Category: Life Issues
The Price, and Reward, of Faithfulness
Three young men were faced with the ultimate choice: deny God by worshiping a graven image, or be burned alive. This was the decree and threat from the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar recorded in Daniel 3, and it compelled the following response from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego:...
The Knife on the Table: A Brockton Dialogue
James, always questioning: Mr. Brockton, how do Satan or his demons interplay with our lives? Is there such a thing? The wiser Mr. Brockton: The battle rages quite fiercely for believers in Christ who walk as they should. He opposes by distractions, obstructions, confusion and fear....
The Key to Christian Contentment
I once heard a comedian tell a joke about a pastor’s sermon series on contentment in the Christian life. His punch line was the title of the series: “Content or Discontent: Which Tent Do You Live In?” Everyone enjoys a good laugh, but contentment in the...
The Importance of Remembering
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for Americans who have died in military service to our nation. To remember the sacrifices of those in our past is not only right and good, but essential. Without such sacrifices, we would have no present freedom, security, or...
The Garage Method
A former professor of mine, now a successful author of Christian fiction, used to dismiss his anxieties by repeating this mantra: “Oh well. It doesn’t eternally matter.” For him six words conquered all ills. He slew his worries with a phrase, with a mere wag of...
The Evil of Ungratefulness
Every year in late November, Americans are reminded to be thankful. Though some National Football League broadcasters have done their best to rename the day after the traditional main course of the meal (i.e., “Turkey Day”), thoughtful Americans persist in calling the day what it was...
Sweetness of Speech: The Bible’s Winning Tactic for Verbal Disputes
We all have the unfortunate ability to be fully convinced of our own rightness and yet still be wrong. This reality should make humility our governing disposition when disagreeing with others. And yet, having a humble disposition doesn’t mean never taking a strong stand, never contending...
Surviving Unbridled Wickedness
Not a single godly person could be found. At least, that’s how the psalmist felt. Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. (Ps 12:1) He used exaggerated language to make a point: rampant,...
The Bitterness Game
“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone,” God warns. Never? Like a man who has to move a water buffalo off the highway, “It ain’t all that easy.” After all, you’ve been deeply hurt, and the pain has been going on a long time. How...
Testing
After these things, God tested Abraham. (Genesis 22:1)God is ruthlessly interested in your faith. He will use everything at His disposal to develop you into a person who trusts Him. He knows that your life, the life and salvation of those around you, and His glory...
