The Bible is a fascinating collage of story and song, wisdom and rules, promises and prophecy, letters and news and history, and so much more. All of it is God’s Word, an assorted composition that touches the ordinary and extraordinary of life. Mysteriously united by the Holy Spirit, it is God’s transforming revelation to us. …
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What Should I Do?
A friend, a loved one, a church member has strayed off course, going their own way, neglecting or rejecting the good they’ve known. How can I help? What should I do? Every pastor, parent, and person will at some point be faced with this challenge. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve asked these questions…
Read moreThe Biggest Little Word
The first Bible verse I recall memorizing was Romans 8:28. It wasn’t my doing. I was only 6 or 7 years old and attending a weeklong church conference with my family. A lady named Dorothy was in charge of the children’s ministry that week. We worked hard — with Dorothy’s unwavering patience and guidance —…
Read moreThe Rock and the Roller Coaster
I like roller coasters, but I like rocks better. Every now and then (admittedly less often as the years pass) I find myself getting on a roller coaster to be lifted and plunged, tossed and turned. It’s thrilling. Scary — but safe-scary. I am buckled in tight, riding on a short, predictable track, then the…
Read moreThose Who Know Most Trust Least
When much knowledge is dangerous. by Trey Graham Too often, as our knowledge of God grows, our dependence upon Him decreases. Kind of depressing, isn’t it? As we learn the facts about God, we tend to lose the faith in God. How sad to think that we allow ourselves to become familiar with, used…
Read moreTough Love
by J. Grant Swank, Jr. Tough love is a popular term these days. Yet few understand it. It is difficult to understand tough love because we live in a mush love society. This likewise influences the Christian perception of love as presented in the Bible. Yet tough love is as old as God. It…
Read moreGod’s Dumbness
by J. Grant Swank, Jr. Why oh why do it that way — His way — when, more times than not, it is just plain dumb — and sometimes embarrassing? A stick and the Red Sea Take, for instance, when He asked Preacher Moses to pick up a stick, then hold it over the…
Read moreGod on the Stage
Why we need divine help in this human tragedy. by Bob Hostetler A Roman playwright named Horace lived and wrote in the days of Julius Caesar. Horace criticized the other poets and playwrights of his day who, every time a problem occurred in their plots, brought in one of the many Roman gods to…
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