Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in the moment that we choose to neglect the larger picture. As Jesus entered Jerusalem to much fanfare and celebration, something was not quite right.en Something is Missing

The dilemma that brought an edict to destroy the Jews is still in play. What could have been a picture of disaster becomes a story of rescue and victory.

In these chapters, the tension comes to a head. The die has been cast and the fate of the Jews hangs in the balance. If there was ever a time for God to show up, now would be the time.

Ethnic hatred and discrimination have plagued humanity for centuries. In these chapters the Jews are targeted for destruction, and the wieght of the matter falls on Esther.

As the first two chapters set the scene, the events that unfold imply a greater hand is orchestrating the pieces coming into place. At a time when power played to selfish ends, the hand of true power was setting the stage for a showdown.

The secularization hypothesis stated that the more educated, more advanced, and more scientific a culture, the more religious belief would wane. Why has science become the enemy of God?

Critics of religion see it as hypocritical, narrow-minded, and bigoted. Because they see religion as a breeding ground for discrimination, they also see it as detrimental to the well-being of society as a whole.

The challenge against the value of religion continues to escalate. From secular claims about the harm religion creates, to the high-profile believers who have either damaged the faith or have walked away altogether.

To our modern sensibilities, the thought of a bloody and barbaric God is appalling. How do we make any sense from passages that call into question God’s goodness?

Few topics can raise conflict and arguments like the subject of truth. Is truth recognizable or is it simply a matter of what feels right for me?