Hey friends, here’s a provocative devotional thought by the late Bible teacher A.W. Pink that I’ve gone back to many times over the years. I’ve been thinking on it afresh in recent weeks and I hope it brings perspective and strength to you today as well: “Ponder the incident; visualize the scene before your mind’s eye. It was not an … Read More
Reflections on Prayer and the Victims of Trauma, 1 of 2
1 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? … Read More
Going Through Storms, 2 of 2
We mentioned in part one that storms come in many shapes and sizes. Again, whether yours feel minor or soul-destroying, I hope that one or more of these remaining insights from the relational storms that I’ve gone through recently will be healing and helpful. Forgive. Some hurts are unintentional and come from people who really do love us. Moreover, even … Read More
God’s Normal M.O.
When we go through pain and difficulty often our default is to think God doesn’t love us or that we don’t have enough faith. Nonsense like this is associated with the Accuser of our souls and popular heresies like the “health and wealth,” or prosperity gospel. Contrary to these intrusive lies, here is what the Bible teaches: 1Therefore, since we … Read More
Pursuing Knowledge: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
This post was originally published on October 6, 2017. I’m reposting it again in honor of my friends at Mantua Creek Church and the study we’ve begun on the book of Ecclesiastes. There’s nothing new on this earth. Year after year it’s the same old thing…. Much learning earns you much trouble. The more you know the more you hurt. … Read More
Finding Treasure in Unlikely Places, Part 1 of 5
Corrie Ten Boom wasn’t as sexy as Diana Rigg in the British cult-classic The Avengers or Maggie Q in Designated Survivor but she was the real deal. A spy who risked her life to save the world and protect the innocent. In her book, The Hiding Place, she tells about a time she was in prison as a result of … Read More
A Tribute to My “PDL” Friends and Other Sources of Hope
Every 2-3 months I get together for an “in-service” training with three of my heroes. They are part of Care Net’s Pregnancy Decision Line (PDL). Anyone in the country can call 877-791-5475 and these coaches offer live compassion, hope, and help to women and men considering abortion. They do so by presenting realistic alternatives to abortion and referrals to life-affirming … Read More