The Promise Of A King
For all his education, Austrian-born psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud couldn't predict how history was going to unfold. When Communist revolutionaries were laying the foundations of Soviet tyranny on the corpses of their own countrymen, Freud wrote, "At a time when great nations are declaring that they expect to find their salvation solely from a steadfast adherence to Christian piety, the upheaval in Russia . . . seems to promise a better future." How mistaken that godless man was!
The Witness Of Suffering
A brilliant philosopher and theologian made this strong statement: "No one was ever saved by apologetics." He wasn't downplaying the importance of being ready to give reasons for our faith. But persuasive arguments aren't enough. People must choose for themselves to believe in Jesus.
Going To The Dentist
Why are so many people afraid of going to the dentist? It may be the result of a bad experience. One woman said of her childhood dentist, "I started getting upset and crying and he said, 'If you don't shut up, I'm going to slap you.'" She now drives 70 miles to The Dental Fears Clinic in Kansas City.
Come As You Are
There's a story about an artist who wanted to paint a picture of the prodigal son (described by Jesus in Luke 15:11-32). He saw an unkempt beggar on the street and asked him to come to his studio and pose.
Lily-Trotters
The jacana is a unique tropical bird. It has spindly legs with long protruding toes, enabling it to skip along on floating weeds or stroll across lily pads. It has been given the nickname "lily-trotter." Even though it is capable of majestic flight, it seems content to move lazily from flower to flower or to drift slowly downstream.
Searching And Finding
God will make Himself known to anyone who sincerely desires to know the truth.
The Nudge Lady
Although Beverly Sklover stands only 4 feet 10 inches tall, she is described as a "towering presence on the telephone." She advertises in a local newspaper as "The Nudge Lady," after the Yiddish word that sounds like "noodge" and stands for a chronic and persistent nag or badgerer.
Part Of The Crew
Have you ever watched a pit crew in action at an auto race? I had the opportunity to be in the pit area during a race, and I was impressed.
Have You Prayed?
Several years ago I moved to England, but I have traveled back to the USA many times, often staying with the same families. One family lived in a farmhouse where a tiny upstairs room always awaited me.
Blessings In Disguise
Early in the springtime, a cardinal chose to build her nest in a hanging basket near an entrance to our house. The mother bird must have thought this was an ideal spot, for she soon began delivering construction materials for her new home. But she didn't realize that it was one of the busiest areas around. By the time Mrs. Cardinal could have laid her eggs and hatched them, she would have been a nervous wreck.
Heaven's Surprises
Scripture gives us only a glimpse of the glory we will share in heaven with our crucified and risen Savior. Just think—no more sorrow, no more death, no more crying, no more pain, for the former things will have passed away! (Rev. 21:4).
Selfish Prayers
Some people see God as a supernatural change-agent who answers their every whim, a kind of divine genie who stands before them to grant their every wish.
Knowing + Obeying = Joy
A woman who had been a staunch church member for years was asked, "Tell me, just what do you believe?" She replied, "I believe what my church believes."
Joshua's Challenge
Call it the Showdown at Shechem. Joshua gathered the people of Israel at this town so he could give them the challenge of their lives.
Keeping On Course
Two men had been out deep-sea fishing when night began to fall. As they headed back toward land, the more experienced seaman got sleepy and turned the helm over to his friend. The veteran sailor pointed out the North Star and said, "Just keep the boat going in that direction."
"I Surrender All"
Pete and I sing in the tenor section of our church choir. I've come to appreciate his gentle spirit, his spirituality, and his love for the music of the church.
There Is No God?
Many years ago a friend sent me an article that included these words: "Some men say, 'There is no God.' All the wonders around you are accidental. No Almighty hand made a thousand billion stars. They made themselves. The surface of our land just happened to have topsoil, without which we would have no vegetables to eat, and no grass for the animals whose meat is our food.
Faith At Work
Christians sometimes sing the following words:
Foundational Praying
It was a sunny, sad day in 1982—the day after my husband's funeral. I had gone alone to Bill's grave, hardly knowing why. As with Mary Magdalene who visited Jesus' tomb, the risen Lord was waiting for me. He impressed the words of Philippians 1:21 on my vacant mind, still numbed by Bill's untimely cancer death. I wove my prayer around the words of that verse:
The World's Hatred
When high school senior Angela Guidry submitted a copy of her valedictory speech to school administrators, the principal demanded that she leave out one part. It was the sentence that read, "To me the most important thing in your life is not whether you have a good education or a good job, but whether or not you have the Lord in your life."
Grandmothers Festival
Unni Brinchman jumped out of a small plane at 12,000 feet. That might not sound so unusual, but it was her first plunge, and she was a 58-year-old grandmother! The event occurred at a 3-day Grandmothers Festival held in Bodo, Norway. Its purpose was to encourage older women to continue to lead interesting, exciting lives. Hundreds of women tried things they had never done before, breaking old-age stereotypes.
"Sweet Cane" For God
Our giving to the Lord should include more than handing Him a "tip" on Sunday from money that's left over when the bills are paid. It should include all acts of devotion that cost us something.
Better-Looking Every Day
Few of us look in the mirror and come to the conclusion of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath. During his heyday as a player, Namath wrote a book titled I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow . . . 'Cause I Get Better-Looking Every Day.
Old News Is No News
As I scanned the morning paper, I noticed that every article reported "old" news: a prominent sports figure arrested for drunkenness, a man charged with conspiracy, a government policy criticized, and the baseball season's opener disrupted by rowdy fans.
A Mystery Solved
What happens to us when we die? That mystery has intrigued people down through the ages.
The Greenest Grass
A friend in Pennsylvania sent us this illustration: "One of my father's old cows gives good milk, but she sure can be dumb! She has a whole field in which to feed, yet no grass seems quite as tasty as those patches outside her own pasture. I often see her stretching her head through the fence, while right behind her is everything she needs— excellent grazing land, beautiful shade trees, a cool, refreshing stream of water, and even a big chunk of salt. What more could she want?"
What's Next?
The night before Jesus was crucified, two of His disciples turned against Him. Judas betrayed Christ, leading His enemies to Him in the Garden (Lk. 22:47-48). And Peter denied three times that he even knew the Lord (vv.57-60).
The King Could
Like many young children, I had a favorite book of nursery rhymes. I particularly remember Humpty Dumpty, pictured as a big, egg-shaped creature with a painted face and skinny arms and legs, perched happily on a wall. Then he fell and broke into countless pieces. As a child, I felt the hopelessness of the situation whenever I read that they "couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again."
Worship And Obey
Millions of Christians gather every Sunday to worship God as their Creator and Redeemer. Whether formal and liturgical or free and spontaneous, church services are occasions to declare God's worthiness and to give Him praise. But centuries of church history reveal how quickly worship can degenerate into empty ritualism. This occurs whenever God's people harden their hearts and fail to obey His Word.
Speck Inspectors
Why do some people seem to be experts at finding a speck in the eye of someone else? (Mt. 7:3). Is it because the fault stands out like Santa Claus at a Fourth of July picnic? No, they deliberately search for specks because they're looking for something to criticize.
How Prayer Works
Author Susan Lenzkes was deeply troubled by the pictures on the news reports coming from Oklahoma City. The April 1995 bombing had taken its toll on the city's residents and on the nation's spirit. As Susan sat in her California home wishing she could do something, she prayed, "Lord, show me how I can help."
