A minister was asked to take a break from his ministerial responsibilities. He had been known as Spirit-led man of God, an effective preacher, evangelist, counsellor. But now he was being told that he had somehow lost direction. He accepted the request, prayed earnestly to find what he had lost. He asked counsel from many … Continue reading Too big
pride
Knowing our own wretchedness
I am quite well aware that I am an imperfect person. Such awareness means that I am a truly humble Christian, doesn’t it? Or am I mistaking complacency for humility? Perhaps I should come right out and call it lukewarmness. That is what God called it when He told me what He thought of me … Continue reading Knowing our own wretchedness
FAME
[This is the first half of a poem written by Susanna Moodie] Oh ye! who all life's energies combine The fadeless laurel round your brows to twine, Pause but one moment in your brief career, Nor seek for glory in a mortal sphere. Can figures traced upon the shifting sand Washed by the mighty tide, … Continue reading FAME
The strait way or the straightaway
Which road are you on? The straightaway is a wide, smooth road with gentle curves and gradual slopes. Multitudes are travelling down this road, pedal to the metal, hellbent on getting to . . . well — hell. Where else would you expect to get to on this road? Jesus tells us that a lot of … Continue reading The strait way or the straightaway
The importance of being weak
Maria Braun was arrested in 1966 for teaching a foreign ideology to young children in the Kirghiz Soviet Republic. She had organized classes for preschool and older children to teach about faith in Jesus Christ. Another lady was arrested with her and at their trial the judge sentenced the other lady to five years in … Continue reading The importance of being weak
Christian celebrities
Can someone please tell me how it is a validation of the saving grace of Jesus Christ to extol well-known public figures who are Christians as testimonial evidence? What does it do to the public’s perception of Christianity when these people stumble? It’s not that it is impossible for people in the public eye, such … Continue reading Christian celebrities
The pride of man
When I was a teenager, scientists were predicting that a new ice age was somewhere just over the horizon. Around the same time (these were the cold war days) the media was publishing speculations that severe weather conditions were the result of secret Russian experiments at weather control. The U.S. military was spending a lot … Continue reading The pride of man
Too big to be of use to God
A group of ministers met with a fellow minister who had been highly respected and useful in the service of our Lord. They had a disturbing message for him: he had lost the spiritual vitality and clarity that he once had. They advised him to cease preaching for a time and earnestly seek a renewal … Continue reading Too big to be of use to God
Book Review: Embracing Obscurity, by anonymous
There's no end to the amount of good a person can do, if they don't care who gets the credit for it. I presume the person who said that doesn't mind that I don't remember who he or she was. I aspire to be a person such as this sentence describes. Or do I? There … Continue reading Book Review: Embracing Obscurity, by anonymous
Flatlander Faith 