Our Daily Bread

It’s a good thing our local library gives a grace period before it starts charging for overdue books. My family checks out books by the dozen, and sometimes we forget to get them back on time.

Many Christians are on the front lines of some very important battles. Some are speaking out on social issues and moral decline. Others are helping to relieve suffering and battling the effects of poverty. Still others are trying to make a difference in government or entertainment.

I knew immediately that the person on the other end of the phone was feeling defeated. It was evident in her voice. She had called to tell me that a verse of Scripture was bothering her. After quoting Jesus’ words, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36), she said she felt that the verse described her.

I arrived at the airport from an out-of-town trip, and as is our routine I called to let my family know they could pick me up. I dialed our number and expected to hear the customary “Hello.” Instead, 6-year-old Stevie picked up the phone and said, “Hi, Dad!” Having been told when my plane was expected, Stevie had complete confidence that I would be on the other end of the phone.

It was a typical summer Sunday evening service. People were scattered throughout the 500-seat auditorium. There was a testimony time, and several people spoke up, sharing from their hearts what God had done.

Amid the celebration there was tragedy. It was the opening ceremonies of the 1992 summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. One by one the teams entered the stadium and paraded around the track to the cheers of 65,000 people. But in one section of Olympic Stadium, shock and sadness fell as Peter Karnaugh, father of United States swimmer Ron Karnaugh, was stricken with a fatal heart attack.

Often we hear people question the wisdom of those in authority over us. It’s easy to point an accusing finger at government officials, bosses, pastors, teachers, or board members and say they are unfit to lead.

The more we see marriage problems all around us, the more we wonder where to look for a marriage that is working.

Let’s say you were shopping for a religion. Wouldn’t you want to serve a higher being who was powerful and could do great things? Wouldn’t you want a religion that provided great after-death benefits? Wouldn’t you want the key leader of this religion to be absolutely trustworthy and able to forgive your sins?

It was one of those rare times at our house when there was only one child around. Stevie’s older sisters were off at camps and on mission trips, so it was a good time for a father-son airport outing.