In his November 11, 1942, report on the war to the British House of Commons, Winston Churchill referred to “the soft underbelly of the Axis.” While half the world was intimidated by the powerful blitzkrieg style of Nazi warfare, the perceptive prime minister focused on the other side—the hidden side: the insecurity, the lack of character, the insanity behind the public image of the German dictator. Adolf Hitler may have seemed strong to his adoring public and the goosestepping soldiers who proudly wore their führer’s swastika. But the pudgy, cigar-smoking resident of 10 Downing Street was neither impressed nor frightened.
Read MoreCategory Archives: Christian Living
Compassion in Slow Motion
The timing is as critical as the involvement. You don’t just force your way in. Even if you’ve got the stuff that’s needed . . . even if you hold the piece perfectly shaped to fit the other person’s missing part of the puzzle . . . you can’t push it into place. You must not try.
Read MoreSatanic Rip-Off
A basketball fan at the Portland airport awaited the arrival of the Trailblazers following a victory over the Lakers and attempted to scalp a couple of tickets to the next game. As the shyster wormed through the crowd, he located a well-dressed man who listened to his offer.
Read MoreOutstanding 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.”
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreWhy 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.”
Read MoreDeep-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!
Read MoreWanted: 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!
Read MoreExpect 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.
Read MoreDo 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.
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