Philip Yancey’s book Reaching for the Invisible God (2000) tackles faith’s most difficult questions and issues. It is an honest book—honest about how challenging it can be to hold on to faith sometimes, honest about doubt, honest about faith’s disappointments, and honest about the failure of many Christians to hang on because of adversity […]
3416) The Difference it Makes Read More »
Sometimes when faced with tragedy or trouble we comfort ourselves by saying, “Oh well, it could have been worse;” or, “At least it is not as bad as what happened to that family down the street;” or, we may say, “Being in the hospital was tough, but I saw there a lot of
3399) The Last Word Read More »
“No clue” is an informal idiom that signifies a complete lack of knowledge, understanding, or information on a topic. —————————– I’ve seen several YouTube videos of ‘person on the street’ interviews where people are asked the big questions of life. Random people are approached, the interviewer puts out the microphone, and asks, “Why
Our country is not what it used to be, and I think we are heading in the wrong direction in many ways. I was a minister for forty years, and I watched church attendance decline and young people abandon their faith; which is the trend all over America. Fewer people are getting married,
3243) A Sign of Hope Read More »
American poet Emily Dickinson (pictured above) died on May 15, 1886 at the age of 55. She wrote over 1800 poems in her lifetime, but she published none of them. Seven were published anonymously before her death, probably without her permission. After Emily died, her sister Lavinia discovered dozens of handmade notebooks in
A few days ago, Emailmeditation #3228 told the story of William and Wilhemina Kruse, South Dakota pioneers, who lost nine children to diphtheria in 1894. Upon reading it, my friend Tim emailed to tell me that the story was very personal for him. He sent me a brief account of his family faith history.
3232) “In Jesus’ Name” Read More »
I read one time the true story of a college senior who sat alone in her room late one Saturday night, contemplating suicide. At just 22 years old, Patti was tired of life. She had already felt like she had tried everything, and was still sad and hopeless. She could not find happiness. She
3230) Ecclesiastes? Who Needs It? (1/2) Read More »
“Ya, I believe in change, all right. Let’s change everything back to how it used to be.” ************************** From a letter by C. S. Lewis to Mary Van Deusen (November 21, 1962), on the difficulties of moving and on the lessons we are taught by life’s many changes. From The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis,
3211) “Change? No, Thank You.” Read More »
(…continued) In Martin Luther’s darkest days it seemed all he had to look forward to was failure, disgrace, capture, and execution. In those dark days he said: “It occurred to me that it has always been God’s way to create something out of nothing. So if before God can do anything through me,
3163) Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust (2/2) Read More »
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” we say as we bury our dead. Ashes and dust are two powerful Biblical images of our mortality. And now, even as we look forward to Spring when everything comes to life, the church year brings us that same reminder of death– Ash Wednesday. Worshipers go forward
3162) Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust (1/2) Read More »
