God Is In Control
God Is In Control
God has everything under His control. He may allow the devil to test you by making you sick. He may permit you to suffer great pain through an accident caused by carelessness or through a vicious attack by an evil person. These unpleasant events try us and may even tempt us to sin, but we can rest…
The Reality of God
In C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, all of Narnia is thrilled when the mighty lion Aslan reappears after a long absence. Their joy turns to sorrow, however, when Aslan concedes to a demand made by the evil White Witch. Faced with Aslan’s apparent defeat, the Narnians experience his power when he emits an earsplitting roar that causes the witch to flee in terror. Although all seems to have been lost, Aslan ultimately proves to be greater than the villainous witch.
Like Aslan’s followers in Lewis’s allegory, Elisha’s servant despaired when he got up…
Fear, Faith and Coronavirus
Fear, Faith and Coronavirus
There is a state of fear in people of many countries – countries which are far from the epicentre of the 2019-nCoV epidemic in Wuhan and Hubei Province, China. There are only a handful of patients in these countries outside China (most patients have been to the epicentre or have been in contact with people from those…
Unimaginable
Bart Millard penned a megahit in 2001 when he wrote, “I Can Only Imagine.” The song pictures how amazing it will be to be in Jesus’s presence.
Millard’s lyrics offered comfort to our family the next year when our seventeen-year-old daughter Melissa died in a car accident and we imagined what it was like for her to be in God’s presence.
But imagine spoke to me in a different way in the days following Mell’s death. As fathers of Melissa’s friends approached me, full of concern and pain, they said, “I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
Their expressions were helpful, showing that they…
Ever-Present Presence
During the 2018 World Cup, Colombian forward Radamel Falcao scored in the seventieth minute against Poland, securing a victory. The dramatic goal was Falcao’s thirtieth in international play, earning him the distinction of scoring the most goals by a Columbian player in international competition.
Falcao has often used his success on the soccer pitch to share his Christian faith, frequently lifting his jersey after a score to reveal a shirt with the words, “Con Jesus nunca estara solo”: “With Jesus you’ll never be alone.”
Falcao’s statement points us to the reassuring promise from Jesus, “I am with you always, to the very…
Divided in Love
When public debate erupted over a controversial Singapore law, it divided Christians with differing views. Some called others “narrow-minded” or accused them of compromising their faith.
Controversies can cause sharp divisions among God’s family, bringing much hurt and discouraging people. I’ve been made to feel small over personal convictions on how I apply the Bible’s teachings to my life. And I’m sure I’ve been equally guilty of criticizing others I disagree with.
I wonder if the problem lies not in what or even how we express our views, but in the attitudes of our hearts when we do so. Are we just…
The Mouse That Roared
Several years ago my sons and I spent a few days camping in the Selway–Bitterroot Wilderness in Northern Idaho. It’s grizzly bear habitat, but we carried bear spray, kept our campsites clean, and anticipated no major grizzly encounters.
One evening, in the middle of the night, I heard Randy scramble around trying to get out of his sleeping bag. I grabbed my flashlight and turned it on, expecting to see him in the clutches of an enraged grizzly.
There, sitting upright on its haunches and waving its paws in the air was a field mouse about 4” tall. It had Randy’s cap…
Truly Amazing
Truly Amazing
Today's Scripture: Romans 5:6-11
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! —1 John 3:1
I read these words on a young woman’s personal Web site: “I just want to be loved—and he has to be amazing!”
Isn’t that what we all want—to be loved, to feel cared for by someone? And…
When Life Is Hard
Physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, I curled up in my recliner. Our family had followed God’s leading and had moved from California to Wisconsin. After we arrived, car broke down and left us without a vehicle for two months. Meanwhile, my husband’s limited mobility after an unexpected back surgery and my increasing chronic pain complicated our unpacking. We uncovered costly problems with our new-to-us, old home. Our senior dog suffered with high-maintenance health issues. And though our new pup brought me great joy, raising a furry ball of energy was far more work than I anticipated. My attitude soured. How…
Dr. Ida Scudder
Dr. Ida Scudder [1870 - 1960]
Ida Sophia Scudder was born in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, India on December 9th, 1870. Her parents, John and Sophia, were American medical missionaries. They were second-generation missionaries, as John’s father (also named John) was also a doctor and missionary in India.
Ida grew up in Tamil Nadu, where she witnessed the beautiful celebrations of life…
Preparing For Marriage
It’s Valentine’s Day, a day when so many are focused on romance, relationships and love. It’s provided an opportunity for me to reflect on these realities in my life and the outworking of them in my faith.
It’s not uncommon for young Christian couples to get engaged. It’s also not uncommon for these young couples to be criticised for…
Bhagvathar Vedanayagam Sastriyar
Vedanayagam Sastriyar [1774 - 1864]
Vedanayagam Sastriyar was born into a Christian family and received his education in grammar as early as 5-years-old. But, he lost interest after his mother’s death and started tending to his grandfather’s cows. A shepherd, much like King David.
In 1783, his father Devasagayam employed a tutor to instruct him in literature and mathematics. As he…
Bakht Singh [1903 - 2000]
Bakht Singh [1903 - 2000]
Bakht Singh was born in a part of Punjab which is now Pakistan. He was raised as a Sikh and after graduating from Punjab University, he pursued his higher studies in England where he found new freedom in the lifestyle there. He then moved on to Canada for further studies.
In 1929 while doing his masters…
Freed from Our Cage
While out taking walks, writer Martin Laird would often encounter a man with four Kerry Blue Terriers. Three of the dogs ran wild through the open fields, but one stayed near its owner, running in tight circles. When Laird finally stopped and asked about this odd behavior, the owner explained that it was a rescue dog that had spent most of his life locked in a cage. The terrier continued to run in circles as though contained inside a confined box.
The Scriptures reveal that we’re trapped and hopeless unless God rescues us. The psalmist spoke of being afflicted by an…
