The Zealot and the Tax Collector
Mark 3:18 lists among Jesus’ 12 disciples “Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot.” Matthew was a former tax collector for the Roman Empire, while Warren Wiersbe notes that “The Zealots were a group of Jewish extremists organized to overthrow Rome, and they used every means available to advance their cause. The historian Josephus called them…
Keep readingThe Tribulation of the Cross, Part 2
When we read Matthew 24:13 – “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” – what do we think of? I’m currently reading a book about the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England that focuses on her life before becoming Queen, and there is a lot that reminds me of Matthew 24:9-10, which says, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to…
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The Tribulation of the Cross, Part 1
Do you ever get so frustrated with the world that you just want to check out? I certainly do. For example, as a blogger who posts to both Facebook and on WordPress, for me it is a lot easier to keep up with WordPress, since I can choose to see only what I want to see. Facebook, on the other hand, exists to sell advertising and sometimes the best advertising…
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Daily Readings for May 25 – 31
Fellow travelers: For those looking for a Bible reading plan, each week I post 2 chapters to read per day as a main reading plan, and for anyone who wants to read the whole Bible in 2026, I’ll post the extra chapters to read that week. The main readings will include nearly all of the New Testament, plus Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Prophets, and a few other Old Testament books.…
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“If Necessary”
All Christians face trials for following Jesus. These can range from being disregarded or ignored, all the way to physical persecution and even death. In the face of these trials, Christians can feel targeted or that their trials are unfair. However, Peter assures us that all the trials we face for Jesus have a purpose. In 1 Peter 1:6-7, he wrote: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little…
Keep readingHappy 5th Blogiversary to Driving Toward Morning!
Fellow travelers, Has it really been 5 years? May 20, 2021, is the date of the first post, so yes. Happy Blogiversary to me! A big thank you to everyone who has been reading along, and especially to those who comment and share! I don’t know what happened, but somehow after 3 years of hardly any growth, my number of daily readers (according to WordPress’ standard reports) doubled in 2025…
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Popular Opinion: A Quint of Quotes
Dear fellow travelers, Here is another “Quint of Quotes” from my collection, five quotes on the theme of popular opinion when it goes wrong: “Those who call for Nonsense will find that it comes.” – C.S. Lewis “We find that whole communities suddenly fix their minds upon one object, and go mad in its pursuit; that millions of people become simultaneously impressed with one delusion, and run after it, till…
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Mercy for Mephibosheth
The English writer Samuel Johnson noted that “the true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” There is a great example of this in the story of King David and Mephibosheth in the book of 2 Samuel. Before becoming king, David had a deep friendship with Jonathan, the son of King Saul who despised David and persistently tried to kill him. …
Keep readingDaily Readings for May 18 – 24
Fellow travelers: For those looking for a Bible reading plan, each week I post 2 chapters to read per day as a main reading plan, and for anyone who wants to read the whole Bible in 2026, I’ll post the extra chapters to read that week. The main readings will include nearly all of the New Testament, plus Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Prophets, and a few other Old Testament books.…
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Being a Master at Washing Feet
English author Samuel Johnson said, “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” I recently read The Residence, a book of real stories about White House staff over the years. In a chapter on how staff often go unnoticed comes this humiliating negative example: President [Lyndon] Johnson often undressed in front of staffers and was famous for rattling off orders…
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Driving Toward the Morning Sun 