even though
Hebrews 11:6: It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
Even though God initially didn't give Abraham any details concerning the land that He had promised to give him and his descendants, it didn't keep Abraham from believing in God (Genesis…
oops!
In late 2010, a commercial airline copilot had one major oops moment. While the lead pilot had left the cockpit for a break, his clumsy crewman knocked the control column forward as he attempted to adjust his seat. The jet, which had been cruising at 37,000 feet, instantly nosedived more than 2,000 feet. The pilot managed to return to the cockpit,…
prayer's rich blessings
I don’t write definitively on the subject of prayer very much because I find it to be indescribable, highly personal, and not open to the evaluation of others because . . . prayer is between God and me.
Some wax eloquently on the subject, some have written entire books on the subject, and some have written entire series on the subject.…
growing from faith into love
Mark 12:30: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
Recently, I was called on to deliver the eulogy at my brother-in-law's memorial service. As I was seeking the Lord for wisdom that would be a source of strength and comfort to the family, the Holy Spirit taught…
next
My dad surpassed the biblical lifespan of 80 years mentioned in Psalm 90:10. But his 84 years was barely 9 percent of the average lifespan of the first 10 generations of humans. Adam lived 930 years. Seth, 912. Enosh, 905. Kenan, 910. Mahalalel, 895. Jared, 962. Enoch, 365. Methuselah, 969. Lamech, 777, and Noah, 950 years (Genesis 5:1-32). These 10…
missing the people forest
"Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with such scum?” (Matthew 9:10-11).
Missing the forest for the trees?
Matthew, the tax collector, is on “cloud nine.” Feeling on top of the world, for once,…
looking good for the race
Hebrews 12:11-15: No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame…
November 28, 2011
What are your thoughts on the movie “Twilight: Breaking Dawn” that premiered worldwide this month?
justice
Stephane Hessel, a 93-year-old philosopher, concentration camp survivor, and former member of the French Resistance, has written a booklet, Be Indignant. Since the publishing of the tract and its 11 printings, he has inspired the nation to fight for social justice. Hessel said to the French: “Don’t be complacent. Don’t simply accept the widening gap between rich and poor, the…
okay to be great?
Is it a sin to be great? Over the years, I’ve heard statements that imply it is. Some have said, “It’s not about me. It’s about God.” Or, “People need to see God, not me.” Yes, we should avoid self-promotion, but I wonder if believers in Jesus can take it too far?
To those who think it’s a sin to…
verbal strikes
I grew up under the weight of a verbally abusive grandfather. To this day, years after his death, I still struggle with ramifications of things he said to me and how I responded.
During my teenage years, I took my grandfather’s endless criticism with a grain of salt and made every effort to respond to him in a gentle Christlike…
dogs and cats and whales
Frank’s dog tormented cats. So when Thor broke free one day and ran off, Frank got a bad feeling. Sure enough, the dog snatched a poor, unsuspecting cat in its jaws. But then, out of the shadows, came a furious streak of gray—another cat! Launching itself onto Thor’s back, it viciously raked the dog’s eyes and nose. The hapless hound…
happy thanksgiving!
faith in the famine
During the time period of the Kings, Israel didn’t forsake God, but they mixed faith in Him with faith in gods of fertility and rain. Perhaps they were thinking: It can’t hurt to ask a few more gods for a bountiful harvest, right?
Amid that spiritually dark landscape, one person stood out because of his different approach. The prophet Elijah…
the privilege of children
Erik Hatzinger confessed to stealing money from several businesses over many months. He seems to be repentant, for when the judge ordered him to pay $13,000 in restitution, Erik informed the judge that he had stolen more and would like to pay it all back.
“That’s the son I raised,” his mother told a reporter. “I’m not surprised he wanted…
