Stories

3395) How to Change the World

     “Do you want to change the world?  Sponsor a child.”  That was the headline of a Christianity Today article several years ago about Compassion International’s child sponsorship program.       When I read that story I was encouraged, and, a bit relieved.  Our family sponsored a child, and I had often recommended child sponsorship […]

3395) How to Change the World Read More »

3393) Full Circle

     Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a Minnesota based Christian organization that provides healthy meals for children around the world.  Meals are packaged by volunteers, and all food costs and expenses are paid by donors.  This year they will pack and ship over 400 million meals.       FMSC began their work in 1987.  One

3393) Full Circle Read More »

3380) Christian Leader Parties With Prostitutes

By Tony Campolo (1935-2024), Let Me Tell You a Story, pages 46-48, © 2000      I head up an organization that has created a missionary enterprise in Haiti.  Presently, through the efforts of those who have taken over this ministry, a network of some eighty-five schools has been established that serves children who have

3380) Christian Leader Parties With Prostitutes Read More »

3365) What Hath God Wrought?

     Have you checked your cell phone lately?  Do you have a computer in your home?  Do you ever look up anything on the internet, watch television, or listen to the radio?  If so, you can thank Samuel Morse (1791-1872; pictured above), the “Father of American Telecommunications,” a Christian man who wanted to make

3365) What Hath God Wrought? Read More »

3350) Taking Religion Seriously

     Many people do not like Charles Murray (1943- ).  On March 2, 2017 he was invited to speak at Middlebury College in Vermont.  Hundreds of students showed up to protest his presence, chanting and shouting “Shut it down.”  He had to move to a private room and livestream the lecture.  After the lecture

3350) Taking Religion Seriously Read More »

3347) “But What Will You Do in the End?”

          In the Fall of 2000, my father, his only living uncle, and six cousins, travelled to Gotthun, Germany, a tiny village in the northeast corner of the country.  They went there to visit the place our ancestors, August and Augusta Stier, left in 1875 to come to America.  Our connection to

3347) “But What Will You Do in the End?” Read More »

3346) God’s Big Story (2/2)

     (…continued)  The story then goes on to say God established in our midst a ‘Kingdom’, the Church, and gave to the Church the Holy Spirit.  And He gave to the Church the Word and Sacraments.  Again, in some strange and unaccountable way, the Holy Spirit working through these means, would recruit from out

3346) God’s Big Story (2/2) Read More »

3345) God’s Big Story (1/2)

Alvin Rogness (1906-1992) was a Lutheran pastor, author, and seminary president.  In his sermons and books he would often retell the ‘big’ story of the Bible, summarizing the whole story of God and His world in a single narrative.  The following reading is a blend of several of those narratives. —————————– Colossians 1:21-23a  —  Once

3345) God’s Big Story (1/2) Read More »

3344) The Most Reluctant Convert

     In my sermons, Emailmeditations, and conversations, I quote C. S. Lewis more than anyone else, other than Jesus Christ.  Other than the Holy Spirit, the writings of C. S. Lewis were the most significant influence in my decision to continue to believe in Jesus and not abandon my faith.  For almost one hundred years,

3344) The Most Reluctant Convert Read More »

3343) Steve Job’s Question for His Pastor (3/3)

     (…continued)  Salee learned that Christians feed the hungry and clothe the naked, and we do so because our Lord Jesus has commanded it.  Sam Kinison wondered why the photographer didn’t just give the child a sandwich.  That is what Christians are always doing, all over the world, through international relief organizations and in

3343) Steve Job’s Question for His Pastor (3/3) Read More »