The poor widow who donated two small copper coins is often considered an exemplar of giving. Traditionally, the words of Jesus in Luke 21:1-4 are seen as a commendation for this widow. However, Addison G. Wright (1982) interpreted the story as revealing the unfortunate fate of a poor woman who was exploited. According to Wright, Jesus’ words expressed lament for this woman’s misery, which was caused by the Jewish religious leaders, rather than praise for her behavior. Many scholars have develope

Habakkuk, who authored the Book of Habakkuk, was a prophet of Judah from 612 B.C. to 589 B.C. The book narrates the journey of this prophet, beginning with his confusion and struggle, and concluding with him singing a song of triumph.

The annual sowing season has arrived once again. In my hometown, a village located in the Central Plains of China and recognized as one of the country’s granaries, every household owns land and engages in planting and harvesting at the appropriate times. The livelihood of each family depends on selling their harvest at the market. As the senior villagers often say, a year with favorable weather ensures that everyone in the family have enough to eat, while a year with unfavorable conditions resul

​John 5:1-9 record a unique miracle only found in the Gospel of John -- the healing of a man who had been ill for 38 years. On that day Jesus and His disciples arrived in Jerusalem for a festival. A group of sick people lying beside the Pool of Bethesda caught Jesus’ attention. These individuals stayed by the pool day and night with one hope: to be the first to jump into the water when it was stirred. According to the legend, the first person to enter the pool after the water was stirred would b

“May the Lord bless and protect you. May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Time flows like a river, with generations passing in the blink of an eye. Once again, the eagerly awaited Christmas season is upon us. The Scriptures tell of a group of unnamed shepherds in the field of Bethlehem who witnessed the most extraordinary event of their lives -- the birth of Jesus Christ. Despite their low social status, these shepherds were the first to hear the angels’ proclamation and to worship the newborn Savior. This illustrates God’s grace and love for all humanity.

There is a woman who arrives early at church every Sunday, simply because it is the place where she has loved and served for over four decades. Though this eighty-year-old woman had to step away from her beloved pulpit years before, she continues to attend every Sunday morning. She is often seen helping prepare lunch, organizing bicycles that are haphazardly parked, or lending a listening ear to members facing spiritual challenges or life hardships. This sister never stopped her serving after re

In addressing the issues of environmental protection and ecology, historian Lynn White, in his essay “The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis”, ar​gued that human ways of living interact with the natural environment. However, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the fusion of science and technologies exacerbated environmental destruction. White placed the blame on Christian thought, claiming that “God planned all of this explicitly for man’s benefit and rule: no item in the physical

Recently, a middle-aged woman on the Harbin subway was harshly criticized by a young man for discussing Christian beliefs with a fellow passenger. This incident quickly became a trending topic, sparking continuous debates with an overwhelming comments online.

In my first attempt at reading Mark 2:1-12, the verses baffled me. Wouldn’t the people panicked and shouted “Run! The ceiling will collapse,” upon spotting the hole in the roof while Jesus was giving a sermon? Wasn’t there a risk of falling debris hitting or injuring people inside? How did the four men carry the paralyzed man to the roof and then lower him?