By Shane Clairborne (pictured above; 1975- ) Christian author, activist, and speaker. ————————–    I was fascinated by the life of Mother Teresa. So, with childlike innocence, a few of my friends and I said, “Well, let’s just write her a letter, and let’s see if we can come learn from her.” So we […]
2134) “Everybody Gets a Lick” Read More »
By Rick Warren, September 26 (and 25), 2018, Daily Hope devotional, at: http://www.pastorrick.org ————————-–    God wants you to invest in other people in God’s family. This is what I call the “Mutual Fund.”    The Bible says in Romans 12:10, “Love one another with mutual affection” (NRSV).    How do you invest in
1995) Investing in Mutual Funds Read More »
           (continued…) In the eighth and ninth chapters of II Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is making an appeal for an offering. When Paul talks about the Gospel, he talks about the Gospel, and doesn’t muddy the water with side issues. But when Paul talks about money, he talks about money, and he puts the pressure
1882) Christian Stewardship (part two of two) Read More »
A sermon on Christian stewardship.            The other day when I started thinking about what I would say for Stewardship Sunday, I happened to glance over at this old Bible (above), sitting on a table in my office at home. Christian stewardship is about being willing to be generous with what God has given to
1881) Christian Stewardship (part one of two) Read More »
Pictured above: Edie Ogan and her husband Phil in 2017. By Edie Ogan, published in Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul, and many other places, including many missionary magazines.     I’ll never forget Easter 1946.  I was fourteen, my little sister, Ocy, was twelve and my older sister, Darlene, was sixteen.  We lived at home with
1870) The Richest Family in the Church Read More »
Philip Yancey (1949- ) (My favorite living Christian writer) —————— By Philip Yancey, posted April 26, 2018 at: http://www.philipyancey.com    Sitting on the platform as a visiting speaker, I feel as if I have entered a time warp from the late 1950s. I look out on a church sanctuary packed with people dressed in
1845) An Unexpected Guest Read More »
By Randy Alcorn, posted March 5, 2018, at: http://www.epm.org Understanding What Life Looks Like for Billions of People Worldwide Can Change Yours ——————-    In his book The Great Ascent: The Struggle for Economic Development in Our Time, economist Robert Heilbroner recommended visualizing ourselves doing the following, step by step. Though this may make you
1790) Just Imagine Read More »
   (continued…) Many Chinese people were massacred when the Japanese invaded China in World War II.  Europeans and Americans living in China at the time were not massacred, but were herded into prison camps where they were kept for the duration of the war.  These were not soldiers, but professional people– government workers, doctors,
1674) What Shall I Give? (part three of four) Read More »
Above: Barthholomeus Breengergh; Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath ************************ I Kings 17:1-16 — Now Elijah… said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”  Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah:
1673) What Shall I Give? (part two of four) Read More »
Above painting: The Widow’s Mite, James Tissot, Nantes, France, 1836–1902 ********************************** Mark 12:41-44 —  Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth
1672) What Shall I Give? (part one of four) Read More »
