Month: June 2019
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Though this world with devils filled
Yesterday, I stood at the bedside of an old saint whose awareness is gone, her brain tangled with Alzheimer’s Disease. It was a privilege to read the Scripture and pray for her, though I don’t think she knew who I was or why I was there. Walking to my car, I thought back several years […]
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Making things complicated?
Ever heard of the K.I.S.S. Principle of design? Now, don’t get offended. It stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. Systems work best when they operate in the least complicated way. When Steve Jobs set about designing the IPhone™ he insisted on a design so clean, so intuitive, that no manual would be needed. He wanted […]
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Don’t You Tell Me!
Americans cherish their freedoms! Our wealthy society allows us many options that would be unimaginable in those places in the world where it can be a struggle just to survive. I am ever so thankful for those privileges that I enjoy in my day to day life. There is a downside to our independence that […]
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God’s Grandchildren?
My grandfathers were both men of faith, very different in personality but equally faithful to the Lord. Grandpa Scott, a Danish immigrant, came to faith as an adult, in a revival meeting in a tiny Iowa town. His heavily accented English as he led our church in prayer still echoes in my mind, though it’s […]
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God’s prescription for anxiety – Trust and Thanks.
Life has lots of moving pieces for me at the present time. Decisions that will change my life are being made yet they are largely outside of my control. Being a person who does best in routines, when life is predictable, I struggle with feelings of anxiety. I know that this is quite natural. God […]
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3 Questions
Walking my late wife through cancer and up to her departure for Eternity changed me, heart-deep. I have been a Christian for 6 decades, had some victories and success, known some sorrows and defeats, but watching my beloved’s life ebb away, put life into sharp focus. Philip Yancey wrote about a life-changing moment that made […]
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When a donkey was more perceptive than a prophet
One of the strangest stories in the Bible is found in the middle of the book of Numbers. A fearful king, Balak, tries to hire, Balaam, a prophet to come and curse the Israelites who are camped at the borders of his kingdom. Balaam tells the king he can only speak what God moves him […]
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Take that, you rebels!
When we are frustrated by life or people, we risk saying or doing things that are outside of God’s will of us. Or, would that just be me? Our hearts need to remain humble before God, giving Him the opportunity of working in those situations that make us angry. Moses forgot that and it cost […]
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Fearful words?
Fear brings out the worst in us! History’s ugliest moments were often made possible by fear that grew irrational or that was wrongly focused, giving grounds for atrocities unthinkable in more peaceful times. Frightening tales of impending doom can provide powerful motivation for change. Tragically, people can be, and often are, exploited by leaders who […]
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A Benediction
Yesterday, Father’s Day, my children sent me words of appreciation, thanks for ‘being Dad.’ Their words are precious gifts! They are a reminder of who am I and what I mean to my family… and others. Words are amazingly powerful, aren’t they? A caustic comment can burn a hole in my heart for days. An […]