Monthly Archives: June 2009

“Lord, I Believe; Help My Unbelief!”

The story of a certain father bringing his demon-possessed son to Jesus is recorded in Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, and Luke 9:37-42. While each of those accounts provides different details about the story, the account that typically gets used as … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Belief, Comfort, Faith, Fear, God's Love, Grace, Needs, Personal, Prayer Requests, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Our Anniversary

Fifteen years ago today, Tonya and I stood in her home church and got married. If I have never done anything else right in my life, I married well. She is my best friend, my life-partner, and the mother of … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Marriage, Parenting, Personal | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Easy Eddie’s Example to Fathers

Back in the days when Al Capone ran the city of Chicago, his lawyer was a man nicknamed “Easy Eddie.” Despite the fact that Capone’s empire was built around bootleg booze, prostitution, and murder, Easy Eddie’s legal skill always kept … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Doing Good, Fatherhood, Influence, Parenting, Personal Holiness, Priorities | Tagged | Leave a comment

My Body, A Temple

I’m well aware that 1 Timothy 4:8 says: “For bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (N.K.J.V.). I’m also well aware that overweight Christians love that verse because it seems to dismiss the need for exercise. Nevertheless, … Continue reading

Posted in Alcohol, Dieting, Dress and Appearance, Drugs, Gambling, Gluttony, Homosexuality, Idolatry, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Sanctification, Sex, Sin, Temptation, The Heart, The Holy Spirit, The Tongue | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Patience

Chuck Swindoll’s preaching is marked by wonderful illustrations. He has compiled hundreds of these into a book entitled The Tale of the Tardy Ox Cart. That title comes from my favorite illustration in the book. An old man and his … Continue reading

Posted in Disappointment, God's Timing, God's Omniscience, Impatience, Patience, Waiting, Worry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Path That Won’t Lead You Back

In moonshine country, a revenuer once asked a boy, “Son, will that path take me to your daddy’s still?” The boy answered, “Yes, but it won’t bring you back.” Life has some paths like that. They will take you to … Continue reading

Posted in Choices, Disobedience, Fatherhood, Homosexuality, Lesbianism, Obedience, Rebellion, Sin, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Through Many Tribulations

…”We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22, N.K.J.V.) David Livingstone was born in Scotland to poor parents. The family was so poor that he went to work in a cotton factory when he was only … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Complaining, Contentment, Disappointment, Human Life, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Sickness, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, Thankfulness, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Change

In her newspaper column on gardening, Jan Riggenbach gives us a good word on how to plant bedding plants. She writes: Giving new bedding plants some rough treatment at planting time may be the best thing you can do to … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Change, Choices, Elderly, Faith, Fear, God's Will, Obedience, Reward, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

That Old Serpent

My brother Richie and his family were renting an older house when one day he killed a huge blacksnake on the wooden deck of the place. That was scary enough, but a few days later he saw what he figured … Continue reading

Posted in Angels, Christ's Return, Coming Judgment, Demons, Prophecy, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, The Devil | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment