Paul urges parents to bring up children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Parents are teachers. But do little ears pay attention to everything mom and dad say? About 10 years ago, Donald Joy was a guest on the “Focus on the Family” radio program. In his conversation with the show’s…
Tom Reynolds started an auto parts manufacturing company in Detroit. Five years later the business employed more than 300 people. But one day Tom’s own human resources department sent him the following email: “Mr. Reynolds, according to our records you have never submitted letters of recommendation, something required of everyone in the company. Please verify…
One night Jim has a dream. He is standing before the great white throne of Christ on judgment day. Jim trembles with anxiety as he steps forward to hear the decision that will determine his eternal destiny. After fixing Jim with a loving but piercing glance, the Lord begins to speak. “Jim,” rumbles the majestic…
On a family radio program some years ago, I heard an eye-opening story told by the mother of three small children. She and her husband had taken them to Grandma’s on Christmas Eve. Grandparents, uncles, and aunts showered the little ones with gifts. The next morning the kids wanted to play with the toys opened…
In 1879, Mary Baker Eddy began the Christian Science movement when she established her first congregation in Boston, Massachusetts (The First Church of Christ, Scientist). Eddy taught her followers to deny the reality of matter. Men and women, she believed, reflect the perfection of God and are therefore perfect themselves. The cause of sickness is…
One Saturday I tuned the radio to an ESPN station, hoping to hear some talk about a game to be played later in the day. That morning the host of the live program was irate over an email from a listener offended by the show’s affiliation with a liquor company. “Don’t write us again,” the…
Paul urges his readers to “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). He is following the Lord so closely that the Corinthians would benefit from imitating his good conduct. That is, following Paul would make the church stronger and more mature. Would the Seagoville congregation benefit from following my example?…
On Halloween a small boy tramps the streets dressed as ugly as mom will allow. A hideous zombie mask is particularly appealing. But a little girl wants to dress up like a princess. Deep in her heart is a longing to be beautiful. Grown women want to be beautiful too, and there’s no shame in…
Good education includes testing. Teachers regularly give exams covering the material presented in class. Occasionally, they distribute standardized tests measuring overall academic progress. God has an examination of his own. The final test is to be given on the day of judgment. In anticipation of that great event, we are wise to prepare, to ask…
On the eve of the crucifixion, Jesus eats a meal with his disciples. Fixing a troubled gaze on these 12 close friends, the Lord says, “One of you will betray me” (John 13:21). Filled with anxiety, the disciples begin to ask themselves who could do such a thing. Following Peter’s signaled suggestion, John quietly asks,…