks.

Equity is seen today as the road to equality. While no one disputes that our God desires equality, what does He say is the equitable road map to get there?

Using Luke 19 and the parable about Zacchaeus, the man up a tree, we will spend time on the parable to understand more about God's Word and meaning.

Somehow, evil is convincing us that the path to God is complex. Yet God made this world binary. Just two choices for most decisions in life. Who is responsible for all of this complexity?

Inflation is a financial roll-a-coaster. Can God help us? He does record in His Word, three causes that may give some insight into the sources of Inflation. Let's see what we can find.

The right to vote is sacred and protected by our Constitution. God holds His people accountable for those whom they elect along with those who are elected. How then do we pick leaders equipped to guide our nation?

Immigration is a difficult topic in our nation today. It might be time to just pause and look at what our Bible says about it.

Parents are embroiled in a battle for the very souls of their children. Censorship, exclusion from curricula, woke school boards, and even government and FBI involvement, are separating parents from their right to control the education of their children. What does God have to say about this?

The philosophy of relativism is pervasive in our nation today. What's God's opinion? This is a false understanding of the nature of what is true. It is the heart of the "woke" culture.

We have just concluded 18 weeks of learning about God's Prophets. Their history spanned 400 years. What now? What has our nation learned about God?

The book of Malachi is the last writing in the Christian Old Testament. The words of this prophet would take about 400 years to fulfill God's promise of a Messiah. Malachi tells us what we must do to prepare! We have published this before, but it is a great way to end our four-month series on the Old Testament Prophets. We hope you enjoyed our series on the Old Testament Prophets. Shadows will return to our tradition style of studies tackling contemporary issues.

From exile to prophet, Zechariah helps focus the returning exiles on the task of rebuilding their lives and the Temple in Jerusalem.

We have published Haggai before. Upon their return to Jerusalem, priorities were not focused on God. Haggai is one of the prophets who encouraged the people to return to God and rebuild their temple. If not for Haggai, God's house would have remained unfinished and empty.

We have published this study before. Obadiah is the author of the shortest book in the Old Testament. While his words are few, Obadiah's wisdom addresses one of the world's greatest problems, using fear and circumstances to advance self-interests.

Ezekiel, the weeping prophet. His visions were direct from God. Yet, the people refused to believe that their sins were the cause of their exile.

Daniel is republished for this series. It tells the story of the power of faith even in a pagan world.

Habakkuk the prophet sees injustice and takes his complaint straight to God. Here we gain insight into the true character of our Creator.

The weeping prophet tries his best to wake people up. He is eventually murdered by stoning. A prophet's life was tough for sure!

Zephaniah the prophet starts preaching to the choir, to people that were following God. Why? God had provided him wisdom to see the future and the mistakes that would bring justice upon them.

Nineveh was one of the greatest cities, within the top 50 of their time. Like Sodom and Gamora, it was disgusting and evil. Jonah tried to save them; Nahum tried again. They don't exist today. Learn the similarities with the nations of today!

Micah had a big issue with the way the middle class and poor were treated. He despised fake prophets and fake religion. He was smart and even knew in advance that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Isaiah, the most quoted prophet in the New Testament. Did you know that he was two different people? The Book of Isaiah prophecies the coming of Jesus Himself.

Hosea is asked by God to do something out of the ordinary. He is to live a life that projects the love of God for people no better than harlots.

Amos is also a study we have published before. He belongs in our review of the prophets of the Old Testament. We also have a unique children's study that accompanies Amos. You will find the link at the bottom of Amos.

We have published Jonah before. However, in keeping with our list of Old Testament prophets, Jonah is next on our list.

Joel is a short book, with only three chapters. But in them, he points out the dangers of pursuing worldly joy rather than a relationship with God.

Elisha, the protege of Elijah, would become the second prophet to Israel. He was quite effective. Learn how he moved the people from their worship of the god of Baal.

Elijah, God's first prophet. He was sent after Ahab, the worst king and leader ever who led the people away from God.

  We will start a new series on the prophets of the Old Testament. Each week, we will look at one of the 18 men in order of their ministry to get to know our God better.

Maybe the oldest written question ever for God to answer is whether there is life after death. As we start a new year, this study looks at God's answer to that question.

