We Have Come to a Turning Point
God Never Promised an Easy Path
I served at a great ministry called Northland Baptist Bible College for a decade of my life. Whenever I go through a trial (when am I not, right?), I think of this quote, which was often spoken from the pulpit and certainly appeared on a coffee mug or two. I hope it encourages you.
Read moreThe Unexpected Lesson of Secretariat
It’s no secret: my girls love horses. And along with that love comes another love: for horse movies. One family-friendly movie we came across a while back—and one we’ve probably seen a half-dozen times—is Secretariat. Now, this movie isn’t perfect; there is some brief, mild language. But as for sports movie about beating impossible odds, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more powerful one. Nope, this article is no review of the movie (Focus on the Family has a good review here) but rather a critique of its message. But to understand the takeaway value of this article requires at least an elementary understanding of what the movie is about. Here’s a brief synopsis: [Spoiler alert] Penny Tweedy goes against all odds and even risks her financial stability and family relationships to save the family horse-breeding business by winning the Triple Crown in 1973 (that’s three of the biggest…
Read moreMaking Something from Nothing
Photo courtesy of George Hodan Someone recently asked me, “When was the last time you made something from nothing?” At first I was baffled. Based on my understanding, God is the only Being who has created something from nothing. Ex nihilo. Then I got to thinking. When was the last time I watched God produce something in my life I knew I was lacking? Memories came to me, and I decided to share them along with my answer to this question. When my father was diagnosed with brain cancer in January 2009, my parents moved near me so he could be close to our hospital for cancer care and so a son could be nearby. What I didn’t realize at the beginning was how I would be called on to serve as a caregiver in so many ways. I knew nothing about this role and didn’t know how best to help…
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