Tuesday, June 26, 2012
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
IDEA: The proverbs are designed to give us wisdom and insight, but they are not designed as unqualified promises.
PURPOSE: To help listeners make sure that the literature they deal with is interpreted correctly.
Spend time each day in God’s Word with thought-provoking devotions to strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ. The Our Daily Bread devotional is published and distributed in more than 40 languages world-wide, and available in over 15 languages online.
One Sunday morning, D. L. Moody entered a house in Chicago to escort some children to Sunday school. During his visit, three men backed him into a corner and threatened him. “Look here,” Moody said. “Give a fellow a chance to say his prayers, won’t you?” The men actually allowed him to call out to God, and Moody prayed for them so earnestly that they left the room.
One of my favorite books on writing is Writing for the Soul by Jerry Jenkins. In his book Jerry gives some excellent advice for Christian writers. For example, “We can’t write for other people’s souls unless ours are healthy.” Or how about this gem: “No writer ever arrives.” Jerry also advises, “Allow yourself to be [...]
How could a senior citizen choir of Russian immigrants be part of what some consider a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East? Dotting the landscape of this Holy Land are the new outposts of an ancient conflict. Jewish Settlements have become a flashpoint in the struggle for control over territory claimed by both Israeli and Palestinian people. Communities of Peace—or Conflict?
Runtime: 26 minutes
James was diagnosed with heart problems, and his wife, Becky, was no longer able to care for him or herself very well. They started looking for an assisted living home. One of Becky’s first questions as she visited each home was, “Do you puree your food?” She was concerned that James have the kind of food he needed for his swallowing difficulty. Several places answered “no,” so she kept searching. Finally she heard “yes” at a Christian assisted living home.
Monday, June 25, 2012, Part 2
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
IDEA: One reason we misinterpret or misapply a passage is that we often don’t consider the literary genre in which it is written.
PURPOSE: To help listeners be aware that different kinds of biblical literature have to be interpreted in different ways.
There’s something so tempting about the antisocial delicacy of gossip. We enjoy it, even when it makes us feel guilty and ashamed. According to researchers, however, we don’t have to feel ashamed anymore because a little gossip is healthy. The researchers believe gossip is what keeps the culture going, greasing the social machine. “It’s a [...]
By Cindy Clerk, 19, Czech Republic Everyone has dreams, though some may dream more than others. Human beings have the ability to dream or aspire, unlike all other living creatures. I have always had big dreams. Since I was 13, I knew where I wanted to study—abroad. When I was 15, I knew exactly what [...]
Dotting the landscape of this Holy land are the new outposts of an ancient conflict. Jewish Settlements have become a flashpoint in the struggle for control over territory claimed by both Israeli and Palestinian people. Communities of Peace—or Conflict?
Runtime: 26 minutes
For several years, I’ve corresponded with a pastor in Nepal who often travels with his church members to distant communities in the Himalayas to preach and plant churches. Recently he sent me his itinerary for the following week and asked me to pray.
Last year, when news of the Oslo bombing broke, a friend phoned Kasper Ilaug and told him that people needed help at Utoya Island, 15 minutes away. Grabbing gear and jumping into his boat, Kasper sped to Utoya and found mayhem. A shooter had begun to fire upon teenage campers and their leaders. Kasper pulled [...]
Written in the sixth-century bc by Chinese general Sun Tzu, The Art of War has been a guide for military thinking for centuries. But it has also been used by men and women in a wide variety of other arenas, including leadership, management, business, politics, and sports. What Sun Tzu wrote about military warfare can help followers of Christ to understand the tactics of our spiritual enemy:
A disgruntled client once told me that he didn’t see a need for a Christian to go to counseling. He went on to add, “Self reflection and self awareness is a waste of time. Our lives would straighten out if we would just do what the Bible tells us to do.” There is no doubt [...]
Here in New England where I live, baseball is a near-religious pursuit. Even if it were against the law to talk about the Boston Red Sox while at work, the fans couldn’t stop—they love their team that much.