Christmas is coming. We dust off those decorations that have been stored for a year. Struggle with buying things that people don't need. And then there are those family gatherings that cause so much stress. Let's just look at a few of the things Christmas should be about.

Do you know what "Protevangelium" is? It is an amazing example of how God has handled the fall of humankind. Jesus prayed just before His death for God to watch over that plan. It is worth knowing about.

God has given us the poor, the hungry, the widows, and the orphans of this world. What does God expect us, an affluent society to do about them?

In the past, we have looked at the question, what is God's Truth?  We even tried to sharpen our skills to become better at recognizing God's Truth. Now it is time to put this together and see what steps can be taken to discern God's Will for our lives. You know, living in God's Truth!

When the Israelites were led out of Egypt by Moses, the trip generated a few artifacts that became sacred to the nation. Do you know what was contained in the Ark of the Covenant? Do you know the real story behind the two tablets of the 10 commandments? This study offers some insights.

With low job satisfaction in our nation, with many jobs going unfilled, and with topics like silent quitting becoming newsworthy, what is it that God says about work?

After a contentious political period, many are disappointed. Let's look at how King David handled his greatest disappointment.

History has shown us that when our nation is under attack, we fight back. People gather together as families often do, protecting their children and property. Yet our nation is under attack again. How you say, by whom? Think fentanyl, think of the loss of parental rights! Why are we not fighting back?

A provocative question: Can you spot the truth? Difficult times require vigilance. This study uses Jesus's parable of the sower to understand how to spot the truth.

Do you think that the people who hide in the "wings" of a leader's office don't matter much? Read the story of King Manasseh. His lack of experience and naivety led his nation into exile.

Elections for our nation's leaders are less than a month away. Lostpine thought it might be of value to review God's tips and His opinion on voting.

God's prophets have been speaking to humanity from the beginning of life itself. They are still speaking today. Can we recognize them when we hear them? Can we recognize those who do not speak God's Truth?

Solomon's book, Song of Songs, is a love song for a young woman he loved. Written to help us understand what healthy relationships look like between a husband and wife, the book is often overlooked. Yes, it can be sensual. But under the covers, there is good advice we can learn from it.

Almost immediately after God created a good world, Satan appeared on the scene. He managed to come up immediately with the first lie ever in our universe. It is an interesting lie. How we tricked Eve is worth closer examination. Satan is still up to his old tricks even today.

Jesus lived a sinless life and showed us how to obey God's Law. The Apostle Paul uses the sinfulness of Corinth and the Apostle Luke gives us examples of Jesus' life to show us the right way to please God.

History seems to show that when nations abandon God, there are consequences. Do we believe that today? History also shows that when children become the target, God interacts on their behalf.

We are a world of firsts. Everyone remembers who was first in sports, first gets you a gold medal in the Olympics, firsts are important. Then why did God make the First Commandment what He did? It must be pretty important if we need to never forget it.

Jesus was known for His parables. They are not unique to Him. For thousands of years, God spoke to us through parables. What are they? Why do they work so well?

Studies show that only twenty percent of the people in the US believe that the Bible is the Word of God. We have a problem!

After witnessing our news media cover the negotiations of the last several US Governmental bills, the evidence indicates that bribery and vote buying is alive and well in politics today. It is worth our time to review God's opinion of those tactics and see if we can find clarity.

With news that runs 24X7, multiple social applications, search engines, and the like, people are in a place where negative influence reigns supreme. This study looks at how to spot negative bias.

Solomon gives us insight as to what happens when we die. As the wisest person to ever live, it is worth spending a few moments to understand what exactly is the morning after death going to be like.

2 Timothy has some wonderful advice from the Apostle Paul. He tells us exactly what evil looks like and provides a rationale on why to avoid it.

Jesus foretold the events that would destroy the city of Jerusalem some 38 years after His crucifixion.  The event, a Roman siege by General Titus, offers us some insight into how a nation of people was almost destroyed.

There is another poll that shows a continued decline in people who believe there is a God. This poll shows the greatest decline in those 18- to 29-year-olds. This is a serious issue that requires our attention.</p>

We are hearing a lot about the philosophy of pain and sacrifice for a better tomorrow. It is not a new strategy. Did you wonder where the "means to an end" concept came from? Better yet, do you wonder what God thinks about the idea?

