One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. –from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord God took the man and […]
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RSS feed for this sectionLetting Go of Control
If there be, therefore, perpetual failure in your life, it cannot arise from any weakness or impotence in the Mighty God; but from some failure on your part. That failure may probably be discovered in one of three hiding places—imperfect surrender, deficient faith, or neglected communion. But when the intention of the soul is right […]
The Cross Sweetens Bitter Waters
Acrid bitterness inevitably seeps into the lives of people who harbor grudges and suppress anger, and bitterness is always a poison. It keeps your pain alive instead of letting you deal with it and get beyond it. Bitterness sentences you to relive the hurt over and over. –Lee Strobel, journalist and author Then Moses led Israel […]
The Deadly Curse of Double-Mindedness
Doubt discovers difficulties which it never solves; it creates hesitancy, despondency, despair. Its progress is the decay of comfort, the death of peace. “Believe!” is the word which speaks life into a man, but doubt nails down his coffin. –Charles Spurgeon, pastor and author But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to […]
The Still Small Voice of God
Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. God’s voice in response to mine is the most essential part. –Andrew Murray, pastor and author And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the […]
Why I Don’t Want a Christian Government
I write Christian books. It’s what I do. Sometimes my research takes me to one of my favorite works: a massive 11-volume set titled, The Story of Civilization by historian Will Durant. Durant’s historical accounts are marked by periodic and profound insights such as: It is in governments to degenerate; for power, as Shelly said, […]
Ours Is a Different World
My father-in-law (Ted) passed away several months back. It was a difficult time for the entire family as we lost a man we dearly loved. Understandably, my mother-in-law got the worst of the deal. Not only did she lose her faithful husband of almost 60 years, her entire way of life was radically changed. Working […]
The Christmas Blend Revival?
I can envision the scenario: Facing relentless pressure from some evangelical Christians, Starbucks decides to abandon its minimalist red cup Christmas design. Soon, happy little images of dancing snowflakes, smiling Santas, and ornamented trees revive the “true spirit” of Christmas. Employees and patrons are overwhelmed. One customer—upon receiving his Christmas Cookie Frappuccino (with an added […]
Why Didn’t Jesus Have a Victory Parade?
Have you ever wondered why Jesus never had a victory parade? Think about it. Throughout history, major victories have been celebrated with parades. Virtually every major sports championship is celebrated by a city victory parade. Local officials estimated that some 800,000 people swarmed the 2.3-mile parade route to celebrate the Kansas City Royals’ 2015 World […]
To Save a Life . . .
On September 22, 1955, not long before dark, 14-year-old Dave Hickman was out hunting with his grandfather when he heard an odd cooing sound. Spurred to investigate, the young man walked about 150 feet and climbed on top of a fence. Looking down, he spied an infant girl lying in the weeds, wrapped in a […]