In Max Lucado’s book, ‘He Still Moves the Stones’, he retells the story of the paralyzed man whose friends carried him to Jesus. Whether he was born paralyzed or became paralyzed, the end result was the same: total dependence on others. Someone had to wash his face and bathe his body. He couldn’t blow his …
Read MoreNAVIGATING THROUGH THE TROUBLE WATERS OF FAMILY CONFLICT
Dave Johnson, a San Jose police officer, relates the following dreaded call of a family disturbance in his book, ‘The Light Behind the Star.’ I could see a couple standing in the front yard of the home. A woman was crying and yelling at the man, who was standing with his hands in the pockets …
Read MoreTO BE OR NOT TO BE MARRIED
Is marriage becoming obsolete or is it one of the most critical foundations of human existence? Author Gary Thomas shares something of the domestic side of Abraham Lincoln in his book, Sacred Marriage. …Mary Todd was hardly the type of woman with whom one could enjoy a quiet evening. She was, in fact a woman …
Read MoreBUILDING THRIVING FAMILIES IN A FRAGMENTED CULTURE
About 30 miles from Belfast, Northern Ireland, close to the shore of Strangford Lough, is a stately home that tourists can visit called Castleward. The house was built in the 1760s, and its original owners were Bernard Ward, the first Viscount of Bangor, and his wife, Lady Anne. One of the most striking features of …
Read MoreFINDING HOPE WHEN WE FEEL CONFUSED AND FORSAKEN
One of the most popular biblical texts in our contemporary society is Jeremiah 29:11. But what we may not realize is the context in which itis situated. For those who may not know the text, it reads: For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not …
Read MoreTHE PRICE OF SPREADING AND EMBRACING LIES
I have just finished reading an interesting biographical sketch on the life of Winston Church of his first 58 years before the Second World War. The book is entitled: ‘The Last Lion,’ by William Manchester. Churchill was never fooled by Hitler and his intentions prior to the War. Britain was disarming following the First World …
Read MoreLIVING IN CONFUSING TIMES WITHIN A WRONG PARADIGM
How do we live under unpopular political leadership, or a leadership in which we are frustrated? It is a question that we are constantly faced with in dealing with changing leaders and political philosophies of our day. Where do we look for answers when society, as we know it, is faltering? The psalmist speaks of …
Read MoreTHE MOST UNLIKELY PEOPLE WHO SHAPE OUR LIVES
George Danzig was a senior at Stanford University during the 1930’s during the great economic depression. All the seniors knew they’d be joining unemployment lines when the class graduated. There was a slim chance that the top person in the class might get a teaching job. George was not at the head of his class, …
Read MoreCOSMIC CHRISTMAS: THE HIDDEN STORY
We generally approach the Christmas season focusing in on all we need to get done rather than a time of deep reflection. We know it’s about Jesus, but even then, we think of Christmas from its human predicament: of an unplanned pregnancy, a confused groom to be, a hasty trip to Bethlehem, shepherds coming to …
Read MoreDON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER
The danger of diluting a life changing message leads to devastating results both for the messenger and the receivers.
Read More