Jesus said we’re the light of the world, and we shouldn’t allow our light to be hidden. Why would anyone be reluctant to let their light shine? I remember when...
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Jesus tells us to “turn the other cheek,” as if sustaining one slap isn’t enough. Why would Jesus say that? Restraint shows true strength. Retaliation is a thoughtless natural reaction....
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People want the sweets, not the sweat of answering God’s call. Should we blame church leadership for membership crying out for candy and choosing to go elsewhere when they don’t...
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Is the power of a story found in its explosive moment, or might it be somewhere else? Fireworks are fun. Back when I was nine, fireworks were legal in town....
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Black Lives Matter is a huge topic these days. Is one color supposed to be better than another? God made all the colors. I grew up with no racial prejudice,...
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Some people say a loving God would never allow evil in the world. Others say it’s the devil’s fault. Or it must be our fault. Who is right? God said,...
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Studies have shown that Christian counselors are no more effective than non-Christian counselors. Why? Perhaps it’s because they use the same counseling methods. There is a better way. The interesting...
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If the creator of our world has the knowledge and power to eliminate suffering, evil, and death, why doesn’t he do it? We are told to trust him—that we can...
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Stories excite people because of what went wrong, not what went right. If we’re willing to expose our faults and failures, our experiences will draw interest and help others avoid...
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Even a GPS can lead us the wrong way. What we see on the news and read on the Internet isn’t always true. When we need direction, whom can we...
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“God is love” is a common saying, but do we really know what it means? Everybody hungers for love. Before I knew God, I couldn’t imagine what his love was...
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Create the perfect pattern, and then make everything like it. With dies and molds, we shape the parts that make our cars. By what pattern are the best people made?...
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If our pain and suffering were not important, wouldn't God just take us to where we will spend all of eternity? He could do that if he wanted to. Could...
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How long should I allow stress to keep me from enjoying life? Can I do something before it ruins my health as well? Either kill the stress or be killed...
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When people are sick, they go to the doctor, seeking relief. What do we do if the diagnosis is wrong and the remedies don’t keep us from dying? Tell the...
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Preaching that says, “God wants to give us all we want,” gives me great sorrow. Why? Unless we have truly surrendered all our wants and want nothing other than whatever...
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Satan roams Earth like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. To avoid being eaten, should the lambs who follow the Lion of the Tribe of Judah roar too?...
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Why do people compare themselves with others? I’d be foolish to keep score on something that doesn’t matter. Everyone has unique needs for different destinies. Comparing myself to anyone else...
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Many Christians expect to be in Heaven because they are “basically good,” as if they are not doing so many bad things that they would be destined for Hell. Assuming...
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When Jesus came to set captives free, he came for you and me, not just the people who were staring out through prison bars. Does a prisoner always know what...
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Believe and your dreams will come true. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if positive thinking worked all the time? What should we do if it doesn’t? Keep on believing. Keeping the...
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On Christmas Eve, Johnny found the latest edition of the Montgomery Ward catalog, which was thick and heavy enough to use as a door stop. He passed the black-and-white newsprint...
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Our society believes in vision. I must set lofty goals. Plan my work and work my plan, they say. Will that guarantee my success? Believing isn’t enough. Last year, hundreds...
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René Descarte is known for saying, “I think. Therefore, I am.” What we think defines the reality of our environment. We believe what we see with our minds. But is...
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Does God always keep his promises? If he does, people might have reason to fear. God’s blessings have conditions. These days, I seldom hear a preacher talk about God’s promises...
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I do many things on impulse, without thinking. Can I overthink a situation? Maybe my first thought is correct. On the other hand, what if my belief is wrong? Our...
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Just believe. That’s all I need for the magic to happen. Those words from the great encouragers sounded so good when I was a kid. Were they right? If a...
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I’ve heard people say, “God never talks to me.” Is that because God isn’t talking? Or is it because they have a hearing problem? Hearing is different from listening. My...
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At two years old, I loved putting together picture puzzles. If only the puzzles of life would fit together so easily. At first, the puzzles were simple. I quickly learned...
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When I was young and thought I was smart, I prayed to be a miracle. I wanted God’s glory to be revealed in my life. Then I realized how dangerous...
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Daredevils take risks that can be fatal, but playing safe all the time is a boring way to live. If we discover the best path to walk, we can get...
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Many jokes have been written about what is required to pass the pearly gates and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If there really is a condition for admission, and I...
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Five dollars and reciting the “sinner’s prayer” will buy a cup of coffee. It won’t buy salvation, so I’m bothered when preachers say, “If you said those simple words, you’ve...
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As a child, I was given blank pages with a scattering of numbered dots. I drew a line from one dot to the next until I could see the mystery...
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When searching, do I know what I’m looking for? If so, where do I look? Will I recognize it when I see it? I could be looking for diamonds and...
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I’ve learned the hard way. Before I sign a contract, I must be sure I know what I’m agreeing to. Even a comma can change the meaning, so I must...
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When Susie was a toddler, she didn’t understand relationships and kept calling her grandfather, “Unkly Chili.” Ever since, no matter what the relationship was, people always called him Uncle Charlie.
We fall down the stairs by focusing on the goal and miscalculating the next step. So which is more important, the goal or the next step? Careful, don’t fall. I’ve...
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Without beginning, you can’t reach the end. Garrison Keillor once said we don’t know how to tell a story until after we’ve told it a dozen times. That was saying...
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Prior to the year 2000, few people had ever heard of Jabez. But after The Prayer of Jabez book became a bestseller, almost all Christians had heard of him. Why...
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Few people have what they would call a “best” friend, someone who understands them completely and appreciates their value. Those who have such a friend may still risk being “unfriended.”...
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High-risk investments are made with the hope for a greater return. If we forgive an offense, what will we get in return? Maybe nothing. Or maybe the life we save...
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My mother used to say, “People convinced against their will are of the same opinion still.” What did she mean by that? Maybe that’s a good topic for discussion. Being...
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