Christian Life

The prospect of death has a way of getting our attention, of cutting to our very heart. Yet we also have a way of turning our eyes away from Death’s burning light to gaze again at the shadows of this world, stepping back away from death and ignoring the message it sends.

On Thursday May 7, 1992, I joined about 500 other citizens and taxpayers to pray on the lawn at City Hall in the city of Gresham, Oregon. It was the national day of prayer, declared so by our president. Organizers had gone through the right hoops, and the mayor of Gresham had granted permission for us to be there. But the gathering began not with a prayer or song of worship, but a statement read by a police lieutenant culminating in, "You are commanded to leave." What a way to start a prayer meeting!

Ask the enlightened American what he thinks of Christian sexual morality. To him, it’s a fossil—an antique that went out with washboards and penny candy. Who believes any more what the Bible says about sex?

To overcome stress you must either change your circumstances or your perceptions. You can change some circumstances, of course, but many you cannot.

From a distance counseling has a pretty face—it seems mysterious, stimulating, and challenging. Up close you see the pock marks. Because counseling is difficult, draining, and sometimes frustrating, it’s easy to lose the sense of wonder about it.

Although there are occupational hazards in all callings, the perils of the spiritual leader are especially subtle.

God’s total answer for man’s total need is his kingdom. It’s God’s plan, God’s order, God’s promise, and God’s offer.