So is it ‘OK’ for me to celebrate Halloween?

By Herbert Vander Lugt The word Halloween comes from All Hallows Eve, which was the evening before a religious holiday in Medieval England that became known as All Saints’ Day. It was a time set aside by the church to commemorate its saints. Today’s celebration of Halloween, however, is more closely related to pagan customs [...]

Stand Fast

As I waited to make a right-hand turn at a busy intersection, an ambulance appeared over the crest of a hill, speeding in my direction. Someone behind me honked, urging me into the crossroads. I knew the ambulance would be unlikely to stop and that it could have been disastrous to make my turn. So I kept my foot on the brake pedal and stayed put.

Making A Difference

Elizabeth’s story was moving, to say the least. Following a terribly humiliating experience in Massachusetts, she caught a bus to New Jersey to escape her embarrassment. Weeping uncontrollably, she hardly noticed that the bus had made a stop along the way. A passenger sitting behind her, a total stranger, began making his way off the bus when he suddenly stopped, turned, and walked back to Elizabeth. He saw her tears and handed her his Bible, saying that he thought she might need it.

God wants to go far beyond justice and extend us His grace

Friday, October 26, 2012

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first. For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his. vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And they went: Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth. hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they murmured against the landlord, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give-to this last man the same as to-you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last. will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen” (Matthew 19:30 – 20:16).

IDEA: It never works to sign a contract with God.

PURPOSE: To get listeners to trust God’s grace.

Death Wish (and a FROG)

By Megan Low, Singapore Sometimes, on my worst days, I used to wish that I was dead. I would count all the wrong things I had done, focus on my failures and weaknesses, and think about everything I should have done but didn’t. I would look for some new ways to punish myself without it [...]

Even Her?

Imagine looking through your family tree and finding this description of your ancestor: “A prostitute, she harbored enemies of the government in her house. When she was confronted by the authorities, she lied about it.”

What would you do about her? Hide her story from anyone inquiring about your family? Or spotlight and praise her in the legends of your family’s story?

A Fresh Glimpse Of Glory

Every summer, thousands of Good Morning America viewers cast their votes to select “The Most Beautiful Place in America.” I was delighted when the winner for 2011 was announced—Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in my home state of Michigan. Admittedly, I didn’t expect the winning location to be in my own backyard. It reminded me of the time my wife, Martie, and I visited Niagara Falls. A man nearby watched our tourist behavior and quipped, “Ain’t nothin’ to it. I see it every day.”

Discover how Jesus helps us with the question, What’s in it for me?

"Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they murmured against the landlord, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen” (Matthew 19:30 – 20:16).

IDEA: God will be a debtor to no one.

PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that it will be rewarding to serve Jesus Christ.

Abortion: The Real Issue

By Christie Weakly, USA This is the sequel to my article “Five Minutes Can Change a Life”. The pregnant lady whom we met at the store visited our church and she gave her life to Jesus! It’s a marvelous testimony of God’s redeeming love. I thank God for the wonderful privilege of being involved in [...]

Eloquent, Yet Humble

I admire people who can articulate their beliefs and persuade others with their rhetoric. Some call it “the gift of gab” or “having a way with words.” Others call it “eloquence.”

Apollos had that gift. We are told that he was “an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). But although he taught accurately about Christ, he preached only of the baptism of John which was a baptism of repentance from sin (v.25; 19:4).

Love We Can Trust

Perhaps the most painful statement a person can hear is, “I don’t love you anymore.” Those words end relationships, break hearts, and shatter dreams. Often, people who have been betrayed guard themselves against future pain by deciding not to trust anyone’s love again. That settled conviction may even include the love of God.

Jesus draws attention to God’s view of fairness

"And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they murmured against the landlord, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen” (Matthew 19:30 – 20:16).

IDEA: Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

PURPOSE: To understand that God deals with us very differently from the way we deal with each other.

An Invasion of Privacy

By Alan Humphrey, 25, UK J.K. Rowling, author of the fantastically popular Harry Potter series, is one of the biggest names in the book world today. But that success comes at a cost to her privacy, as she explained when speaking to the BBC about her contribution to the Leveson inquiry into media ethics here [...]

Interview: Katie Eberling

Katie Eberling received an email from 2010 Olympic bronze medalist Elana Meyers at the end of 2010, and she decided to give it a try. She played volleyball for Western Michigan University and holds the record for the most matches and sets played and most career kill/dig double doubles. Eberling had a 2008 NCAA Sweet [...]

Worry: concerned or consuming?

by Audrie Goh, Singapore Is our worry motivated by a genuine concern for the people and issue at hand or is there perhaps a deeper root of doubt in God’s goodness? Oswald Chambers once wrote, “The root of all sin is the suspicion that God is not good.” Do we trust God enough to provide [...]