January 03, 2010

Commitment Counts

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are the men who would not bend, bow, or burn! How were they able to withstand the overwhelming temptation to compromise with the dominant pagan culture surrounding them? What can we learn from them about living lives of committed faith today? (Daniel 3:8-28)

Nebuchadnezzar's Folly

"From Nebuchadnezzar to Saddam Hussein, Babylon rises again." So boasted signs near the entrance to the ancient site of Babylon in the wake of the first Gulf War. When Hussein, the Iraqi dictator, sought to restore his badly damaged power and prestige after that war, a significant part of his propaganda campaign was his attempt to identify himself with the glories and grandeur of ancient Babylon and its greatest leader, Nebuchadnezzar II. Who was Nebuchadnezzar, and what was so great about him? Let's examine this compelling historical figure in this week's Illustrated Bible Life article, "Nebuchadnezzar's Folly."