February 2018 Blog Posts (38)

Do you feel that whatever is going on in your life is just too great or too much for you to handle?

When the ancient Hebrews faced a big problem, it was customary for them to look up into the night sky and to contemplate the immense size of the universe and the unimaginable power of its Maker. Then they compared all that with their problem and realized that it was…

(I was hesitant to post this here because even though it is from my Writing Prayerfully blog, it is not directly on prayer. But I am posting it here on Pray Network for two reasons. First I value the comments I get here on my blogs. And I would especially like to know if anyone has written a book on Writing Prayerfully or even on Christian writing.)

Recently we went on a short trip with my daughter's…

A Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the…

“Sending thoughts and prayers your way.”

How many times did we hear some politician or dignitary say these very words in the days following the recent school shooting in Florida (or any previous mass shooting). I suppose it is an attempt to comfort those who are hurting. In fact, one politician said in a T.V. interview, “I have sent my prayers to comfort them.” Since prayer is to be addressed to God, not to persons, I have my doubts about how much these folks know about prayer, and…

Recently, my church’s pastor resigned, putting us into the position of having to search for a new pastor to lead the church. A pulpit committee has been formed, and it is following the pattern of the Tennessee Baptist group that recommends having a Pray Chairman. Prayer is an important part of the duties of the Pulpit Search Committee, and the Prayer Chairman is responsible for keeping prayer at the forefront, and also before the Church…

Recently, my church has started searching for a pastor and has set up a Pastoral Search Committee. We are currently in the administrative part of our duties-developing candidate questions. Since our committee is quite diverse—a number of different focuses/talents/functions in the body—the questions will undoubtedly be diverse. We are working on format of the questions—I.E.—Initial interview, Written Questions to follow-ups, and a second Interview.

Being the Prayer Chairman of the…

From time to time I have enjoyed rereading some of my favorite books. There are several books that I revisit every few years. I recently took up The Robe that I hadn't read for about 25 years. I was amazed by how much of it I did not remember. I do not mean I did not remember certain parts until I had reread them. Most of it struck me like a book I had never read. This is a…

Jesus said it in Matthew Chapter 7. “You can't grow grapes from thorn bushes.” This applies to every area of our lives from running a marathon to raising your children. And it especially applies to writing which is the fruit of your soul. I remember reading something Baxter Black wrote on how he began writing poetry. He told about writing a poem with a religious theme for an English class in college. He got the paperback with the words writ large and in red…

There is a notion that someone believes the gospel or not, but there can not be any evidence of it. In fact the proof of the gospel is integral to the presentation itself. On the Day of Pentecost Peter stood before the people and reminded them of the miracles Jesus had done among them which they knew.

I recently heard Tim Keller tell about a man who told a pastor he would believe if he could be shown airtight…

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.

-Daniel 9:9

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

-Romans 2:4

There’s no other place except in God’s character where both perfect…