Month: December 1996

No Other Name

The angel announced to Joseph, "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Mt. 1:21).

Why Does It Matter?

As I watched a network TV news magazine explore the growing use of foul language in America, I was pleased to see that someone had noticed the problem. With TV itself contributing to the growing use of swearing and profanity, it was surprising to see the subject addressed. But when the newsman finished his report, his comments revealed a common opinion. He concluded, "It's just words. What does it hurt?"

Thanks For Inconvenience

Thanking God for the good things He has given us comes pretty easy. But thanking Him for an enduring "inconvenience" can be difficult.

Hope Beyond Hope

The English poet Alexander Pope wrote, "Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest." But where does man turn when hope dries up?

Praying Like Paul

It's dark. It's cold. You've been thrown into prison, and you don't know when you'll get out or when you'll eat your next meal. You bow your head to pray. What will you pray for? Safety? Deliverance? A decent meal?

He Knows Your Name

How many stars are there? Astronomers don't know. They simply assure us that the cosmos contains more stars than can be numbered. Billions for sure—probably trillions!

Energy Crisis

Each day as your body performs its round of duties, it's not functioning without resources. The fact is, your body is working out what your well-supplied digestive system is working in. It's a physical law, a cooperation between supply and demand that is fundamental to healthy living.

Hiding In Plain Sight

A Baltimore congregation found the answer to its financial troubles on a church wall. And it had been "hiding" there for more than 25 years! Someone finally recognized a piece of art hanging in the chapel as a valuable woodblock print by Albrecht Dürer, dated 1493. The work shows the angel telling Mary she would give birth to God's Son.

Come, See

Christ has done great things in my life. Because of what He has done for me and for other believers, I like to extend to people the same invitation that the Samaritan woman gave to her neighbors: "Come, see" (Jn. 4:29).