Have you ever asked God for something and received no immediate answer? Saul asked God for counsel but God, “did not answer him that day” (1 Samuel 14:37). In many Seminary classrooms and in conferences too numerous to count, I have taught that there is no such thing as unanswered prayer for believers. Sometimes God…
I watched a celebration this week. It happened to be a victory parade for the champion Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. It could have been for any reason. Celebration is celebration, right? Maybe. Maybe not. In the Old Testament, David announced, “I will celebrate before the Lord” (2 Samuel 6:21, NAS). Some translations…
A television talk-show guest was asked to share his thirty-second advice with the audience. “Live the Golden Rule” he said. Then he added (to fill up his thirty seconds), “If everyone just lived the Golden Rule, it’d be a better world.” No doubt. But my question is, can “everyone” live the Golden Rule? For those…
For me it was Senior Adult walking to keep the doctor happy. For him it was for a much more serious purpose. I was doing my casual mile and a half at the school track near my house. He was earnestly sprinting, jumping, stretching. On my last lap I inquired of him, “Football or track?”…
Pastors need the intercessory prayer of their people, perhaps never more strongly than on Saturday night. I don’t know how it is at your church, but the folks who hear me preach on Sunday mornings, seldom hear a sermon preached on a full night’s sleep. Saturday nights are filled with off-and-on sleep mixed with human…
Six p.m. last Saturday came and went without the world ending. It could have ended, but not because of the predictions of a California radio preacher. The Bible is clear that “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). So it could have…
One of my favorite worship services is the one when the children’s choirs share their spring music concert. Last night was no exception. Children sang. Parents smiled. Grandparents smiled broader. Cameras flashed. It’s no wonder Jesus loved children and rebuked His disciples when they tried to keep the kids away from Him. “Let the little…
Last week we heard that Osama bin Laden was dead and with no proof of a dead body, people celebrated. Three weeks ago (Easter), we heard (again) that Jesus Christ died and the tomb was empty (no body) and people speculated. Why do people celebrate when there is no evidence, yet speculate when the evidence…
Why does one seek ever increasing numbers of persons to pray on their behalf? Do we think that by getting our prayer request listed on as many prayer lists as possible and sharing it via social networks with folks we hardly know, the sheer numbers will impress God and thus win favor and produce a…
With over a million acres charred by wind-swept wild fires, the state’s governor has asked Texans to pray for rain. Is it right to pray for rain? While it needs no political personality to make the call, praying for rain is biblical. Elijah prayed for rain and God sent rain (James 5:17-18). The Psalmist implied…