Duffy Daugherty, a colorful Michigan State football coach in years past, used to say that you needed only three bones to journey successfully through life: a wishbone, to dream on . . . a backbone, for strength and courage to get through the tough times . . . and a funny bone, to laugh at life along the way. Not bad advice.
Read MoreTag Archives: Acts
Going Fishing
Billy Wilder, the great movie producer, openly admitted: “I have a vast and terrible desire never to bore an audience.” With tacit agreement Jack Parr once declared: “The greatest sin is to be dull.”
Read MoreThree Timely Lessons for God’s Servants
In recent posts, I have written about God’s servants feeling used and unappreciated, experiencing undeserved disrespect and resentment, and having hidden greed—a desire to be rewarded. From these very real and common perils, there emerge at least three timely lessons for all of us to remember.
Read MoreThere’s No Knowing
The first time he’s mentioned, we’re not given much detail. Joseph…a Levite, a native of Cyprus,…” (Acts 4:36, ESV) Luke also gives us his nickname, and helpfully tells us what it means too. …Barnabas. (which means son of encouragement), …” What follows is precious insight into the character of a man who, whilst only mentioned […]
Read MoreWhy Are There So Many Denominations?
Question: In my small city, there must be a hundred Christian churches. All of them claim that they teach the correct way to do church. Why do we have so many denominations, and how do you know which one is right? Answer: I suppose there are as many different Christian denominations as there are interpretations […]
Read MoreSurrounded by Our Gods
When the Apostle Paul arrived in Athens he caught the attention of the local brain trust. As was his habit, on arriving he sought out the synagogue to proclaim first to the Jews that their Messiah had come, died, and defeated death itself. But his spirit was troubled in that great city (Acts 17:16). When […]
Read MoreWhat God Wants from You
The New Year is only one month old, and already the pressures of life have returned. Sixty-hour workweeks. Razor-thin balances in the chequebook every month. Children and/or grandchildren who call for unending, boundless bursts of energy. Sound familiar? As we peer into the pages of the Bible, tucked away toward the end of the Old […]
Read MoreJellyfish Ministry
Recently while in Cuba I walked along a beautiful beach and came upon a jellyfish that had washed ashore. It seems high winds and strong currents had pushed hundreds of them toward the shore with many being cast up on the sand to await death. I bent down and, careful so as to not be […]
Read MoreFast Results
There’s an old proverb that says “it takes a box of salt to make a friend” – you have to share some meals together before you really get to know someone. During my time at Dallas Seminary, I had the privilege of leading several student small groups as a Leadership Fellow. Whenever my groups met, […]
Read MoreWriting from Corinth
As Paul traipsed through the port city of Corinth, his nostrils full of the aromas from exotic spices and his ears catching snippets of conversations in foreign tongues, he likely encountered a diverse array of the people and practices—from gruff sailors and meticulous tradesmen to wealthy idolaters and enslaved Christians. The prominent Roman city provided […]
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