A man got into a cab at LaGuardia airport. The friendly cab driver, a recent immigrant from Southeast Asia, asked in broken English why he was in New York. The man replied, “I am a Lutheran minister and I am here for a convention. Do you know what a Lutheran is?” “Oh yes,” […]
3336) Welcoming the Foreigners Read More »
(…continued) Twenty centuries ago the Romans did not know what to make of the early Christians who were so odd as to have only one God, but they were impressed by how the Christians helped each other– and everyone else. In most the monasteries of the Middle Ages there were rules about hospitality,
3324) Lending a Hand (2/2) Read More »
Many years ago, my brother and I took our two high school age sons on a trip to the mountains of Colorado. On the drive home, in the middle of Nebraska, our car started to choke and sputter. We pulled off at the first exit, coasted in to a motel parking lot, and
3323) Lending a Hand (1/2) Read More »
In a home for severely disabled children, Catherine was nurtured for twenty years. The child had been intellectually and physically disabled from the beginning and had never spoken a word. She either gazed quietly at the walls or made distorted movements. Her life seemed to consist of nothing more than eating, drinking, and
3313) Wasted Efforts? Read More »
Picture above: Peter Torjesen (1892 – 1939) ———————————– Peter Torjesen was born and raised in Norway. His father was a chimney sweep. Both his parents were devout Christians. They took Peter and his brothers to church every week, and read the Bible and prayed with them every day. One evening in
3300) “Og Mit Liv” Read More »
When newscasters are reporting a tragic accident, crime, or storm, they will often end the segment by assuring all those affected that they are “in our thoughts and prayers.” Sometimes they will also add a website address to which viewers can go to find out how they can help those in need. Here
3257) Thoughts and Prayers Read More »
By Charles Colson (1931-2012) Memorial Day is when we honor the men and women of our Armed Services who have made ‘the supreme sacrifice,’ giving their lives for their country. Especially these days, when Memorial Day seems nothing more than a time for cookouts and swim parties, we cannot be reminded often enough
3255) Memorial Day Meditation Read More »
From The Exile, by Pearl S. Buck, 1936; as quoted in Stories of Faith, by Ruth Tucker, 1989. ——————————- Pearl Buck at home in Zhenxiang, China as a child (on left): Spending time in prayer each day is a discipline that is often difficult to maintain, and missionaries sometimes struggle more with time
3238) “Somebody Has to Do the Work” Read More »
(…continued) Jesus calls ‘blessed’ those who serve him in this life. Look at Jesus’ examples of serving others: giving a thirsty person something to drink, offering food to a hungry person, giving clothes to the needy, and visiting the sick and those in prison. Simple things. Common, everyday acts of kindness. People do them
3218) Something Beautiful for God (2/2) Read More »
Matthew 25:31-46: 31 (Jesus said), “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on
3217) Something Beautiful for God (1/2) Read More »
