During a recent discussion with a friend, the topic of ‘death leading to life’ was brought up and how essential it is in the Bible. In looking at what feels to me like a more and more lifeless world, the connection between the state of the world and this principle came to mind. I believe that one of the biggest problems we have today, whether in politics, schools, family life, men, or women, is that there is a growing inability to produce life because of a growing unwillingness to die. Where is no death, life cannot be brought forth, and those who most depend on others to die (citizens, children, spouses) suffer for it. ...

During a conversation a few years ago, a friend of mine made a passing comment that has stuck with me ever since: “I measure a culture according to its ability to create and sustain life.” In other words, a culture in which children, animals, and plants flourish is superior to one in which they don’t. This comment really resonated with me and I’ve been thinking about it a lot since our conversation. Since it has been such a blessing for me to reflect on it and to make the connections to what the Bible has to say about life, I decided to write my thoughts down in case it might bless someone else as well. ...

Or “Did God really say we should sing the psalms?” The Bible has a very brief and simple checklist for what we are to sing as the Church. Just one explicit command, and it’s given to us twice: “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” ~ Ephesians 5:19 (ESV, my emphasis) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” ~ Colossians 3:16 (ESV, my emphasis) ...