Month: October 2014

Discover why we can be confident in the friendship of God

There are times when our prayers seem to bounce right off the ceiling instead of reaching God’s ear. And in those moments, it’s difficult not to feel abandoned. Comparing a current story of alienation with the story of Job.

3 Things We Can Learn from Apple about Evangelism

I recently watched Ikea’s promotional video for their latest revolutionary “bookbook”. Ikea was promoting their latest catalogue Apple-style—with the makings of a typical Apple product launch campaign, complete with the presenter decked in a black turtleneck shirt, a series of interviews with enthusiastic key Apple personnel as well as […]

What Love Is

Years ago I asked a young man who was engaged to be married, “How do you know that you love her?” It was a loaded question, intended to help him look at his heart’s motives for the upcoming marriage. After several thoughtful moments, he responded, “I know I love her because I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy.”

Why it’s fruitful to believe that God knows us individually

Faith means trusting that God knows how much we can handle, even when we’re in the midst of difficult circumstances. Perhaps you’re wondering if your trial is more than you can bear.

I Met Jesus through A Flyer

It all started with a ring on my doorbell some ten years back by a tall, nice looking girl. Having been instructed never to open the door to strangers when I am alone at home, I was apprehensive at first. Usually, I would ignore anybody at the door but […]

Music And Megaphone

Christopher Locke buys old trumpets, trombones, and French horns and transforms them into acoustic amplifiers for iPhones and iPads. His creations are modeled on the trumpetlike speakers used in the first phonographs during the late 1800s. Music played through Christopher’s AnalogTelePhonographers has a “louder, cleaner, richer, deeper sound” than what is heard from the small speakers in the digital devices. Along with being interesting works of art, these salvaged brass instruments require no electrical power as they amplify the music people love to hear.

A challenging yet encouraging study on the book of Job

The story of Job brings up a lot of questions, like, “Why would God let all that happen to such a good guy?” Let’s jump back into a study in the book of Job.

Shadowed

Someone was shadowing me. In a darkened hallway, I turned the corner to go up a flight of stairs and was alarmed by what I saw, stopping dead in my tracks. It happened again a few days later. I came around the back of a favorite coffee shop and saw the large shape of a person coming at me. Both incidents ended with a smile, however. I’d been frightened by my own shadow!

Let’s tackle the question “Where is God when I hurt?”

With so much pain and brokenness in the world, have you ever felt like God is indifferent to suffering? Like He knows where we’re hurting, but still remains distant? More from our study in Job.

Taking A Leap of Faith in Ecuador

Many say, “Life is a journey with God.” But my friend described it as “an adventure” because it is full of ups and downs and it surprises you with many unexpected turns. Indeed, over the past year, the Lord has guided me onto an unexpected route as […]

Working For The Wind

Howard Levitt lost his $200,000 Ferrari on a flooded Toronto highway. He had driven into what seemed like a puddle before realizing that the water was much deeper and rising quickly. When the water reached the Ferrari’s fenders, its 450-horsepower engine seized. Thank-fully he was able to escape the car and get to high ground.

Job’s place in Scripture, and the lessons we can learn from this story of faith

Compared to the uplifting or encouraging books of the Bible, the book of Job seems to stand out like a sore thumb.

3 Things God Taught Me on My Recent Mission Trip

I went, expecting to give to others, but ended up receiving so much more. These are the three things (out of many others) that God taught me through my recent mission trip: 1. Humility. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to speak the language as proficiently as the […]

New To The Family

While on a ministry trip with a Christian high school chorale to Jamaica, we witnessed an illustration of God’s love in action. On the day we visited an orphanage for disabled children and teens, we learned that Donald, one of the boys our kids had interacted with—a teen with cerebral palsy—was going to be adopted.

All Together

For years my wife’s piano and my banjo had an uncomfortable and infrequent relationship. Then, after Janet bought me a new guitar for my birthday, she expressed an interest in learning to play my old guitar. She is a very capable musician, and soon we were, together, playing songs of praise on our guitars. I like to think that a new kind of “praise connection” has filled our home.