Whether you have noticed or not, Christianity is under attack. Church services were disrupted, and burned, and God was removed from businesses, governments, and schools. Should we worry? What is causing it?

There seems to be a growing number of violent acts, committed in our schools. Is there something we are missing in our society that God can provide?

Is the world spinning faster? Wow, read the news and you can understand why mental illness has become the number one health concern in the world. God knows our world and has passed on some wonderful instructions through His Word. Let's look at God's tips to stay spiritually healthy and develop a survival plan!

The book of Malachi is the last writing in the Christian Old Testament. The words of this prophet would take about 400 years to fulfill God's promise of a Messiah. Malachi tells us what we must do to prepare!

It is getting harder and harder to tell who is right, and who is wrong. What are the moral standards for our society? Confusion is the tool of the enemy. Evil people know how to use any means to an end to justify virtually all that is wrong with our world. What does God want us to do when faced with these threats?

As Christians, we hear this all of the time. Turn your life over to Jesus, let Him lead you through this world. Our world, however, is not a safe place. What exactly does this mean?

In all of the craziness over Roe v. Wade, have you wondered when you, specifically you, were created? When did God, with His wisdom and grace, lay the foundations for your life here on earth and for the eternity ahead? Let's search the Scriptures together to find these answers.

The parable of the "Good Samaritan" is well known from the Gospel of Luke. But who were the Samaritans and why did Jesus use this story?"

We are told that with observation and experience, we learn. The human race gets smarter. But is it that simple or is there more that we need to do to grow in knowledge?

We are told over and over that humanity was created with free will. Does that mean we are hopelessly destined to live with our poor choices? Did God offer us some instructions to help us make life's decisions?

It is a good time to reflect on Easter. What was God's greatest gift to humankind?

Palm Sunday is a Christian tradition. Jesus, riding on a donkey, enters the city of Jerusalem. We take a different look to see the factors that would influence His week to come.

In our crazy and sinful world, it is a legitimate question to ask. Does God ever get so tired of humanity that He gives up?

If you could click on God's social network feed, what advice do you think He might be giving us today?

The Book of Job is thought to be the oldest written words of our Bible. In it, God converses with Job and explains who He is. Do we really know God? Are we ready to accept God as He says He is?

Proverbs, our book of wisdom, closes on Chapter 30, the writings of Agur. It is a focus on what our society today must do to reclaim our relationship with God.

Lostpine has written much about the Babylonian Exile, one of the periods of God's punishment of the nation of Israel. Upon their return to Jerusalem, priorities were not focused on God. Haggai is one of the prophets who encouraged the people to return to God and rebuild their temple.  Haggai may not be well known but if it were not for him, God's house would have remained unfinished and empty. It is a good story of how to bring back hope and peace to society.

This week we look to two places in the Bible for our lesson. Ezekiel asks God for advice and his reply is that society needs a few good people. However, God doesn't see any. We then look to Second John, a short letter to find the game plan for helping our nation.

Daniel entered a pagan world he did not want to live in. However, he spent 70 years there, a person of faith, wisdom, and prayer. His life would convert nations to God and save the exiled people of Israel. He is much like us today, trapped in an ungodly world wondering how to survive.

<p>The Apostle Paul mentored Titus, a Gentile. He commissioned Titus to start up and pastor many early churches. It is a short letter but still offers us insight into our world.

Deborah was one of the most influential women in the Bible. In follow up to last week's study on Judges, we will get to know this woman better.

Rarely is the book of Judges used for Bible Study. Yet it offers humanity critical lessons on how to live in accordance with God's Truth.

Esther is one of those lost books of the Bible that no one bothers with. Yet it is a story of hope for all of us.

Our justice system is under the influence of bigotry, politics, media, and money. What did God intend for His world?

This study looks at the biblical definition and support for the ideas behind Restorative Justice.

A New Year is hours away. Have you thought about your resolutions?

As we celebrate Christmas as the beginning of hope, let's look at how to ensure that our journey is successful. We will look at God's last advice to His world.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus came to us as a child? He must have been a very special child to carry the weight of saving humankind on His shoulders.

