Len Sweet recently recommended a book called “The Jesus Discovery” by A.T. Bradford. The book is controversial, portraying Christ as the golden-son of Pharisaical Judaism who turns against his teachers,…

The people closest to us don’t care about our achievements. Don’t get me wrong. They celebrate when we succeed. But their enthusiasm doesn’t last. Not like the enthusiasm of strangers. Great…

Herod thought that, by building the new Temple, he would earn the right to control the Sanhedrin and appoint the Chief priests. He did have some measure of influence within…

Today was the second Sunday in our series on Herod the Great, contrasting the last King of the Jews with the True One. It was also the occasion of the…

Herod was known to love women, wine, and food in great quantities. He stuffed himself with pleasures, always asking for additional helpings. Having looked at the ways Herod benefitted from…

Herod’s deal with Rome guaranteed he would have the resources he needed to rebuild Judea as a first-class cosmopolitan region. They gave him the means and in return Herod constructed…

You can get what you want and still be disappointed. Herod had ambitious plans for Judea, but they required Rome’s resources. He needed military policing and protection. He needed money….

Herod made a deal with Rome. In exchange for his good governance of Judea, he looked to Caesar Augustus and Marc Antony to provide him with an identity, progress, and…