Israel is like no other place on earth. To an aged wanderer, it was the Land of Promise: “To your descendants I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7). It was the land of a proud man who limped away with a new name after his encounter with God: “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, […]
Read MoreTag Archives: Genesis
Don’t Take It Easy
I keep meeting these wonderful people whose lives belie their age. Their enthusiasm is contagious, their zest for life captivating. They’re still thinking and dreaming, determined not to miss out on the fun, and they’re definitely not interested in planting themselves in a rocking chair and watching sunsets. Last Thanksgiving Day, as we wrapped up […]
Read MoreGrace Is Life
God’s nature exudes grace. We can rely upon that truth because we can see that God’s deeds exude grace, both in our lives and in Scripture. From start to finish, God’s Word reveals His grace to those with eyes to see and ears to hear. Even from the first chapter of the Bible, we see […]
Read MoreThe Secret of Letting Go
I’ll never forget the day my brother Orville dropped by my parents’ house before he and his family headed to South America as missionaries. Now, you have to appreciate the kind of man my father was. Look up the word responsible in the dictionary, and I’m surprised his picture isn’t there! To him, risks are […]
Read MoreGoing . . . Yet Not Knowing
There is a strange statement in Scripture that flashes like a bright neon sign. We see it when the author of the book of Hebrews speaks of Abraham pulling up his lifelong roots from his hometown, Ur, and leaving for—let’s see, where was he going? Abraham didn’t know! There he was, about seventy-five years old, […]
Read MoreRelating-With Our Friends
The passage in Genesis 2 is so familiar. After God made man, He observed a need inside that life, a nagging loneliness that Adam couldn’t shake. Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18) As a fulfilment […]
Read MoreHumility Has a Selective Memory
“Forgetting what is behind” (Philippians 3:13 NIV) is a statement that assures us that Paul was not the type to live in the past. He says, in effect, “I disregard my own accomplishments as well as others’ offenses against me. I refuse to dwell on that.” This requires humility, especially so when you examine Paul’s […]
Read MoreThe Devil Made Me Do It?
More than thirty years ago Flip Wilson kept America in stitches with his television characters “Reverend Leroy,” the friendly, pompous pastor of the “Church of What’s Happening Now,” and “Geraldine Jones,” the sassy African-American woman in a miniskirt. Whenever Geraldine would impulsively buy a dress—or do anything she shouldn’t—she excused her urge by uttering the […]
Read MoreFollow Through
My Grandfather’s brother taught me to drive. Uncle Dick was a wiry, chipper little Welshman who had driven lorries for the local council most of his life. “When you indicate, always follow through.” Gear control was important, lane discipline was important, checking your mirrors was important, but most important: “when you indicate, always follow through.” […]
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 More