When Christians discuss matters of commitment and devotion to Christ, the discussion is usually conducted from the perspective of one’s willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice–their very own lives for the sake of Christ. The idea is that when one’s faith is challenged, the devoted Christian will stand firm even under the threat of harm …
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Hebrews 13.15 NIV). Someone once asked: Why is “praise” pictured as a “sacrifice” in this verse? “Sacrifice” customarily carries the connotation of cost. And the question correctly recognizes that true worship is costly to …
While cleaning out our cupboard last week, I came across a container of decaffeinated coffee—popularly called “decaf.” People drink coffee for at least two reasons: to enjoy its unique flavor and to benefit from one of its main components—the stimulant caffeine. Many claim they cannot start their day without the “jolt” of their morning cup …
As I write I am looking forward to the return of our World Changers missionaries from Oregon this weekend. I am anticipating that they will have stories aplenty to share—their experiences, their encounters, the challenges they faced, even their accomplishments. Thinking about their return reminds me of a similar occasion described in Scripture. Luke chapter …
A few weeks ago, I had a bad cold, with some chest congestion, making it difficult to breathe. Then, whether a direct result of the cold or not, I also started experiencing something like a “clogged” left ear that affected my hearing. When someone would speak to me, I found myself responding with “huh?” quite …
Getting ready for a possible long drive, I asked a mechanic friend to check the condition of my car. Among other things, he recommended that I have my tires replaced. And so I did. I purchased new tires and had them installed. But to my dismay, in less than twelve hours after they were installed …
Listening to the radio while driving one day, someone mentioned the alarm clock’s snooze button. I did not hear the rest of what was being said for my mind turned to pondering about what the snooze button could reveal about us. Consider this: when we set our alarm clock, the primary idea is that the …
The world is full of voices calling for our attention. It may begin with our very own voice—the voice of our dreams, our preferences, our expectations. We filter everything we hear according to the inner voice of Self. It is said that we often hear only the things we want to hear. Scripture warns us …
Nobody likes a stiff neck. The discomfort and pain of trying to turn or move one’s neck can be quite irritating. The most common causes of a stiff neck is muscle strain or tension, usually brought about by poor posture—while watching TV or sitting in front of a computer, or even one’s position while sleeping. Because …
I was picking Grace up from work. As I assisted her into the car, I noticed a truck trying to position itself to take the spot where I was parked. I was looking at the direction of the truck as I walked around the car to get to the driver’s side. Suddenly I found myself …
