December 20, 2010
What non-material “gift” are you praying for this Christmas? Why?
luck or blessing?
Have you ever noticed that the word "Luck" is used more than "Bless"? People, even believers in Jesus, tend to say "Good Luck" and not "God bless." I wonder why a person would want to have luck more than blessing? Luck is by chance, indefinite , unpredictable, and it can be either good or bad. While to bless literally means joy, happiness, prosperity,…
small sins
Fish farmers in the southern U.S. had a small problem. Algae was filling their ponds, so they took the seemingly innocent step of importing Asian carp—which can grow to 100 pounds and eat 40 percent of their body weight each day—to clean the bottom of their ponds. But flooding swept the carp into the Mississippi River, which they navigated until…
the fight for marriage
The fight for godly marriages has raged since the fall in Eden, but in the past few years, my husband and I have become increasingly aware that the battle lines begin at our doorstep. Seeing some of our friends divorce and others separate has left us wishing for the innocence of days gone by. As we prepare to celebrate our…
mustard seed faith
At 40%, Kenya has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. Among the youth, the situation is grimmer, with 3 of every 5 out of work. Little wonder that "in the violence that followed Kenya’s disputed elections of 2007, which left 1,133 people dead and 650,000 displaced from their homes, many of these atrocities were committed at the…
waiting
We have some friends, a young married couple, living with us. Finished with one part of their university studies, they’ve applied to a variety of graduate schools to continue their coursework. But they have no idea where they will end up. The possibilities are all over the map—from Boston to Vancouver to Pittsburgh to Atlanta. They’ve filled out many applications…
running from nineveh
Sixty-six-year-old Nita Friedman was not the sort of person you would expect to lead the police on a 15-mile car chase. But that’s exactly what police chief Mike Hutter encountered on US Highway 95 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
After receiving a call about a reckless driver, Hutter spotted Friedman and turned on his lights and siren. Rather than pull over,…
don't touch . . . wait
A smell, a sound, a song, a sight…all these things trigger memories. As my plane was taking off over Kansas City yesterday morning, I looked out the window of the plane to see a big red barn.
Instantly I was 5 years old. As a little girl being raised in the Shawnee Mission area of Kansas City, my parents took me…
not a minute late
Jason took a trip to New York during spring break. One afternoon, he piled into a cab with some friends and headed for the Empire State Building. The ride seemed totally chaotic and dangerous to Jason. After arriving at their destination, the group headed up to the observation deck.
Once there, Jason paused to take in the view—102 floors above…
curses and conflicts
Conflicts. I haven’t found anyone who truly enjoys them. I, for one, will do anything possible to avoid conflicts. For I desire and strive to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18; Hebrews 12:14). Genesis 3:15 is about hostility and animosity. In this verse, God declares that He will cause enmity between Satan and Eve. Why would God deliberately create…
but a try . . .
Psalms 91:11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Luke 4:10 For it is written: He will command His angels concerning you to guard you carefully.
Without Gods’ grace, and the love and support of my husband, children, all my family and friends, their prayers and encouragement, I would not be as…
December 13, 2010
A recent Pew Research Center study revealed that nearly 40% of the respondents felt that marriage is becoming “obsolete.” Why do some people have this view and what can believers in Jesus do to support marriage?
failure
According to columnist Perry Buffington, a licensed psychologist, failure takes on a life of its own because the brain remembers incomplete tasks or failures longer than successes or completed activities. It’s called the “Zeigarnik effect.” Buffington states, “When a project or a thought is completed, the brain . . . no longer gives the project priority or active working status.…
the "accept" button
After months of vowing not to, I finally signed up on Facebook and Twitter. My fears that these social media tools would rob me of precious writing time as I waded through endless updates have largely proven true! But the pros have outweighed the cons— particularly in keeping in touch with listeners to my radio program, Open House.
Open House…
