Author: Mike Hays

Last week we were finally introduced to Ezra, the man for whom the book is named. After six chapters and so much having taken place in Jerusalem, we met Ezra. In the first six chapters we witnessed the journey to

In 2008, Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called, “Outliers.” In the book he says that 10,000 hours is the secret to success. Gladwell says that if you want to master something then you have to commit the time to practicing

Last week, as we took a look at Ezra 5, we were able to see such a clear demonstration of the kindness and love of God. The people had grown stagnant and dissatisfied with life because of their neglect of

It can be tough on a boy growing up in a home where one parent loves the Lord with all their heart and the other is antagonistic towards anything to do with God. Mixed messages from those closest to us

It comes at us even though we have no desire for it. It is no respecter of age, race, nationality, economic status, or gender. It comes as frequently to the followers of Jesus as it does to those who proudly

I’ve got a question for all of us this morning. If you were going to rebuild a community that had seen its better days; a rundown, dilapidated community, where would you begin? What would you do? Where do you even

Juan and Maria Luisa met when they were in 3rd grade playing on the streets of Reynosa, Mexico. Things just clicked, they started dating as teenagers, and they fell in love. Eventually the young couple got married and began their

It had been a long journey for the people of Jerusalem to the strange land of Babylon. The long, three-month, 1,000 mile journey seemed like forever. Now, many years later, everything was about to change. Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon

There are verses, stories, and books of the Bible that are very familiar to the followers of Jesus. As a child you may have attended Vacation Bible School or Sunday School and heard John 3:16: “For God so loved the