Image above: Self-Portrait, Spring 1887 —————- You have probably heard of the painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), but you may not have heard of ‘the Rev.’ Vincent van Gogh. Actually, before Vincent was a painter he was a pastor. He followed in the steps of his father, going to seminary and then serving […]
3113) Rev. Vincent van Gogh Read More »
“Let Someone Serve You in Suffering,” by Vaneeta Rendall Risner (pictured above with her husband). See her website at: https://www.vaneetha.com/ —————————————- I don’t like asking for help. Frankly, I’d rather take care of myself, by myself. But independence has become a thing of the past for me. Because of my disability
3096) I’ll Get By With a Little Help From My Friends Read More »
Geoffrey Canada is an African-American man who grew up on the streets of Bronx. He is the author of the book Reaching Up for Manhood: Transforming the Lives of Boys in America. In it, he shares some of his personal experiences and tells how he overcame many adverse circumstances. He gives great credit to his
3083) Leaning on Grandma’s Faith Read More »
From: II Maccabees (Apocrypha), chapter 6 In this chapter King Antiochus is persecuting the Jews in Jerusalem, commanding them to forsake their faith, or face torture and death (approx. 170 B.C.). An elderly scribe named Eleazar refuses to abandon his faith, and he faces death with courage and faith. The Oxford Annotated Bible tells
3042) The Martyrdom of Eleazar Read More »
Image above: Chaos and death in the streets of Rome during the plague. ******************* Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you
3029) Something Strange? (2/2) Read More »
Above painting: St. Peter’s Crucifixion, by Caravaggio (1571-1610), Rome, Italy ******************************** The New Testament book of I Peter was written to encourage Christians in the early church who were suffering severe persecution. I Peter 4:12 says: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange
3028) Something Strange? (1/2) Read More »
No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep picking ourselves up each time. We shall of course be very muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out, and the clean clothes are in the airing cupboard. The only fatal thing is to
2964) Keep Trying Until You Get Home Read More »
From a funeral sermon. As you all well know, Cheryl suffered a great deal in these past several months; all that time in the hospital, all those tests, all the reports (usually bad), all the pain and anxiety, all the uncertainty, all the surgeries, and everything else she went through. And for you,
2910) “If I Die Before I Wake…” Read More »
By Frederick Buechner (1926-2022) in Wishful Thinking (1973). Above painting of Job by Russian painter Ilya Repin (1844-1930) ********************************** Job 1:14-19 — One day, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword,
2899) A Brief Summary of the Book of Job Read More »
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809-April 15, 1865) remained skeptical, and at times even cynical, about religion until into his forties. So it is a most striking thing how personal and national suffering drew Lincoln into the reality of God, rather than pushing him away. In 1862, when Lincoln was 53 years old, his
2859) Driven to His Knees Read More »
