What’s the Gospel Worth to You?
In God’s amazing, deep riches of wisdom and unfathomable ways, He uses the persecution of His people to promote the gospel rather than hinder it! It seems counterintuitive; yet, attempts to silence Jesus’ disciples with ridicule, hatred, and even violence has the effect of throwing fuel on a fire, instead igniting an unstoppable movement for the good news! The gospel prevails through persecution because the power lies in the evident value of the gospel to all who endure its cost. Thus, we see how a transformed life stirs up both persecution from the lost and influence over the lost.
“Butterfly Effect”: The Ripple of the Faithful
Have you heard of the butterfly effect? In 1972, mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz asked the question: “Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” From this question arose the concept of the butterfly effect; that is, that a tiny change can have a massive impact somewhere else. Despite one’s conclusions about the relationship between tornadoes and flapping butterflies, the question is illustrative of a powerful truth: seemingly insignificant actions can carry great influence, though often unseen and unknown. Take that into account, as you consider for a moment how much of what you and I do can feel petty and unimportant at times. A little investment into others can make a great difference. An enduring faithfulness goes an extraordinary distance!
Anxiety and Depression: For Further Study
We have just completed our series on anxiety and depression at Grace Baptist Church! My hope and prayer has been that our time reflecting on and wrestling with these emotions together would help each of us to examine our circumstances and emotions, realize we are not alone, and begin to see the magnitude of help that God offers in His Word!
Gospel Conversations
What’s the first thought, feeling, or reaction that comes to you when it comes to the possibility of confronting somebody with the gospel? I think many of us would quickly feel intimidated! If someone wants to ask how to have eternal life or the way to heaven, we might be eager to answer... but to approach someone to tell them of their need for salvation? It can be quite unsettling!
God’s Precious Gift to Me (and You)
I have been moved to joyful gratitude over and over as it has continually impressed upon me what a precious gift God has given to me. This gift works quietly and behind the scenes to help me be a better person and pastor and to help me do better in life and ministry. I love this gift that God has given me, and I praise Him, the Giver of all good gifts. Thank You, Lord, for my wife, Diane!
Depression: Where is Your Treasure?
On top of all the blues and overwhelmingly sad and empty feelings, one of the great struggles of depression can come when you can’t even identify its origin. Have you ever felt that way? “I’m sad, and I don’t even know why.” Or perhaps you recognize that much of life is going well, but you have no idea why you have a perpetual empty feeling within.
How Could God Do This?
Betrayed. Nothing else could describe what our son was feeling as we brought him into the clinic and into the room where he would receive the dreadfully anticipated shot that we had tried to prepare him for since about a week prior. How could his parents do this to him? He had even been good that day, and we were handing him over for torture. Utterly betrayed.
How Can I Possibly Sleep at a Time Like This??
We’ve all been there: lying awake at night, our minds swimming in our troubles, emotions aflare, desperate for hope and help, or just downright distressed! To sleep would be both a blessing and a defeated surrender, yielding to the hopelessness of our troubles and an inevitably terrible outcome. We might even feel guilty for allowing ourselves to sleep in times when troubles are great.
Looking for the “Quick Fix”
When you’re drowning helplessly and hopelessly, you’ll frantically grasp at anything and everything in desperation to pull yourself out of the water or at least hold yourself above the surface! Such is our typical approach to the problems of life: we start to feel desperate, frantic, and hopeless, and we want them to stop. NOW. And anything that promises relief draws us enticingly. We are creatures hesitant to fully entrust ourselves to an Almighty Creator, but hasty to throw ourselves wholeheartedly at apparent remedies. Why? We want a quick fix and immediate relief.
Bowed to the Wrong God: The Idol of Productivity
What is more precious than gold but cannot be bought, earned, or saved? Time is a very valuable commodity! We hope to make the most of our time, as Ephesians 5:15-16 says: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ambition, drive, and success are celebrated and admired. But we are also getting busier and busier, trying to do more, greater, better, faster. NOW! ...but it’s never enough. At what point do I stop stewarding my time and start idolizing my productivity?