Titled one of the most hated men in history, Judas Iscariot committed the most unforgettable betrayal. With a friend like this, who needs enemies? Bible scholars believe one of Jesus’ closest friends, Judas, came from the town of Kerioth in Judea. A theory suggests he was with the Sicarii—a group of Jewish rebels trained as assassins. Many questions now begin to surface about Jesus’ selection of disciples. Why Did Jesus Choose Judas as His Disciple? In the third year of Jesus’ ministry, Judas joined the other eleven disciples to spread God’s Word, yet he had an ulterior motive. Jesus knew Jud ..read more

The gas grill cooked our supper in the evening glow. In the foreground, I watched as our grandchild and friends interacted in laughter. They never met each other until yesterday. Adults and the children were acting like kids as they ran in and out of the house. There is much joy that comes from the comfort of seeing your family take part in togetherness. Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Psalm 127:3 Today is the Christian celebration known as Annunciation Day, which dates back to the fifth century. We know little about this holiday, but it deserves more cred ..read more

There is an old Irish saying, “You are the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.” St. Patrick’s Day is Tuesday, and I’m sure many of Irish descent will celebrate with green beer, corned beef, and parades. After all, more people of Irish descent live in America (33 million) than Irish in Ireland (five million). The national emblem of Ireland is the shamrock, better known as the three-leaf clover. Though St. Patrick’s Day has no iconography shortage, the shamrock of faith represents a deep-rooted Christian meaning. Let us examine the picture below: Ancient stories tell that Saint Patrick pluc ..read more

Have you ever noticed that the most beautiful trees in the forest are sometimes a little disfigured? Some of the most scenic spots on earth are still attempting to be achieved. But nature seems to be the gateway to those who also co-exist domestically on earth. The most remarkable examples are children born with impairments. I proudly display a pair of pictures painted by the Irish artist, Christie Brown, hanging on my wall. He was born with Cerebral Palsy, and he had no use of his hands or legs. He painted my pictures with his left foot – his toes, to be exact. Christie Brown paintings Today ..read more

We are in the 40 days of Lent, not a season described as part of winter’s standard transformation to spring. It is a time to abstain or sacrifice our body’s needs, just as Jesus did in the desert to avoid Satan’s temptation. Fasting, however, began long before Jesus was born. About a hundred years before our Lord’s birth, the normal Jewish religious practice involved fasting during Lent to atone for sins. It is described in the canonical book of Psalms of Solomon 3:8–9: 8 The righteous continually searcheth his house, To remove utterly (all) iniquity (done) by him in error. 9 He maketh atoneme ..read more

The winter snow is disrupting our busy schedules. Meteorologists blame the vortex of weather, but I believe there’s a much larger plan occurring worldwide. The bitter winter bites the bones, and many innocent people are suffering from the cold. Is God trying to communicate with the world? Gale winds blow, and the fury of frozen particles blanket the forbidden territory. Torrential rain pours on the desert plains. I can hardly believe that it’s a natural phenomenon because the Bible contains forty-seven verses describing God’s control of the weather. “There will be great earthquakes, and in var ..read more

I meandered through the Hallmark aisle in Walmart yesterday, hunting for the perfect Valentine’s Day card. Above the shelf and staring down at me was the cutest cherub. He was aiming his arrow at me. I mumbled under my breath, “Shoot it somewhere else, Cupid! I already have my sweet love.” As I drove home, I couldn’t help but wonder, though, who designed such a cute little guy. I always envied those who invent such ideas. My curiosity got the best of me, so I did a quick Google search. The first article to appear about Cupid shouted the words, “… don’t let his look of youthful innocence fool ..read more

Written by Anne Bicks, Editor of Bicks Books LLC Many Americans do not realize that a famous religious character defined America. He was a Hebrew-born Egyptian chosen by God to free the oppressed country of Israel. This agent of God organized Israel to be an independent nation, which set the United States’ groundwork. His name was Moses. Moses led the Israelites through the opened Red Sea, but God spiritually conducted his attempt to free enslaved people. But this was only half of the story. After the Israelites arrived in the desert, they faced a period of lawlessness, which prompted the Ten ..read more

I saw a picture recently on the internet of the U.S. Capitol as remodeling changed the stage. It is a staggering image. Behind a surrounding chain-link fence and razor wire was the military standing guard for intruders. You can’t get in the Capitol, and you can’t get out, regardless of your status. It reminded me of the protests and pictures in the sixties shared on the DMZ (the demilitarized zone). Our country is changing guard. The establishment lies in ruins, and God, alone, whom we trust, will free us from the hypocrisy. America, referred to by Amerigo Vespucci as the New World, sent Colum ..read more

With great reverence, I welcome the new year because we are another day closer to our King’s return. The goalposts in society have moved, and the playing field is turning muddier by the minute. In life, the unequivocal fact remains… we must acknowledge the truth that God is waiting on Christians to make the first move. A shift must prove we join as one body and receive His eternal blessings. But in current times, proving this strength is more complicated than ever if we follow our Constitution’s fine lines and leaders. Jesus’ oldest friend was John, the Apostle, who wrote the Book of Revelatio ..read more