Have you ever wanted someone dead? Scripture tells us of a man who not only wanted someone dead but did everything he could to see that it happened. This man was Haman. Many of you are familiar with the story of Esther, the queen who risked her own life to save her people. Many of […]
The Fear of Loss Living in Uganda, I was made painfully aware of possible threats to the life and health of my children. Some of the deadliest snakes loved the nearby river. Accidently imbibing tap water or eating out could mean bacterial infections. Driving continually reminded me of my finitude. I prayed daily, sometimes hourly […]
In my last article, I mentioned that when faced with failure, we tend to flee for refuge to one of three idols: control, comfort, or approval. We saw how Americans, surrounded by comfort, often hide under its shifting shadow. But comfort is not our only antidote to failure; we also chase the dazzling rays of […]
Burning Incense Imagine you experienced a reeling personal failure. You were fired from your job, your boyfriend said you were too clingy and broke up with you, your child retreats from you and your controlling clutches. What is your response? Do you desperately try to get back that which you lost? Do you call your […]
Death Dregs Ancient Greece, on the edge of collapse, was a pleasure-driven society. The people’s primary objective was their own happiness. In a society that had revoked the gods and organized religion, happiness was whatever satisfied unbridled lust and desire. Men fornicated with countless women and as many men—and boys. Women offered their wares to […]
Food Rules Our society is riddled with various and contradictory ideas about food, and these ideas have penetrated our churches. Committed vegetarians proudly remind us that in their perfect state, Adam and Eve were herbivores and that Daniel’s complexion brightened on his greens and beans diet. Zealous, whole-foods folks point out that the Israelites—a people […]
When I was attending college I remember coming home over Christmas break and constantly hearing stories from my family about things they were doing to build God’s kingdom. I started asking myself what I was doing to help. I wasn’t attending a Bible study, sharing the gospel on campus, volunteering at a soup kitchen—nothing. Was […]
Getting What I Deserve It was the same discussion we had many times before. He argued for God’s goodness and our utter depravity. As a good Calvinist, I couldn’t deny either. So my frustration mounted. “I know God is good and that I am wicked in myself. But to say that even my best […]
The Command and Benefits of Prayer It is hard work. It is not natural. It requires faith and patience and time. And it sometimes seems pointless. These are some of the reasons we, as Christians, don’t pray. Yet, faithful pastors and fellow Christians urge us to pray. With such compelling reasons against […]
What do you think about frequently?1 What does your mind run back to, consciously or not? How do these thoughts affect your lived life, desires, emotions? We often don’t realize it, but our thoughts shape our lives. Let me illustrate. A man meets a new co-worker. He soon discovers she is witty and intelligent (beside […]