Today is an ignominious day in history.
It was on this date in 1978 that 909 people died during a murder-suicide in a remote part of the South American nation of Guyana. The commune consisting of followers of Jim Jones, the founder of the Peoples Temple persuaded many “to willingly ingest a poison-laced punch while others were forced to do so at gunpoint.” Continue reading
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Author and evangelical scholar, D. A. Carson, tells about a time he used to meet with a young man from French West Africa to practice the German language.
The young man was an engineer who need fluency in German in order to pursue a doctoral degree in Germany. His wife resided in London, training to be a medical doctor.
“I soon discovered.” Carson wrote, “ that once or twice a week he disappeared into the red-light district of town. Obviously he went to pay his money and have his woman. Eventually I got to know him well enough that I asked him what he would do if he discovered that his wife was doing something similar in London.” Continue reading
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A Texas preacher, Bob Joyce, tells about a church split that began over an argument at a potluck supper.
The dispute started when one of the sisters brought a congealed salad made from cool whip instead of real whipping cream.
The reminds me of an old story Robert Jackson used to tell about a country church that couldn’t get along. Continue reading
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Today Norma Jean and I are in the Memphis area where I’m beginning a meeting for the East Shelby Church in Collierville, Tennessee.
The Shepherds have asked me to preach lessons based on Ephesians 4 that speak to the issue of religious unity. We’ve entitled the series: “Christianity 101: Bible Basics for the 21st Century.”
Sometimes it’s good to get back to the basics. To the fundamentals. To the authoritative principles on which our faith is founded.
The story is told that the legendary football coach Vince Lombardi came into the training camp of the Green Bay Packers in the summer of 1961 taking nothing for granted. Continue reading
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Today’s the last day of September. Fall is in the air. And baseball playoffs begin next week, with the World Series just around the corner.
What team will rise to the top? What heroics will be talked about for years to come? Who will be Mr. October? And what stories will be retold from bygone years?
One name surfaces almost every year. Babe Ruth, known as “The Bambino,” or “The Sultan of Swat.” Continue reading
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“I never want to be a Christian,” declared Caleb Kaltenbach.
Kaltenbach, whose parents divorced when he was two years old, both went into same-sex relationships. As a result, he was raised by homosexual parents who were LGBT activists.
In a story by Christian Post, Op-ed contributor, Billy Hallowell, stemming from his podcast interview, he relates Kaltenbach’s spiritual journey. Continue reading
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Many Christians have Bible Apps on their iPhones. I bet you never thought once about it posing any danger, did you?
It doesn’t. Unless you live in Afghanistan.
I’ve received two emails this week, one from my Rotary friend, John Grant, another from a preaching colleague, Max Dawson, reporting that the Taliban are going door to door demanding people’s cell phones. Continue reading
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While on our annual anniversary blogging break, we’re reblogging past posts. This one is from 9 years ago on this date. Its message is an excellent reminder about our relationship in Christ and how we’re supposed to treat one another.
Kinship. I just got to thinking about it. I’m not sure why. It’s not a word you hear used a lot anymore. You used to. Someone would say, “I know your kin folks!” Or “Are you all kin?”
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For 2 1/2 years, we published 175 posts with this column heading, “It’s Friday. But Sunday’s Coming!” Here’s one of those posts from 6 years ago. For newer readers who’ve never read this column, you might enjoy exploring some other posts from this category.
We’ve all experienced it. The roller coaster of emotions. The highs and lows of life. Exhilaration to exhaustion. Excitement to Discouragement. Hope to despair.
Life is a mixture of good and bad. Sunshine and rain. Pay raises. But unexpected bills. The birth of baby. The death of a grandmother. A joyful wedding. A bitter divorce. Health and sickness.
But think of the incredible range of emotions the disciples of Christ experienced in just three days?
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Today’s reblog is an 8-year-old post that has universal application. The idea for this post came from a sermon I heard by Robert Jackson during my college years. Its message really resonated with me. I hope it will with you too.
Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus.
Do you know who they are? In what book of the Bible are they mentioned? Old or New Testament? You won’t find them in Hebrews 11–The Spiritual “Hall of Fame.”
More than likely they are reserved for the answer to a Bible Trivia game. They are filed under Miscellaneous. Unidentified. Or unknown.
Give up?
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