It is sobering to watch the destruction of major historical structures. However, Bible prophecies warn Israelite-descended nations, including France, that God’s punishment is coming because these nations have rejected God and His laws (Hosea 8:11–14). God also warns that in the future, Israel’s “high places” (locations dedicated to other gods) will be brought down because they have rejected Him (Leviticus 26:30).

Just over six weeks ago, Cyclone Idai slammed into the east African nations of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi (The Guardian, March 27, 2019). The cyclone displaced “hundreds of thousands of people” while “flooding an area of 3,000 sq km” and killing more than 1,000 people. Cholera is now rampant.

On This Date, a book authored by Carl M. Cannon, has a timely bit of American history relevant for any Christian observing the Passover.

It was on the day before the Passover, April 9, 1865, that Robert E. Lee told his aide, “The time had come for capitulation”—for surrender. His aide, Colonel Walter Herron Taylor, replied that any other fate would be preferable.

When I was a child, my family frequently visited my grandparents’ home. Each time we did, my grandfather would have some task for us to do. My brothers and I never really minded the work, though, because he would always make it fun and teach us something deeper in the process. I cannot even count the number of projects we worked on together, but they are now collectively treasured memories of a man who taught me much. One such project was cleaning out the rainwater cistern.