Monthly Archives: July 2015

“What we do in the crisis always depends on whether we see the difficulties in the light of God, or God in the shadow of the difficulties.” —G. Campbell Morgan, Leadership, Vol. 9, no. 3. – Today’s Best Illustrations – Volumes 1-4. Matthew 6:25 (ESV)  “Therefore I tell you, do … Continue reading →

“The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter.” —Anonymous, quoted in Men of Integrity, Vol. 2, no. 4.  Today’s Best Illustrations – Volume 5. James 1:2-7 (TLB) 2  Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, 3  for when the way … Continue reading →

“When you stretch the truth, watch out for the snap-back.” —Bill Copeland, quoted in Men of Integrity, Vol. 2, no. 4. – Today’s Best Illustrations – Volume 5. James 1:22 (NIV) 22  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Jeremiah 17:9-11 (NIV) … Continue reading →

“Time is life—nothing more, nothing less. The way you spend your hours and your days is the way you spend your life.” —John Boykin in The Gospel of Coincidence. Christianity Today, Vol. 38, no. 5. – Today’s Best Illustrations – Volumes 1-4. Psalm 90:12 (NIV) Teach us to number our days … Continue reading →

One afternoon, my four-year-old niece Paige and my six-year-old daughter Ashley started an argument, which grew louder and louder. I was about to intervene when my daughter stormed down the stairs. “Mom,” she yelled, “Jesus wants us to be the salt of the earth and Paige is being the pepper!” … Continue reading →

“Obedience is the fruit of faith; patience, the bloom on the fruit.” —Christina Rosetti, quoted in Streams in the Desert. Christianity Today, Vol. 43, no. 7. – Today’s Best Illustrations – Volume 5. Galatians 5:22 (NIV) 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, … Continue reading →

“Victorious living and effective soul-winning service are not the product of our better selves and hard endeavors, but are simply the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We are not called upon to produce the fruit, but simply to bear it.” —Roy Hession in The Calvary Road. Christianity Today, Vol. 33, … Continue reading →

I particularly like to warn my American audiences about this. Freedom is not the same thing as autonomy. Freedom does not mean I am a law unto myself. Prince Philip, the duke of Edinburgh, speaking to a hostile university audience that jeered him, stopped in the middle, and in nonregal … Continue reading →

GOD HATES THE SHEDDING OF AN INNOCENT PERSON’S BLOOD Genesis 4:10 (TLB) But the Lord said, “Your brother’s blood calls to me from the ground. What have you done?” JESUS’ BLOOD SEALS GOD’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE Matthew 26:27-28 (NIV) 27  Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered … Continue reading →

THE BIBLE IS PERFECT Psalm 18:30 (TLB) What a God he is! How perfect in every way! All his promises prove true. He is a shield for everyone who hides behind him. THE BIBLE IS TRUE Psalm 33:4 (TLB)  For all God’s words are right, and everything he does is … Continue reading →