“I’m sending positive thoughts your way.” Let’s start by acknowledging the good will and intent behind these words. People say such things because they are concerned about someone in difficult circumstances and they want to voice their support for them. We’ve all been in this situation and know the powerlessness you feel—someone you care aboutContinue reading “A substitute for prayer?”
Category Archives: Coming to God
The Power of the Cross
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (Paul to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:18). I grew up in a small southern town. Like so many small towns in the south, it owed its origin to the railroad. OurContinue reading “The Power of the Cross”
Are Your Feet Touching the Bottom?
Our three grandsons (7, 9, 11) were watching a water polo match on television during the ’24 summer Olympic Games. The players were jostling for position, splashing up a storm, all while trying to either throw a ball into the net or prevent the other team from doing so. The boys thought it looked likeContinue reading “Are Your Feet Touching the Bottom?”
Israel, the Pharisees, and Prayer
Israel wanted a king (1 Samuel 8)! There were some legitimate reasons why they needed a king. A king would help them to be something more than the loose confederation of tribes they were—characterized by infighting and the failure to come to the aid of each other when under attack (see the book of Judges). Furthermore,Continue reading “Israel, the Pharisees, and Prayer”
The Tree of Trust (1)
“You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” Genesis 2:17. Of all the trees in the Garden of Eden, there was one special tree. It was in the middle of the garden (Genesis 2:19), perhaps to underscore the significant role it played in the continued closeness of fellowship thatContinue reading “The Tree of Trust (1)”
The Tree of Trust (2)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6.) Is God good? In essence, that is what Satan wants to know when he asks Eve, “Did God really say you must not eat from ANY tree in theContinue reading “The Tree of Trust (2)”
The Tree of Trust (3)
“To us who are being saved, it is the power of God,” (Paul to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 1:18). The good news is that God is good. He’s not only better than we are, He is good beyond our ability to understand. In the greatness of His goodness, He has provided another treeContinue reading “The Tree of Trust (3)”
Bad Actors
“Bad actors” refers primarily to people who consistently muddle through a stage, television, or movie performance. A secondary usage has to do with those who are up to no good, but I’m not sure that was very well known until a few years ago. That’s when the security industry began to use the phrase forContinue reading “Bad Actors”
Intimacy with God
Intimacy with the Lord is something all believers desire and yet there seems to be a lack of clarity as to how this is achieved. Some (borrowing from our instant gratification culture), are under the impression that it is an easy intimacy—something obtained as simply as curling up with a nice “spriritual” book and aContinue reading “Intimacy with God”
Keeping Our Faith Fresh
What if Jesus was the one who brought the bread and juice to you when you were taking communion? Can you envision this? If you can, I think you might find it helpful in personalizing the cross. We hear preachers and teachers tell us that if there had been no one else who had sinned other thanContinue reading “Keeping Our Faith Fresh”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 