doing good
Edward Kimball was a Sunday school teacher determined to win his class to Christ. A young Dwight Moody would fall asleep during his lessons, but Kimball remained resolute and even met Moody at the shoe store where he worked and urged him to give his life to Christ. Kimball left the store thinking he’d failed miserably, but because of that encounter, Dwight Lyman Moody did commit his life to Christ, and he became one of the most prolific preachers of his time. Moody’s conversion and ministry places him in a select group of influential evangelists who were used by God to bring millions to Christ: Frederick Brotherton Meyer, J. Wilbur Chapman, Billy Sunday, Mordecai Ham, and Billy Graham.
doing good things
My neighborhood in Uganda was relatively quiet until a businessman disrupted our peace by opening an outdoor bar across the street from my home. Now loud music blares the entire night, with the bar owner refusing to consider the residents he’s disturbing. He tells us that he’s a good man, and since he gives money to the poor people shouldn’t complain.
right thing, wrong reason
I was preaching one evening when a mentally ill man walked down the church aisle, slapped me in the face, pushed over the pulpit, and sent the congregation into a panic. In a protective act, a church member named Gary stepped toward the man as he lunged towards Gary and his wife.
discipline of secrecy
I’m an exhibitionist,” said the surrealist artist Salvador Dali. “Life is too short to remain unnoticed.” And actress Marlene Dietrich once released an album made entirely of the applause recorded at her cabarets—which she frequently played for her friends.
The desire for praise is never far from any of us. We want people to applaud our qualities and achievements. We…
impossible
Despite his status as a former world-class basketball player, David Robinson has resisted superstardom’s relentless temptations and forged a reputation as a quality human being on and off the court. One of the tangible results of his ongoing legacy is a private school in San Antonio, Texas.
A cursory glance at this academically rigorous institution won’t tell you that Robinson…
more than a medal
The apostle Paul appealed to the Christians in Corinth by comparing their lives to the races of the Isthmian games. As the runners conditioned their bodies to win a perishable wreath, so the Corinthians should strive to win a crown that will last forever (1 Corinthians 9:25). When I first read this verse, I thought that Paul was being naïve.…
cause celebs
A majority of today’s celebrities have a cause. Whether it’s cancer research, animal rights, human rights, global warming, or a myriad of other charitable undertakings, countless high-profile actors and professional athletes have sought to use their platform of popularity to evoke change.
Instead of considering the impetus behind these stars’ good deeds, however, let’s look at our motivation and the…
double trouble
I saw a funny commercial on TV. A young boy stood near home plate and shouted, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed a baseball into the air, swung mightily, and missed. "Strike one," he said to himself. He shouted louder, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" flipped a ball into the air, swung, and missed. "Strike…
