I don’t know if some of you have ever thought about this or not, but even the Christian faith was born out of uncertainty, darkness, and despair. I’m talking about the CROSS of Christ. As Jurgen Moltmann describes it: “Our faith begins at the point where atheists suppose that it must be at the end. Our faith begins with the bleakness and power which is the night of the cross, abandonment, temptation, and doubt about everything that exists!” Do you see what he’s getting at here? For the past several...
Writer Anne Lamott has said that the most powerful sermon in the world consists of two words: Me, too! I don’t know about you, but I think that Lamott is on to something here! Folks, when you’re in the midst of a Plan B-type circumstance, dealing with unmet expectations, or when you’re hurt or doubting, questioning or crying, there’s nothing more healing than knowing that someone else has been there. When you’re going through those types of emotionally-challenging times in your life, there’s nothing more comforting than hearing someone say,...
It’s been said that the greatest of all illusions … is the illusion of control. Yet, when we find ourselves in Plan B situations in life, this seems to be what we fall for right away! I’ll never forget the first time in my adult life that God woke me up to this painful reality… When Jane and I got married, I thought God wanted the perfect marriage—our life together—that Jane and I wanted, complete with very little problems. But, that just wasn’t to be the case. Our wedding went...
David went to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he saw him. “Why are you alone?” he asked. “Why is no one with you?” 2 “The king has sent me on a private matter,” David said. “He told me not to tell anyone why I am here. I have told my men where to meet me later. 3 Now, what is there to eat? Give me five loaves of bread or anything else you have.” 4 “We don’t have any regular bread,” the priest...
