Confused by your suffering?
If you’ve ever questioned God because of your pain, listen to what Jesus said in John 15: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more […]
Lessons from Barry
I’m learning a lot from my friend Barry. He’s a native New Yorker and very devoted to his Jewish faith and heritage. He and his wife have led interesting lives and have been very successful. They enjoy helping others and have felt the slap of anti-Semitism personally. In the context of current events, they asked […]
Inadequate coverage
I’m an average-sized person, but when I use a pool towel at one of those “budget friendly” hotels, I have to wonder if the staff gave me a washcloth by mistake. It barely covers one hip! It takes at least four minimalist towelettes to provide any real coverage, and that requires the use of both […]
What you really need
The paralyzed man probably thought, “If I could only walk, then I’d be happy.” Four friends carried him to the teacher. Jesus looked at him and knew that this man’s greatest need was not to walk in this life but to walk with him in eternal life. So Jesus said, “Son, your sins are forgiven” […]
A new definition for patience
I recently asked a large group of people how many of them wished they had more patience. Rather than raising their hands, most of them just laughed at the question. Why? Because everyone knows that everyone wants to be more patient. Why do we need it? Here’s what we think: The world is full of […]
No weight limit on forgiveness
While most everyone agrees that forgiveness (the opposite of vengeance) is the right thing to do, there are three aspects to biblical forgiveness that offend human reason—the size, the amount, and the necessity. Let’s think about the first offense: The Bible doesn’t have a weight limit on forgiveness. When someone sins against you, God doesn’t […]
God is punctual
Just 30 seconds. That’s how much later I checked in for the flight online than all the other passengers reserving their boarding positions on the Southwest Airlines flight. It meant I was group C instead of group A. Timing is everything. So what timing are you trying to manage right now? Persevering in new habits? […]
Is Jesus disappointed in you?
A few years ago, I lost my voice and my car wouldn’t start on the same day, so I ordered an Uber to give me a quick lift to work. A woman pulled up in an impressive, upgraded Jeep. Since she was talkative and I couldn’t talk, we started a hilarious me-texting and her-talking conversation […]