(Lamentations 3:1-23 & Ezekiel 37:1-6) Sometimes the world can seem so broken we can't do anything but cry. An ancient tradition among the prophets included not only tears, but a far more profound innovation that would change the world (Tears of Things 3/4).

(Micah 4:1-3 & Luke 8:26-31) In our age of outrage violence seems to be the answer for everything, but evil isn't cured by violence. We need to work toward something far bigger if we are going to see our nation thrive (The Tears of Things 2/4).

(Isaiah 6:1-8 & 1 Corinthians 13:9-13) Anger can get the best of us, sometimes, but why are the prophets in the Bible so angry? Isn't God love? See how 'the tears of things' leads us not to anger, but to good trouble (The Tears of Things 1/4).

(Hebrews 11:29-12:2 & Matthew 22:17-21) It can be tough figuring out the right action in difficult circumstances. How do we know what to do? We look to the heroes of faith and the city of God (Living History 6/6).

(2 Timothy 4:1-8 & Revelation 3:15-19) Sometimes we feel like we have the right to something, but the Apostle Paul shows us what to do with those rights in a dramatic encounter with the Emperor of Rome (Living History 5/6).

(Ezra 3:10-13 & Daniel 11:2-4, 31-32) When nations are at war it can feel like nothing is going right. When the prophet Daniel faces the worst thing for his nation, we see a glimpse into the true meaning of life (Living History 4/6).

(Isaiah 11:1-12 & Matthew 1:17-18) Today is no different from thousands of years ago when people faced terrible circumstances, with no one listening. The prophets of Israel, though, propose a radical way forward (Living History 3/6).

(Daniel 2:31-45 & Luke 21:5-6) The Assyrian Empire looked like it was unstoppable until the Neo-Babylonian Empire completely annihilated it. But even the Babylonians won't last. What do you do when you have no power and an empire is rising all around you? (Living History 2/6)

(Genesis 15:1-18 & Hebrews 8:8b-10) Mesopotamia was home to the first great stories of creation and flooding, but a wandering Aramean gives birth to a whole new way of thinking (Living History 1/6).

(Galatians 6:1-10 & Luke 10:1-2) As the country celebrates Independence Day, we look at the state of the church. Are we genuinely doing the will of God? The Apostle Paul puts the challenge to all of us with a very direct way to measure whether we are doing it or not.