by Keith Jainga
November 11 is Veterans Day. It is a special time set aside to remember all US veterans. We honor all those who serve or have served in the military, especially those who are placed in harm’s way, as protectors of the freedoms we enjoy as a nation. We value our freedom. And it is only …
To “draw the line” at something is to “set a limit on what one is willing to do or accept, beyond which one will not go.” It usually implies that one recognizes and agrees to a standard that must not be compromised, especially in the midst of conflicting demands that call for our allegiance. Perhaps …
My wife Grace and I recently joined our extended family on a road trip to Arizona and New Mexico. On the first leg of the trip, we left for Arizona about 5:00 on a Thursday morning. As we sleepily travelled south along the I-5 freeway I noticed a dark-cloud formation as the sun began to …
I just came back from a family road trip. And the Global Positioning System (GPS) was an instrument that we definitely used. The GPS is a very helpful gadget when I travel, especially when navigating unknown territory. It provides assistance in determining my current location. It offers direction on how to get to my destination. …
As I was contemplating what to write my eyes came across the title of a volume on my bookshelf: Practical Christianity. The blurb on the book jacket describes it as a resource “containing hundreds of articles from scores of pastors and other Christian leaders” designed to help its readers learn “how to live the Christian …
I recently made an on-line purchase of a specific item. Then I waited expectantly for the item to arrive. In about a week, the doorbell rang. And I opened the door to a box sitting at the doorstep. I took the box inside the house and proceeded to open it. There was the item I …
While I was visiting with my sister-in-law, their home phone rang. Since I was the one closest to the phone I picked it up. But to my frustration and irritation I realized I could not determine which button to push to answer the call. You see, my eyesight is not as clear as it used …
On the wall at the end of the breakfast table at home, is a rack of various spices in customized bottles—all thirty of them. It’s a collection of spices that was already there when we moved into the house. I am familiar with some of the spices. But there are quite a few that I …
Three introverted pastors wrote a blog entitled Six Essential Practices of the Introverted Pastor. Serving others in the name of Christ presents a special challenge for the introvert—having a personality that prefers silence, solitude, individual contemplation. And the blog provides some helpful handles to help accomplish the task. But it is the last practice they …
In a recent Christianity Today article, Carolyn Arends proposes that “understanding follows obedience.” As an example, she applies the principle to her own experience in the community of faith. While her experiences are not always positive, her involvement in church life in obedience to God helps her to understand the true nature of the Christian …
