Friday’s section of this week’s lesson asks, if God is in charge why do innocent people suffer? The question reminded me of the story about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11:1-44. Let’s take a look at some of the points in this story that may help us answer this question. When Jesus … Continue reading –>
A Bible student excitedly told me about a movie he saw where someone died and went to heaven where he saw his dead loved ones. When I reminded him about the state of the dead, he told me, “Well maybe they did not actually die. Maybe it was a dream.” He was quite emotional about the movie … Continue reading –>
“For most of us the prayer in Gethsemane is the only model. Removing mountains can wait.” -C.S. Lewis I was told a couple Fridays ago that my mother, my biggest champion and one of the biggest prayer warriors in my ministry had less than 30 days to live. She had been in poor health for … Continue reading –>
A family I had studied with called me late one afternoon, asking me to meet them ASAP at the hospital. Their mother was dying, and they wanted prayer. Now I believe that God can hear your prayers for your sick loved one, just as easily as He can hear an elder’s prayer. Nevertheless, I met the family … Continue reading –>
When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. Ecclesiastes 8:11 NLT Several years ago I was studying with a family, while the wife’s father had a stroke and was in the hospital. I went to see him and arrived literally moments after he had passed away. The family … Continue reading –>
Multi-Level Disasters? Mother-in-Law Debates? Maple-Lemon Duck Sauce? Acronyms develop when something appears so often that it calls for a more efficient name. No need for, “Repondez s’il vous plait.” Just write, “R.S.V.P.” Same with A.M., P.M., B.C., A.D., P.S., ASAP, B.Y.O.B and many more. I’ve decided to coin an acronym: M.L.D. stands for Major Life … Continue reading –>
It’s that time of year when the leaves spring back onto barren trees and flowers bloom back to life. Every spring reminds me of the second coming and resurrection. I believe God lets everything die in the winter and come back in the spring to demonstrate for us His re-creation and resurrection power. Just as … Continue reading –>
“The day of resurrection –” John Wesley sang, “Earth, tell it out abroad! The passover of gladness, The passover of God!” But that brings us no closer. What does that mean? The answer lies far, far away. Go back in time. Back a hundred generations, to the margin of the Roman Empire, in a little … Continue reading –>
“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves….” Psalm 100:3 I entered the ICU in a Tampa hospital to pray with a family who was about to lose their mother. The mother was a Christian. The daughter was near believing, but I soon found … Continue reading –>
There is a song I remember singing a hundred years ago, when I was a teenager. It went something like this, “I owed a debt I could not pay. He paid a debt He did not owe.” Beautiful song, but not exactly theologically correct if you want to get technical. And no, I do not … Continue reading –>
