Galatians 5:22-23 When I say father, what pictures form in your mind? Are they pleasant, or memories you wish you could forget? No human being, except Jesus, ever had a perfect father, and if you’re a father now, you may feel the weight of your imperfections. But don’t despair, the Bible has clear direction for […]
Mark 13:28-37 Our culture has a love-hate relationship with future things. On the one hand, the popularity of horoscopes, astrology, and other ways of foretelling the future is very high. People have always had a hankering to peer into the future. On the other hand, descriptions of divine judgment are met with scorn. Many people […]
Mark 13:14-27 Throughout history, people have desired to know the future. Human beings want to have a sense of control over their destiny. For those who don’t know God or reject His existence, they resort to astrology, horoscopes, divination, omens, and other occult activities. As Christ followers, the details of the future are hidden from […]
Mark 13:1-13 “To Catch an Angel” is a book by the late Robert Russell. It’s the autobiography of a young blind man who lived alone on an island in the middle of a river. Despite his blindness, he went rowing on the river almost every day. He did it using a relatively simple system. He […]
Mark 12:38-44 I once read the story of Osceola McCarty, an 87-year-old woman who worked 12-hour days doing other people’s laundry for a livelihood. People were amazed when she generously donated 150,000 dollars to establish a scholarship fund at a major university. Even more impressive is that her gift represented only 60% of her life […]
Mark 12:35-37 I read the account of a man who was a brilliant Christian apologist. When he engaged in debate, he would not only win but often annihilate his opponent’s position. Then, in a graphic display of resounding victory, he would dust off the spot where his opponent stood. That illustration reminds me of what […]
Mark 12:28-34 Viktor Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist in Austria during World War II. He was arrested by the Nazis and put in Auschwitz, the infamous death camp. There, he was stripped of everything: property, family, possessions, and a manuscript he had spent years researching and writing on finding meaning in life. The manuscript had […]
Mark 12:18-27 In 1993, professional golfer Paul Azinger was diagnosed with cancer. He was 33. He had just won a PGA championship and had ten tournament victories to his credit. After receiving the diagnosis, he wrote, “A genuine feeling of fear came over me. I could die from cancer. Then, another reality hit me even […]
Mark 12:13-17 My wife and I have had the privilege of traveling to various countries. No matter how well you prepare, there are always surprises whenever you do something for the first time. One of those surprises had to do with currency, or, as we generally call it, money. We were in Southeast Asia, and […]
Mark 12:1-12 “Check your privilege.” What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? It has its origins in the modern social justice movement. The co-founder of Black Lives Matter defined privilege as follows: “Privilege isn’t about what you’ve gone through; it’s about what you haven’t had to go through.” Supposedly, privilege can be based […]
