ROMANS 8:28-30 When bad things happen, many people prefer to quote Romans 8:28. But in tough circumstances, it is indeed usually difficult to believe that. A man who had just lost his third son in a row asked, “How can this tragedy work for my good?” as we sat together. I was at a loss for … [Read more…]
PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11 I pay attention to grammar and spelling errors when I read a newspaper or magazine. I do not really look for mistakes; they just jump out at me! My typical response is to be critical of the publication and those who put it together. Why do they not employ a proofreader or use grammar checking? … [Read more…]
PROVERBS 18:1-8, 20-21 Nelson Mandela, who battled the South African apartheid regime and was imprisoned for almost three decades, understood the strength of words. He is often quoted today, yet while he was in prison, his words could not be quoted by the people for fear of being punished. Ten years after being freed, he declared: … [Read more…]
1 CORINTHIANS 9:19-27 Someone once said a rolling-ball clock in the British Museum provided a striking example of how routine can weary a man’s mind. The steel ball made about 2,500 miles of back-and-forth travel each year, but it never truly went anywhere. When we are unable to discern a greater goal, it is simple for us … [Read more…]
PROVERBS 26:1-12 Several online news websites have a “Comments” area at the bottom where readers can share their thoughts. There is no shortage of harsh rants, ignorant comments, and name-calling on even the most renowned websites. Despite being written over 3,000 years ago, the wisdom contained in the book of Proverbs is as current as today’s … [Read more…]
ROMANS 5:1-11; JAMES 1:2 Thomas has experienced a lot. He underwent open heart surgery. The doctors then had to do the surgery again a short while later because of complications. He had just started to recover with physical therapy when he had a bicycle accident and broke his collarbone. Furthermore, Thomas lost his mother at this … [Read more…]
ACTS 17:10-13 “People are dying in the US because of a dangerous jungle spider.” This rumor was going around. Plenty of technical terms and actual circumstances made the story seem plausible. But Jeff knew it was a web scam when he checked it out from reliable sources and discovered it was false. Only by consulting … [Read more…]
COLOSSIANS 1:15-23; ROMANS 5:1 Many old churches were built to be calm, quiet places where people could compose themselves. They offer a pleasant respite from the chaos of the outside world. Many people yearn for peace, and a brief period of stillness may be therapeutic. But the Bible asserts that the source of genuine peace—peace with God—is … [Read more…]
2 KINGS 5:1-15 A complicated game using sticks and string was being played by two boys. After some time, the older lad frowned at his friend and stated, “You are not doing it right.” “It is my game, and we play it my way.” Early on, we develop the impulse to do things our way. Early … [Read more…]
EPHESIANS 1:3-14 When American civil rights icon Rosa Parks passed away in 2005, Oprah Winfrey considered it an honour to eulogize her. According to Oprah, “I often thought about what that took—knowing the climate of the times and what could have happened to you—what it took to stay seated” in reference to the woman who … [Read more…]
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