Greater Grace
One morning, when our granddaughter Julia was quite young, she and her Nana were reading the Bible together. They came to the familiar verse, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Read More »
Accident Or Design?
The Bible opens with this magnificent statement: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). How simple those words are and yet how fathomless!
Read More »A Refreshing Change
Starting each October, catalogs begin to fill up my mailbox advertising clothes, appliances, shoes, candles, books, music—more than I could ever need or want for myself or for loved ones at Christmas.
Read More »Amazing Grace
In the 1700s, John Newton went to sea with his father on a merchant ship. Soon after his father retired, Newton was pressed into service on a warship. Facing intolerable conditions, he deserted and later requested a transfer to a slave ship that was soon to set sail for Africa.
Read More »Where Will Death Lead?
In AD 410, the Germanic barbarians known as the Goths sacked the city of Rome. During the invasion, many Christians were put to death in hideous and cruel ways.
Read More »Love Goes Beyond Liking
From childhood on, we are urged to show love, whether it’s for parents or pets or friends, and especially for Jesus. But what is love?
Read More »A Lost Art
The apostle Paul had never been to the church in Colosse, but he had heard all about it from Epaphras. He knew it was a church under attack by false teachers, so he prayed fervently for this congregation (Colossians 1:9-14; 2:4-7).
Read More »Good Workers
During the early years of our marriage, my wife and I attempted to wallpaper our dingy Chicago apartment. We completed the project, but not without a great deal of difficulty. At one point I even had to remove a poorly-hung section of paper and go to the store to buy more. I learned to appreciate someone who could do a job like wallpapering with skill.
Read More »Difficult Days
We buried my wife’s father 2 days before Thanksgiving, and every year the holiday is tinged with the sorrow of losing him. No doubt your calendar contains some of these difficult days that roll around once a year, bringing fresh reminders of losses that still hurt and people you still miss. A Wall Street Journal article calls these dates “emotional land mines” and says they may be even more difficult to face when they coincide with national holidays or anniversaries of significant events.
Read More »Let Go!
A 14-year-old North Carolina boy refused to stop playing his Nintendo Game Boy during school hours. The principal was called in and he still refused to stop. When the school liaison officer tried to search him, the teen kicked and punched him. The police were summoned, yet the boy adamantly resisted. Only after the officers gave him two shocks from a Taser gun were they able to remove the toy from him. He was uninjured, but one officer was bitten by the boy.
Read More »