Step into the time tunnel with me and let’s travel together back to the distant land of Uz . . . Wherever it was, Uz had a citizen who had everyone’s respect, because he was blameless, upright, God-fearing, and clean living. He had 10 children, lots of livestock, plenty of land, numerous servants, and a […]
Read MoreCategory Archives: Death
After the Storm . . . Rebuild!
During the last few months, natural disasters have battered North America. Wildfires have ravaged Northern and Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. Death and destruction piled high as the ground shook in Mexico. Hurricane after hurricane tore through South Texas and other parts of North America, including all of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin […]
Read MoreThink Theologically, Not Logically
I confess to you, at times I doubt God’s purpose and promise. I say that to my own embarrassment. When things haven’t worked as I thought they would, when I received a no instead of a yes or a yes instead of a no, when I couldn’t unravel a situation and fit it with the […]
Read MoreStill Living: Grieving after Suicide
Disclaimer: If you are thinking about hurting yourself or believe someone you know may be, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 now. When I was a teenager, one of my youth group peers committed suicide. He was about 18 years old. Later, I served in a church where two youths killed themselves. In […]
Read MoreWhat You Never Expected
The opening story of the evening news was about a parent who forgot her child in the car. The day’s temperature was 107 degrees, outside of the car. The next story was about several people gunned down, and the next one detailed a car accident that resulted in severe injuries to all parties. By then, […]
Read MoreWhat Do I Do When I Feel Lonely?
Question: I don’t like coming home to my apartment. It’s cold and dark. The first thing I do is turn on the television just to hear some human voices. I eat alone, flip channels, maybe do a little reading, and then go to bed. I’ve been in and out of relationships, and none of them […]
Read MoreIt’s Okay
Getting stuck is a bummer. Just for a moment, let’s list a few “stucks”: Stuck in traffic Stuck on a test Stuck on a project Stuck while trying to fix something Stuck in the mud Stuck in a dead-end career Stuck in life Our minds can also get stuck in a rut of one-way thinking—the […]
Read MoreHope Beyond the Hurt
I got the call one cold February afternoon. My father said, “Son, I think your mother is gone.” The news took me completely by surprise. “Gone? Do you mean dead?” I asked. “Yes, I think she’s dead.” I hurried over to my parents’ apartment in Dallas. My sister had arrived before me and was talking […]
Read MoreDespite Your Circumstances
Few people in the first century had a deeper understanding of God’s grace than the apostle Paul. Redeemed from a life of vicious brutality as a rigid legalistic Pharisee, the man turned the corner, repented, and through Christ’s empowering became a gentle soul, gracious and affirming. Understanding. Forgiving. Approachable. He reached the place where he […]
Read MoreDependence
For most of us, asking for help is difficult. I really don’t prefer it; some of you may not as well. Yet, God lets us know time and time again that we need help. After all, He refers to us most often as sheep—the most difficult and demanding of any livestock on earth. Admitting need […]
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