You are one in a million so why bother to vote, to speak up, to get involved, or to commit yourself? The German author Hans Habe tells us why. He said, “The world is one percent good, one percent bad, and 98 percent neutral. That’s why what individuals do is so important.”
The tragedy of our world is neutrality. Most people want to play it safe. They are content to go along in order to...
A nation can suffer no greater loss than the loss of respect for law. With every increase in lawlessness, our nation grows weaker.
The Bible says that part of being a good Christian is being a good citizen, and part of being a good citizen is obedience to the law. In the 13th chapter of Romans we are told that government is of God, for our good, and for the punishment of evildoers.
...There is a trend abroad for denominations to speak out against the practice of viewing the body and giving flowers, etc. at funerals. Some have even gone to the extreme of suggesting that no flowers be given and that at death the body be immediately prepared and buried without any ceremony. A few days later, it is suggested, a simple memorial service could be held for the family and friends. Th...
The subconscious mind is a strange thing. The night before my dad’s birthday I had a dream about him. He died many years ago at the age of 75.
In the dream I was crying and mother asked me why. I said, “Because dad never told me he loved me.” Then suddenly he was present, put out his hand to shake mine like he always did, and said, “We need to talk.” I had a strong grip in my handshak...
Violence is no new thing. Cain, first mortal man of natural birth, killed his own brother in a jealous rage. God, knowing his heart, warned if he didn’t deal with his anger it would end up destroying him. And, it did. Anger will do that to anyone.
The fact that we usually turn to the church for answers in times of crisis indicates that we know this is basically a spiritual problem. If i...
Several years ago, I became concerned about the lack of growth in the church I was pastoring so I took several days and visited the pastors of some of the leading churches in Texas. I wanted to know the secret to their success. Do you know what I discovered?
None of them had a sure-fire plan for church growth.
I found no trick plays.
I returned home with this conclusio...
John Wooten, the great UCLA basketball coach who won 10 National Championships in 11 years said, “No team ever won the National Championship with the nation’s leading scorer on the team.” Then he added, “It takes teamwork to make the dream work.”
This principle is just as true in marriage, in business, and in the Christian life as it is in sports. They can never be a one-man show. It ta...
Mr. Ezra Duke of the old Duke and Ayres five- and ten-cent variety store chain was a dedicated Christian layman. He once told how he became a success in business. He and his wife saved $700 from farming. They used the money to buy five- and ten-cent dolls and went into business.
The day before they opened their first store, they knelt and dedicated their business to the Lord, promising...
Over the triple doorways of the Cathedral of Milan, Italy, there are three inscriptions spanning three beautiful arches. Over the first arch is sculptured a cross and with it the words, “All that troubles is but for a moment.”
Over the left arch is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath it are the words, “All that pleases is but for a moment.” Over the central entrance to th...
Once we buried a young lady who was only 21 years old. She was killed in a head-on collision while on her way to church. The night before the funeral, my daughter asked why God allows things like this to happen.
I wish I knew. Things like this have puzzled saints, wise men, and philosophers since the world began.
There is simply no one easy answer as to why tragedies like this happen. The answer may lie in the fact that God made us free. He created us with the ability to make our own choices, and choices always involve consequences. If we are careless or foolish in our choices, or if others are, we may suffer because of them. If God did not allow us freedom, we’d be less than people. We’d be robots.
This may be the only explanation we will ever have for some suffering. However, we do not have to know why things happen in order to be victorious over them. On the cross Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) But the heavens were as brass. God was silent. He didn’t even answer his own Son. Jesus might have despaired and become bitter against God. But instead he said, “Father, into thy hands I commend [entrust, hand over] my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
This kind of faith is far more important than any answer we might receive. In our lives, as in the life of Jesus, it is faith that makes the difference between victory and defeat.
So keep believing in God no matter what. Commit your life to him and regardless of what happens, God will help you.