During our recent trip to Sicily, I was fascinated by how often one religion built upon the places of worship of another. In Palermo, we visited churches with Islamic architectural influences. In Syracuse, the cathedral was actually built around an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Athena. Throughout Sicily, pagan temples and mosques were converted into … Continue reading Why Was a Christian Church Turned Back Into a Pagan Temple? (Hebrews 13:8)

Visit almost any university or hospital, and you are certain to find a building or wing named after a person or family. Sometimes it honors a generous donor. Other times, it recognizes someone whose work or service made a lasting contribution. I have often wondered how much of this generosity comes from a genuine desire … Continue reading A King Built This Church—For Another King? (Hebrews 1:8)

I was surprised to discover that one of the most beautiful Christian chapels I have ever visited was decorated with Islamic art. During our recent trip to Palermo, Sicily, we visited the Palatine Chapel, built in the 12th century by King Roger II. The chapel is magnificent, with golden Byzantine mosaics depicting Jesus Christ, the … Continue reading Why Did a Christian King Build a Chapel With Islamic Art? (John 18:36)

Years ago, my wife and I attended a couples Bible study at our church. Among the participants was a married couple who were relatively new to our congregation. We didn’t know either of them very well, but the husband seemed like a pleasant enough fellow. He was friendly, personable, and appeared interested in studying God’s … Continue reading Do I Recognize Evil? (2 Timothy 3:5)