human race
The alarm clock goes off way too early. At least, that’s how it feels. But a long day awaits you. First, you need to drop the kids off at school. Then there’s a breakfast meeting to attend, followed by a whole series of urgent matters to deal with.
That’s a typical day for a lot of people. As someone once…
rest
We live in an action-oriented world, and it seems that simplifying our lives has never been more complicated. Answer the following questions as honestly as you can to determine if you need to rest: Do I feel stressed when functioning in my normal day-to-day activities? Is it difficult to find joy in the life that God has given me? Do…
is it worth it?
"Last one to the water has to clean the dishes!"
Some man-made rules give the one "up" the advantage. Some simply don't make sense when you evaluate them. Are you living by any man made rules that will lead you to a “frozen lake” and no victory? (These two are by a lake by the way. I don’t think either…
compassionate anger
Some things make me angry. Newspaper columnists who belittle life-long marriage; radio hosts who rile against refugees; the big glossy advertisements for brothels in my local newspaper; climate-change proponents who label their critics ”deniers” to silence them; climate-change critics who label their opponents “alarmists” for the same reason. Yes, some things make me angry.
Jesus became angry (John 2:13-17; 11:33). One…
never in a hurry
Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry.” I wish I could make these words of John Wesley my own. Most days for me are full, with numerous duties, deadlines, phone calls, e-mails, plans, and diary items to act on. Many times that peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) is pushed aside by busy thoughts and…
small and large
How big is the kingdom of God? Jesus said it begins small, like a mustard seed or a pinch of yeast, and it grows until it permeates “every part of the dough” (13:21). It’s large enough for birds to nest in. But it’s not so big that it overlooks details. Just as our immense sun illumines every corner of Earth,…
unproductive on purpose
I mowed my father’s lawn at 8:00 a.m. one Sunday morning. I wondered what the neighbors thought, as my father never cut the grass or did any kind of work on Sunday. He felt that the “Lord’s Day” was to be reserved for quiet activities centered on God—much like the Sabbath rest of the Old Testament, which took place on…
time to obey
My wife, Miska, and I like to talk things out with our boys (ages 6 and 4). Often, we ask them what they're feeling or if they understand instructions we are giving them. Even when they evidence a bad attitude, we will talk them through the moment. Not always, however. Sometimes, the time for talk has passed; the time to…
slowing down
When the average price for a gallon of gasoline in the US climbed above $4.00, I began to notice many people around me driving their cars considerably slower. Rather than quickly racing to their next destination, more and more drivers started taking a more economical approach. Less speed = better gas mileage!
I eased off on putting the pedal to…
i love weekends
I work 44 hours each week, but I look forward to Saturday and Sunday. Two days of sleeping in a little later and not going to the office. How I love my weekends. Much of the world observes at least a one-day rest each week, with Sunday being a nonworking day in many countries. So, how did this concept of…