The story of Jonah and the whale is one of the stranger Books of the Bible. Too many people may discount the story as a fable without thinking about the message that it teaches. We will seek to find the truth!

When all you see around you is chaos, do you ever ask the question, who is in charge? We take a look at the expert on living in chaos, Job to see exactly what did Job do and how God finally released him from his struggles.

We have often heard the terms "Divide and Conquer." That is a war strategy as old as the Bible itself. Yet the Romans, Caesar himself lets us in on a secret. The real strategy used by our world is Divide and Rule (Divida et Impera).

What does it mean to be like Jesus? Are we too focused on the holidays and missing the hard work that is needed daily?

In the eyes of God, King Ahab was the worst king ever. Best we know what King Ahab did to draw God's ire. We pick our leaders now. Learn about God's rating system!

There are unseen influences impacting the choices made in society today. That is not new. It led to the death of our Savior!

The national news seems to indicate a total disregard for the value and sanctity of our children. Do we really understand what is going on today? Aren't our children our future? How do we protect them?

It seems our society is hearing a lot of promises lately. Most are made with little regard for follow-up, truthful action. Does God hold people accountable for a broken promise?</p>

King Saul was trying to kill David. David reached out to God with a prayer, Psalm 35. It offers us an insight as to how to pray to God when the world around us seems to be falling apart.

The question is often asked, why can't people just compromise and get along? That is a flawed process. Oil and water don't mix! God and Satan don't agree! Society needs to get on a different track. The one we are on now will not get us to a good place.

Scriptures are amazingly consistent in the portrayal of sin, grace, and salvation through Christ. This imagery can be a great help in keeping our focus on God. This study looks at just one such image, the crown of thorns placed on Jesus as he was crucified.

<Are you ready for eternity? The entire precept behind our faith is to move into an eternal relationship with God. Will you be bored? After you have read every book ever written, what will you do?

We are living during extraordinary times when the government is replacing parental duties with rules, regulations, and entitlements. Is this what our God wants for us?

Isaiah had great insight into the problems within the nation of Judah. Is our nation similar? Should we heed Isaiah's concerns? God's judgment is always near!

No two terms have caused more divisive discourse in the past few years than right and left. Where did they come from? We can learn from the Scriptures that taking sides is nothing new. In fact, all are asked by God to take sides.

Laodicea was one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelations. It had the reputation of being lukewarm. What does lukewarm really mean? Is this a concern for churches today? Jesus basically said he would vomit them out! Those are strong words. What does that really mean?

Why is God sometimes silent? It is a question that has been asked since our world was created. This study does not have that answer but looks at what our response should be when we seem not to hear back from God.

The world loves to define right and wrong. Society seems to change with every generation. Truth is often in short supply. Yet, we have one awesome Truthful God. What is God's Truth? What does that really mean to us?

One of the principal missions of the Church is to make disciples and send them into the world. Yet people are leaving organized religion in large numbers. It is time to open the dialogue about the purpose of discipleship. Is the Church equipping its membership to become disciples of Christ?

God's Word is filled with wonderful imagery. It can be taken at face value. Many times, however, there are as many lessons to be learned on what is between the lines. Here we look at one well-known example.</p>

Reason, a human skill, is fruitless unless it is combined with revelation, the Holy Spirit. They work together built upon a foundation of God's Word and Truth as a perfect filter against the divisiveness of our world.

The National Debt of the United States is spiraling out of control. What does God say about debt? Is any of this debt your personal responsibility?

Jesus tells us that faith has power, power to move mountains and walk on water. He also tells us that it doesn't take more than a mustard seed of faith to accomplish the impossible. What keeps us from using this gift of power?

Doors and gates are frequently used as metaphors in Scripture. Jesus Himself is called the one and only gate each must pass. This study looks a both Scripture and a poem about that "door" we must all pass through.

Prayer is as much a cornerstone of the Christian faith as is Christ Himself. It is always a good reminder to think about our prayer life and how we might be able to strengthen our communication between ourselves and our God.

Recent surveys show a decline in people attending church. Yet our world seems to be getting worse and worse. An old poem written in 1667 provides interesting insight into a possible cause.

