“Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (2:10); the answer to this question will comprise the last line of the story of our lives.   Adversity confronts us at every turn in life—trials, injustice, temptations, and disappointments—from above, below, and all around. In the midst of God’s abundant blessings, come the... Continue Reading

Assurance makes you courageous and God’s strength helps you face the enemy head-on. Do you still want courage? Do you still want God’s strength? Maybe you need to drink the cup after all.   I read somewhere that when we ask God to give us courage and strength we need to think twice what we... Continue Reading

When I write and highlight in my books, I’m not just reading—I’m carrying on a conversation, a dialogue, with the author. I highlight important points. I often write descriptive comments in the margin to remind me what the author was discussing, but I also often carry on discussions and ask questions.    I was once... Continue Reading

Other ears might hear “above reproach” as a really low bar, meaning that I don’t need to have some taint on my public reputation. For many people, that’s not very difficult, and they think this is a really low bar and attainable.   Exemplary Christians For many Christians—and pastors included—when you take a first look... Continue Reading

May we remember that the ordinary, daily, and mundane acts of faithfulness and kindness that no one else knows are well-known by God. He is watching. He is keeping track. In Heaven, He’ll reward us for our acts of faithfulness to Him, right down to every cup of cold water we’ve given to the needy... Continue Reading

Aren’t there people who you’ve “heard bad things about” that you avoid? You would never go ask them about any of the accusations, partly because the person who told these things would be upset with you for betraying them and partly because if what you heard is true then you do want to steer clear.... Continue Reading

If anger and (in effect) hatred are the same as murder, then what does this mean for everyday life? Jesus says it’s so important that we ought to skip church—to leave our seats on Sunday morning immediately, if necessary—and resolve issues with people right now.   The 6th commandment (“You shall not murder,” Ex 20:13)... Continue Reading

Where has the pilgrim spirit of John Bunyan gone? Lord deliver us from this day of banal, weak, spineless, timidity? His language may be quaint. His mindset and message are clear: study carefully the challenging call of the “Tinker of Bedford”! A Pilgrim Memory As I was reading this morning about the patriarchal pilgrim spirit,... Continue Reading

I did not cry. I played the man, being outwardly calm through the following days of funeral home visitations and burial in the grave. But inside, I was devastated. How much value did my father have to me then? I would have done anything I could, given everything I had, to bring him back.  ... Continue Reading

The faculty of will is a property of nature, not person. And since the one man, Christ Jesus, subsists in both divine and human natures, He has two wills: divine and human. It was by virtue of His human will that He made human choices—choices to resist temptation, to obey God’s law in the place... Continue Reading