No Need To Panic
On a Bible-teaching cruise in the Caribbean, I was listening to the customary first-day safety briefing. The precautions were vital in case the ship should have to be evacuated.
Displaced
David fled Jerusalem, driven from his home by his son Absalom, who had gathered an army of supporters. As he escaped, he instructed Zadok, his priest, to take the ark of God back to Jerusalem and to lead his people in worship there. “If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord,” he mused, “He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.” But if not, “Here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him” (2 Sam. 15:25-26).
The Right Answer
When Jesus asked a question, it was not because He didn’t know the answer. You can be sure He was making a point.
The Truth About Sin
One of the problems that writers face is the challenge of being honest about evil. When I write, I want the good guys to always be right. But even the best people have flaws. So to be credible, writers must be honest about the evil that lurks in good people.
The Adventure
When I was about 7, I was in the car with my mom and two sisters when my mother pulled over to the side of the road to study the map. “Are we lost, Mom?” I was worried.
SPEM Prayer
A friend sent me an e-mail that concluded with a list of prayer requests. She said, “Spiritually, I am confused, so pray for understanding. Physically, I am tired, so pray for rest. Emotionally, I am very weak, so pray for strength. Mentally, I am worried, so pray for peace.”
Source Of Gladness
Paul Gerhardt, a pastor in Germany during the 17th century, had every reason not to be glad. His wife and four of his children died; the Thirty Years’ War brought death and devastation across Germany; church conflict and political interference filled his life with distress. Yet despite great personal suffering, he wrote more than 130 hymns, many of them characterized by joy and devotion to Jesus Christ.
Talent Search
Television shows like American Idol have become a global phenomenon. Millions wait anxiously to find out who will be the next singer eliminated in the musical talent hunt.
Fake Family
A builder in California has come up with an innovative idea to sell his houses. He thinks that a good way to make a house more appealing is to have a family there when showing the house. So he hires actors to play happy families in his company’s model homes. Would-be buyers can ask them questions about the house. Each fake family cooks, watches television, and plays games while house-hunters wander through.