The walls of Jerusalem had been severely damaged. Strong walls and working gates were necessary to have a functioning city and society. Nehemiah was just a layman, not a priest or a prophet. But Nehemiah's experience in the king's court equipped him for the political and physical reconstruction necessary for Jerusalem to survive.

Ezra was the second of three key leaders to leave Babylon for the reconstruction of Jerusalem. While Zerubbabel would rebuild the Temple, and Nehemiah rebuild the walls, Ezra would restore worship.

Into history comes Zerubbabel, an aristocrat born in captivity after his parents had been exiled. Son of the last king of Judah before the Babylonian conquest, he becomes part of the lineage of Jesus Himself.

History offers a unique opportunity to look back at God's interactions in our world. This study represents the beginning of a four-part series. First, we will look at how God used Babylon as His agent of judgment against Israel for their sins of idolatry and rebellion against Him. Subsequent studies will include the return and restoration of the Jewish nation that were the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. You will get to know Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

We live in a world that loves its rituals and rules. In this study, we look at why Jesus had such an issue over the many rules and rituals the Pharisees created. What does it take to become a righteous person? Is it following the "law" or the "Law?" There is a big difference.

Common sense seems to be rather uncommon these days. What does God say about common sense? can we improve our skills? How? In this study, we will look at Solomon and reverend Thomas Reid, a minister from the time period of the American Revolution.

Obadiah is one of the twelve minor prophets of Israel and the author of the shortest book in the Old Testament. While his words are few, Obadiah's wisdom addresses one of the world's greatest problems, using fear and circumstances to advance self-interests.

Do you believe everything you hear on the news or on the Internet? Jesus' half-brother James has some advice for us that is most appropriate for our world today.

We are all caught in a world with both good and evil. Each of us is called to live here and prepare for better things. Is it also a command from our God to change the world too? This study will look at God's expectations and see if we can determine what our duties should be.

It is a week after Easter and Christ has risen! Do we really believe there is life after death and Easter is the proof? History and the Bible give us ample evidence that there was a "Resurrection."

Jesus did not kill Himself, He died because His life conflicted with the world around Him. His death, a horrid crucifixion, was brought about by conflicts between God and the gods of this world. This study reminds us of what it means to be bound to the Cross.

Lubeck Cathedral hosts a telling poem about how humanity can change quickly. In a sobering way, the message speaks to us as God would to a child. This lesson tries to tie the poem to a Scripture lesson and then on to more contemporary times.

There has been a growing trend of censoring conservative messages. This places our First Amendment rights in jeopardy. See what the Apostle Paul has to say about censoring the truth.

We live in a corrupt world and we are called by God to use our eyes to see what is going on. This study is intended to remind each of us that we have a responsibility to be good observers of what is going on around us. Yes, we are accountable for everything in this world.

After four years of poisonous hatred in our country, it is time to look at hatred from God's perspective. Is hatred acceptable? If not, what is an acceptable and alternative behavior?

<The Bible study called A Very Short Children's Story About Amos is the all-time favorite on Lostpine.com. With our society today seemingly hopelessly divided over serious issues, Amos's story can also give guidance to adults.

Is the pursuit of happiness really a human right? Where is real happiness found? Can joy be had without God? We will look at what our Bible says about happiness and joy.

Our Savior demonstrated His love and set an example of peace, even allowing Himself to be put to death as an innocent person. Yet, two times in Scripture, He became angry enough to result in violence. What made Jesus that mad?

Here we look at the difficulties in our society and whether our focus has moved from God to material things. Can mankind find God when it is always looking at its social media posts?

Scripture is filled with both facts and action words. It is the action that God calls us to. Check out a simple example of how the meaning of Micah 6:8 can be transformed by the verbs.

Today's world is definitely a mess - Survival is key. God wants us to live and make choices that build his kingdom. What can we learn from those who came before us about isolation and survival?

Changing bad habits is a hard thing to do, even if we make it a New Year's Resolution. This study opens the door for a wonderful resource on Godly Wisdom. Take a Peek! You may like what you see.

This study looks at what is sin, how it got started, and why it is so important to know who Jesus was and why He came to us. Also, why sacrifice is part of the process of God's grace?

Did you ever wonder why the shepherds were part of our Christmas story? These were not ordinary shepherds. They knew the "Lamb of God" was born that day.