A Place for Encouragement
Where should we turn when life is hard? Who has the answers? When Jesus spoke to his disciples about sharing in his body and blood in the gospel of John (John 6), there was a mass exodus of his followers. They could not understand or accept his teachings. They did not comprehend the mystery of... Continue Reading →
The Dust Bowl in the Central and Southern Plains was a 10 year span of severe drought and suffering brought about by the cycle of regional climate conflicting with man's agricultural intervention. Intensified by the great depression, the suffering and poverty of the people was immense. Considering the duration and intensity of the struggle, it... Continue Reading →
When things in the world, your nation, your city, and your neighborhood are stressful, taxing, and possibly even out of control from a human perspective, know that you were made by God for this very time in history. You have been designed for this very day that you are reading this post. The Apostle Paul... Continue Reading →
Jesus and the apostles all suffered, all lacked wealth, all lived with strong opposition to their lifestyle and message. They lived in what both Jesus and Paul called evil times. All this and yet they were exceedingly content. Why? The apostles apprehended what Jesus knew: that they were heirs to a Kingdom through Christ's life... Continue Reading →
What is love and how are we to act? In the book of Acts, Stephen was stoned for his presentation and defense of the good news of Christ's coming. Jesus's disciples were persecuted. Early on the Apostle James was killed by the Sword. Throughout the 1st century, the Hebrew and Greek Christians lived lives of... Continue Reading →
The Apostle Paul reminds all Christians that our work for the Lord is worth it. The daily grind, the elbow grease, the grunt work, the noticed and unnoticed all make a difference. We are to be resolute, prepared, and abounding in our efforts because Christ gave us - even us - victory over death. Paul... Continue Reading →
The qualities of Christ's words changed those around him and the World. His words mattered, both in the moment and for eternity. As Christ followers, we are commanded to emulate him. For unedifying, self-serving, ill-conceived, unwise, untruthful, and proud words may win the moment, the hour, the day, the decade, and even the century, but... Continue Reading →
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” - Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. The great... Continue Reading →
We all have troubled hearts at times. The circumstances of life can be sudden and seemingly unforgiving. No chance to recover, no chance to change the outcome. Our world is replete with examples of things we would like to see different. A kinder, safer, more hopeful, and more equitable one. A world that was right... Continue Reading →
Paul the Tentmaker The Apostle Paul knew something about shelters. His trade profession was tentmaking, a well established trade developed in the ancient world to provide housing and protection from the elements. Despite being called to be the Apostle to the gentiles, he routinely worked as a tentmaker to support himself and not burden the... Continue Reading →