“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” — Philippians 2:14-15 NIV My wife and I once had a friendship with a couple until their marriage dissolved into divorce. When a new spouse came into … Continue reading →
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” — Romans 12:15 NIV There is a powerful lesson here in the art of effective communication and it’s acknowledging people’s feelings. People are emotional beings who are emotionally driven. We are drawn toward others who make us feel good and we tend to avoid those who cause our feeling meters … Continue reading →
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” — Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV The human spirit is an intricate thing and a never ending study for someone with an interest in why we do what we do when times … Continue reading →
“The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child.” — Ezekiel 18:20 NIV We know that the best of parents can find themselves with the most unruly child. We are all individuals with our own personalities and character issues, … Continue reading →
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32 NIV People are emotional beings that are moved by feelings more than facts or actual truth. We find it easy to make decisions based on our mood or emotions. If it feels good, if it helps raise our level of satisfaction, or if it … Continue reading →
“Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced” — 1 Chronicles 16:12 NIV If we forget the way the Lord has led us in our past circumstances we leave ourselves vulnerable to fearfulness as we face our future. The unknown of what lies ahead can easily stir up feelings of anxiety, especially as we enter … Continue reading →
“in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” — Titus 1:2 NIV Most religions recognize that our planet has been subverted by evil and that some type of divine intervention will either end it, correct it, or re-make it. The promise of the Christian faith, as explained in the Bible, … Continue reading →
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV The cycle of life for mankind is interesting to me. In our youth we are physically invincible and our minds rush us headstrong into the future as if we are 10-foot tall and bullet … Continue reading →
“being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience” — Colossians 1:11 NIV There is great value to the individual who is patient enough to endure hardship. The old adage that says, “Good things come to them that wait” is true. The couple with the happiest marriage are usually the … Continue reading →
“who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:4 NIV I’m on a lot of mailing lists for ministers, and from time to time I get brochures advertising travel tours to Israel, the Holy Land, and others that follow the footsteps … Continue reading →
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” — Proverbs 12:18 NIV You have likely heard the old adage: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. I doubt that adage is completely truthful because as I think back to my childhood, I can’t really remember all … Continue reading →
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” — Isaiah 55:8–9 NIV I am a chaplain in healthcare, but that doesn’t mean I know medical things like a physician or … Continue reading →
“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” — Psalm 34:3 NIV On the Beatles 1969 Abbey Road album, the song Come Together was one of the most popular. It actually started out as a campaign song for Timothy Leary’s run for California Governor. The song ended up being filled with Lennon’s nonsensical lyrics (like “toe-jam football”) … Continue reading →
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” — Romans 8:6 NIV Sister Eva was a Catholic nun and a hospital chaplain whom I worked with for several years before she retired. She was fond of saying to me and the other chaplains, Don’t lose your peace. Whenever one … Continue reading →
”The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” — 1 John 2:17 NIV In 1974 the Rolling Stones recorded a slow-tempo song with an almost hypnotic melody called “Time Waits for No One.” Stones fans still consider it a classic, but everyone recognizes the stark truth the lyrics reveal about our world—time … Continue reading →
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” — Luke 6:45 NIV A man can suppress his actions and hide his real self for awhile but eventually … Continue reading →
“If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!” — Proverbs 24:10 NIV Not having the physical strength to overcome an illness is not something we should scoff at, because it could just as easily happen to us. We can look upon the misfortunes of another and feel sorry for them and their weakness but we … Continue reading →
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13 NIV The ultimate gift that one can give is their life. There is no higher expression of love than to sacrifice your life so another can live. There simply is no other gift that can be given beyond one’s life. I once … Continue reading →
“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” — John 4:10 NIV Jesus tells the Samaritan women at the well, If you only knew who I am you would be asking for more. The truth … Continue reading →
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” — 1 Peter 4:12 NIV Being a Christian and living a life that follows the lessons, principles, and teachings of Jesus does not mean that you will be free from adversity. There are natural … Continue reading →
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” — 2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV Sometimes life has a way of making us feel alone, ignored, or unrecognized. You could be a stay at home mom, you could be a professional that spends your day by yourselves, or you could be … Continue reading →
“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” — John 20:29 NIV If seeing is your standard for believing, you are missing out on the true power of Christian faith. When we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) we are inviting … Continue reading →
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” — Joshua 1:8 NIV You can always tell what someone is passionate about because they like talking about it. Their words, however, are just the … Continue reading →
“Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.” — 1 Samuel 17:40 (NIV) The small shepherd boy, David, stood before the giant Goliath with a simple slingshot and a few stones. He wasn’t wearing … Continue reading →