Beech Tree News Network

When we read Ezekiel, God told him that by his actions, people would know there is a prophet in Israel (Ezek. 2:5). I find it interesting that God used a similar phrase in the book when referring to Himself. From Ezekiel 6 through Ezekiel 39, no less than 63 times, He told Ezekiel that the people would know He is the Lord.

The word “prolific” more than applies to television legend Norman Lear, the visionary behind any number of memorable television shows.  However, prolific hardly conveys the pivotal role he played in transforming the medium, even our culture.  In the words of CBS Sunday Morning’s Mo Rocca: Norman Lear, who died at the age of 101, didn’t invent the situation comedy.  But more

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that my favorite immigrant is a writer, a songwriter, to be exact.  Israel Beilin immigrated to the United States by way of Ellis Island when he was just five years old.  The year was 1893.  His family, which included his parents and five siblings at the time, fled from Russia and those who were targeting Jews throughout eastern Europe.  His family had watched their home burn to the ground before they began their long journey to New York City (NPS.gov).

God teaches man in many ways. While we know His will is revealed in the written word, it does not take long to see God use many “tools” to get His truth to man. In the Bible, we have a record of the various ways He did things (Heb. 1:1-2).

The holiday season can be an especially difficult time for children who are battling cancer. Many of these young patients spend time in the hospital away from home and those they love. 

Welcome to my first Christmas column of the year!

As I’ve gotten older, I have tried not to let little things annoy me. When I encounter irritating situations, I try to hide my immediate, natural reaction. Since we are all different, those bothersome, annoying things may differ from person to person. A few of the things that tend to annoy me are listed below in no special order. 

My brother told me about a conversation he had with a friend.  The friend had several children but was close to only one.  He justified his favoritism by saying, “We share the same interests.”  My brother told him, “If you love a child, you get interested in the things they are interested in, whether you are interested in those things or not.”  My brother is right.  Love is all about going out of your way.

In the hours before His crucifixion, Pilate tried to get testimony from Jesus, but Jesus remained silent (Jn. 19:9; Mk. 15:3-5; Isa. 53:7). Pilate knew Christ had been delivered out of “envy” (Matt. 27:18), so he appealed to the people and their customary “prisoner release” during the Passover (Jn. 18:39-40). Sadly, the people listened to the chief priests and elders and chose Barabbas instead of the Lord (Matt. 27:15-21). Finally, he took water and literally “washed his hands” of the situation. He declared, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves” (Matt. 27:24).

By the time Cheers signed off, Frasier-played by Kelsey Grammer-was an integral part of that ensemble.  He didn’t even join the show until its third season and hadn’t even been intended as a permanent cast member.  Nearly 39 years after Dr Frasier Winslow Crane made his first appearance on the sitcom Cheers (in the opening episode of season three, by the way), we have been treated to the first season of the Frasier reboot on Paramount +.