• Topic > Christian Beliefs > Salvation > Faith >

    Covering Sinkholes

    In late May 2010, tropical storm Agatha hit Central America, producing torrential rains and landslides. Once it finished its course, a 200-foot-deep sinkhole opened in downtown Guatemala City. This sinkhole caused the ground to collapse suddenly, sucking land, electrical poles, and a 3-story building into the depths of the earth.

    Before And After

    What changes take place in a life of faith after severe testing? I thought of this as I read the tragic story of a Jamaican dad who accidentally shot and killed his 18-year-old daughter while trying to protect his family from intruders.

    Let’s look at a puzzling passage in Scripture, where Jesus ignored the pleas of a needy mom

    People may ignore us. Maybe even give us the cold shoulder. But if there’s one person we can always count on to listen, it’s God, right?

    Precious In God’s Eyes

    In response to the news that a mutual friend of ours had died, a wise brother who knew the Lord sent me these words, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps. 116:15). Our friend’s vibrant faith in Jesus Christ was the dominant characteristic of his life, and we knew he was home with God in heaven. His family had that assurance as well, but I had been focused only on their sorrow. And it’s appropriate to consider others during their grief and loss.

    Let’s dig deeper into the gospel of Jesus, and the grace and forgiveness we find there

    Well, here’s the bad news, we’re all sinners. Everyone has broken God’s law and deserves the appropriate consequences! But hang on, ’cause there’s good news as well!

    Let’s explore Jesus’ instruction about choosing the right path in life

    Jesus said we have two doors open to us. One is wide and welcoming. The other is narrow and unassuming. Which do you choose? The answer may not be what you expect! More from the Sermon on the Mount.

    10 Reasons to Believe God Offers The Perfect Gift

    How does a person gain eternal life? All of the world’s religions boil down to two answers: forgiveness and life either come as a result of human effort, or as a loving gift from God. This pamphlet offers the challenge that there are at least ten good reasons to believe that God offers a gift—and that this gift is sufficient for the needs of our hearts and lives.

    Hope For Skeptics

    As a workplace chaplain, I’m privileged to be in conversation with many different people. Some are skeptics of the Christian faith. I’ve discovered three major hurdles that keep them from trusting in Christ for salvation.

    One Stretch

    For years, Sarah had low-back pain that continued to worsen. Her doctor sent her for physical therapy, and she was given 25 stretches to do every day. The pain lessened but not completely. So the doctor ordered x-rays and sent her to another therapist, who instructed her to discontinue the other therapist’s stretches and do only one stretch a day as needed. Surprisingly, the one simple stretch worked the best.

    Spiritual Plagiarism

    When I teach English composition, I require students to write in class. I know that in-class writing is their own work, so in this way I become familiar with each student’s writing voice and am able to detect if they “borrow” a bit too heavily from another writer. Students are surprised to learn that their writing voice—which includes what they say as well as how they say it—is as distinctive as their speaking voice. Just as the words we speak come from our hearts, so do the words we write. They reveal who we are.

    That Name

    Our little granddaughter Maggie and her family were back home in Missouri after visiting with us in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her mom told us that for a few days after returning home, Maggie walked around the house happily saying, “Michigan! Michigan!”

    Looking at some of the common struggles of those who put their faith in God

    Each of us approach the Bible with a different perspective. And as a result, we don’t always agree with one another on how the truths of God’s Word are applied. Gaining a clearer understanding of Scripture.

    The issue of sin in the life of the faithful follower of Christ

    No matter how hard we try, we can’t be all good all the time. But just a little faith in a powerful God makes all the difference!

    Let’s discuss the questions we all must answer

    According to Haddon Robinson, there are five questions that, when answered, will help us decide whether we should, or shouldn’t put our faith in God.

    Let’s tackle some of these tough issues of faith

    There are times when it feels like the facts of your faith collide with the facts of your life. Maybe you’re struggling with some tough questions right now, and can’t seem to find the answers. Join us in this faith-building conversation.