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): Â Â Â 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 »
Matthew 6:25-34 Â — Â (Jesus said), “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Â Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Â Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or
By Lee Strobel, in The Case for Miracles, 2018.    In Equatorial Africa, far from pharmacies and hospitals, a woman died in childbirth, leaving behind a grieving two-year-old daughter and a premature baby in danger of succumbing to the chill of the night. With no incubator, no electricity, and few supplies, the newborn’s life
3220) A Child’s Prayer Read More »
   (…continued) Funeral for Ora Casdorph, March 31, 1997, Stover, Missouri:    This is a difficult sermon for me to preach, difficult because I did not know Mr. Casdorph well at all. I visited him a few times at the request of his sister, my friend and parishioner, Mabel Schupp.    For
3198) Two Old Friends (2/2) Read More »
    In my forty years as a pastor I visited many people in their last years, months, and days. Many of these people were in nursing homes, or were shut-ins in their own home. For some, my monthly visit would be their only visitor. These people, who at one time were busy raising families, farming
3197) Two Old Friends (1/2) Read More »
Above:Â Mohandis Gandhi (1869-1948) as a young lawyer in South Africa ******************************* Â Â Â The first petition of the Lord’s Prayer (after the introduction) is perhaps the most difficult to understand. Â We know what the other petitions mean when they ask for things like daily bread or forgiveness or help in times of temptation. Â These
3194) Hallowed Be Thy Name Read More »
Above drawing: Woman Praying at a Deathbed, 1864, by Swiss artist Benjamin Vautier (1829-1898) ——————————————- The day will come for each of us when we will need these prayers. FOR THE DYING: O my heavenly Father, God of all comfort, I thank you for revealing to me your dear Son, Jesus Christ, in whom I
3085) Prayers When Death Is Near Read More »
Luke 23:32-43 — Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Jesus to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And
3084) Making up for Bad Choices Read More »
By Yassir Eric (1972- ) (pictured above) and Jayson Casper; from September/October Christianity Today magazine. Yassir Eric is the presiding bishop of the Anglican Church’s Ekkios non-geographical diocese. ************************************    When I was 16, a new student named Zakariya showed up at school. His forehead bore fan-shaped scars that identified him as a member
3001) Answered Prayers for an Enemy Read More »
   She was 89.  Her arthritis kept her from moving around freely in the nursing home, and now that her sight was gone, she was even more reluctant to venture out on her own.  She had no family, and all her friends were gone.  No one came to visit her.    Most days
2968) Let Me Not Live to Be Useless Read More »
