What do you picture in your mind when you hear the word, banner? A high school gymnasium with flags hanging from the ceiling depicting past state championships? A business name on some fabric blowing in the wind to attract customers? A billboard with an advertisement lifted high above the nearby traffic? These days banners come […]
Because God’s Word is living, it speaks to every generation. Recently I reread Habakkuk and I noticed how similar were the issues addressed by the prophet to those of our times. As Habakkuk surveyed the land before him, he saw violence and injustice everywhere he looked. Is our day any different? Newscasts are filled with […]
“We’ve never seen such devastation.” “We just got out with our clothes on our backs.” “We’ve been able to go back to our home. All that’s left are ashes.” You’ve probably heard these and other expressions of grief and shock. With 10% of Oregon’s population in evacuation zones, it’s likely that you know someone […]
“Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city.” (Psalm 55:6, 9, 11) Probably, most of us feel like David when […]
Have you ever been upset with yourself for giving into temptation … again? Have you ever assumed that if you were just more disciplined, you could be victorious? Feel you need to try harder or be more regimented to keep your routines? How many times have you heard it said that if you want […]
One of the most common complaints is, “I don’t like my job.” The person complaining may not like their boss or their hours. Their complaint may be about the pay or the office politics. Such complaining is not new. The Bible is filled with such incidents. I’ll point out two that took place shortly after […]
Consider the Apostle Paul, King David, and the Prophet Elijah. You might think such godly men never faced discouragement, but each of them did. There was a time when Paul said he “despaired even of life.” One time David’s men talked of stoning him, and he had to “encourage himself in the Lord.” And there […]
I hate roller coasters. I almost get seasick just watching television coverage of some theme park’s new “biggest roller coaster ever.” If they think that is going to inspire me to vacation at their park, they have another thing coming. I see absolutely no excitement to being pulled straight up several stories, only to freefall […]
The Bible is full of stories of real people who faced real challenges. One such account is that of a young Jewish girl named Esther. After her parents died she was raised by her cousin, Mordecai [more-dah-kye]. She lived in the Persian capital city of Susa about 500 years before Christ. Hers is a remarkable […]
The Bible is full of stories of real people who faced real challenges. One such account is that of a young Jewish girl named Esther. After her parents died she was raised by her cousin, Mordecai [more-dah-kye]. She lived in the Persian capital city of Susa about 500 years before Christ. Hers is a remarkable […]