““They can burn our houses, they can burn our food—but they cannot burn Jesus out of me.”
These are the words from a minister in Mozambique, whose fellow believers, family, and entire village suffered horrific violent persecution at the hands of Islamic insurgents.
An August 3rd article by Stefani McDade in Christianity Today magazine details the extent of the assaults perpetrated on those who identify as “Christian.” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
On our recent trip to the Bible lands, we visited the village of Capernaum, billed as “The Town of Jesus.” As we entered I snapped this picture of the statue of “Homeless Jesus” by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmaz.
The statue reminded me of this interaction Jesus had with a Scribe as he was about to leave this sea-coast town and go to the other side.
“Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go,” said the Scribe. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
We live in a nation that loves a good deal. Hardly anyone wants to pay full price. So we wait for our favorite store to have a sale. Go to garage sales. Look on E-bay. Or surf the web for an internet deal.
The craziness on Black Friday, the crowds at after Christmas sales, and the shoppers at tax-free weekends all attest to the bargain hunter mindset. And their mantra is simple–To get the best quality merchandise for the lowest possible price. Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Last Thursday during the Senate hearing regarding the charge of sexual assault, which he has vehemently denied, Judge Brett Kavanaugh was questioned extensively about his drinking habits. He appeared annoyed by the intense scrutiny and in turn asked the Senators about their drinking habits. Of course, they weren’t the ones being investigated and declined to engage in that discussion.
As I was reading 2 Corinthians 13 this morning I thought how much easier it is to examine other people instead of ourselves. In this text, Paul issues this challenge. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
Have you ever worked on a jigsaw puzzle and come down to the final piece or two and can’t find it? Frustrating isn’t it?
Maybe you’ve bought some shelves from Ikea that require assembly. You begin to put it together and there’s an important piece missing it. Irritating, isn’t it?
Or you’ve bought the special toy that your child has been wanting. Bring it home. Open it up. Begin following the directions to assemble it. And something needed was not included? Aggravating, isn’t it? Continue reading
Filed under Commitment, Discipleship
Our church family at West Main in Lewisville is engaged in reading through the New Testament this year. Currently, we are in the book of Acts.
I noticed a concept in yesterday’s reading that is a prevailing theme, not only in Acts but throughout the Bible. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
Leroy “Satchel” Paige, was a great African-American baseball pitcher who played in the early to mid-1900’s. Paige, who played before blacks were allowed in the major leagues, is credited for paving the way.
Paige was a showman, a legend in his own time and an incredible athlete who defied age. No one ever knew for sure how old he was, it’s believed he was the oldest rookie in the Majors when he signed with the Cleveland Indians at age 42 in 1948.
Famous for his humorous sayings, Paige once quipped, “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you!” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Great Bible Verses
William Barclay relates a story from Robert Louis Stevenson in The Master of Ballantrae who writes about the master leaving the ancestral home of Durrisdeer for the last time.
There is a sad scene in which he is talking to the faithful family steward. “Ah! M’Kellar,” he said, “Do you think I have never a regret.”
“I do not think,” said M’Kellar, “that you could be so bad a man unless you had all the machinery for being a good one.” Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
A manufacturing plant was in full swing one day. The company’s massive machine was humming along, taking in the raw materials at one end and churning out the finished product at the other.
Suddenly, the machine stopped and ground to a halt. Workers climbed all over it like ants to get it started again. The plant’s manager stormed out of his office to find out why his multi-million-dollar machine wasn’t making him any money. He listened to his people saying they couldn’t figure it out, and he told them to call a technician. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
When the Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff first came to the United States he jokes that he wasn’t prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores.
“On my first shopping trip” he says, “I saw powdered milk–you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice–you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to my self, what a country!” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Word of the Week
ThePreachersWord 