Outstanding vs. Valuable

I remember the year NBA stars Michael Jordan and Earvin “Magic” Johnson were vying for the Most Valuable Player award. That year it was incredibly close, and the final tally resulted in Johnson’s winning the award by the narrowest of margins. The choice boiled down to an understanding of the definition of “valuable” as opposed to the definition of “outstanding.”

The Physical Body

Volumes are written about the mind, our emotional makeup, our “inner man,” the soul, the spirit and the spiritual dimension. But by comparison, very little is being said by evangelicals today about the physical body.

Why Drop Everything?

Jesus chooses not to minister to others all alone. He could, but he deliberately chooses not to. He could have rowed that boat Himself. He could have dropped those nets over the side Himself. He certainly could have pulled up the nets choked with fish. Instead, He had the disciples do it. And He specifically stated, “From now on you will be catching men.”

Deep-Water Faith

Edith, a mother of eight, came home from a neighbor’s house one afternoon and noticed that things seemed a little too quiet. Curious, she peered through the screen door and saw five of her children huddled together. As she crept closer, trying to discover the center of their attention, she could not believe her eyes. Smack dab in the middle of the circle were five baby skunks!

Wanted: Thinkers

Entertainment is everything today. So important, in fact, that we have television programs and magazines devoted solely to the subject. All of which makes it real difficult to be committed to substance rather than the superficial. This includes reading widely, probing deeply, seeing with discernment, rejecting the false, learning the facts. In short, thinking!

Expect the Unexpected

Most folks I know like things to stay as they are. You’ve heard all the sayings that reveal our preference for the familiar: Leave well enough alone. I don’t like surprises. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Stay with a sure thing.

Do What You Can

Centuries ago a little boy found himself in the midst of a vast crowd of people—larger than any group he’d ever seen. He had come out of curiosity, having heard that a man named Jesus was nearby.

You Can Make a Difference

Overwhelming odds can make cowards of us all. I remember the first time I felt overwhelmed regarding ministry in a vast arena. My life had been quiet and manageable. From my birthplace in a south Texas country town, I moved with my family to Houston, where we lived through my high school years. Our home was small and secure. After marriage, a hitch in the corps, and seminary, Cynthia and I became involved in ministries that were like our past . . . small, pleasant, and fulfilling. Our children were small, our lives were relaxed and rather simple, and our scope of God’s work was quite comfortable.

Uncrossable Rivers of Life

We often find ourselves bogging down in our spiritual growth simply because the challenges before us look absolutely impossible. Such frustrations are not new. Jeremiah tells us: “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You” (Jer. 32:17).

A Month for Love

It is February. Overcast, chilly, bleak-and-barren February. If you’re not into skiing the slopes, skating on ice, or singin’ in the rain, there’s not a lot outside to excite you. Sure was gracious of God to make it last only twenty-eight days . . . well, sometimes twenty-nine. No wonder bears hibernate at this time of year.

Category Archives: Christian Living