Blood Donations: Literal and Spiritual (and a Memorial Day Tribute)
If you have been in to donate blood, you are aware of all the sensitive questions that a donor is asked: diseases exposed to, medications being taken, and sexual practices. All of these are for the purpose of protecting the purity of the blood supply and the patients who are dependent upon it.
The National Debt
The Bible talks about debt, including monetary debt. In fact, Jesus used the idea of monetary debt to make a powerful point about forgiveness.
“It’s Not Fair”
How many times have we heard (or said) those words? Some years ago I was talking with a pastor friend about fairness. I told him that it would seem like God, being the all-knowing and all-powerful God He is, would always be a God of fairness, working things out so that no one could ever justifiably say they were treated unfairly. My friend responded “well, actually God is not fair.”
Uncle Bob’s “Bucket List”
While many people have a “bucket list” of things they want to see or experience before they die, Uncle Bob’s bucket list is more focused on the life applications from the Word he wants to leave with us. He wouldn’t call it his bucket list, but that’s pretty much what it is.
A Tribute to Care-givers
For the believer, care-giving is an opportunity to demonstrate the love of God, as in I Corinthians 13: love is patient (even when helping them get dressed or go to the bathroom), love is kind (even when they don’t recognize or appreciate what you are doing), love is not jealous (i.e. jealous of the time that we could have had to do something else), is not provoked (even when they are not cooperating)…. You get the idea.
Who Am I?
Last week at our church we sang the popular worship song “Your Beloved” by Brent Helming, which asks the probing question:
“Lord, who am I, compared to your glory?
Lord, who am I, compared to your majesty?”
Words We Prefer Not to Hear: “Selflessness,” Part 4
What if we deeply care about an individual, prayerfully go to him to help him take the speck out of his eye, lovingly explain the concern, but he does not accept it well? What if he becomes upset, and perhaps even cuts off the relationship?
Words We Prefer Not to Hear: “Selflessness,” Part 3
If you go back to the previous blog (Selflessness, Part 2), one of the situations mentioned was helping others take the speck out of their eye “where they are usually ready to listen to us.” In other words, they are willing to accept reproof. This is an indication that they are wise. Lets look at a few passages from Proverbs
Words We Prefer Not to Hear: “Selflessness” Part 2
In the January 22 blog, the point was made that some individuals might be concerned that being selfless could be a prescription for becoming a doormat. Or they might think that others will escape personal responsibility or be encouraged to continue in their bad behavior. The question is, when do we need to speak up about these things?
Words We Prefer Not to Hear: “Test”
As much as we may not look forward to tests and trials, God reminds us of how much they are to be expected as a part of life. Not only that, but we can rejoice in what God is doing in our lives as a result of the trials, similar to the way in which Jesus suffered as part of God’s plan for bringing forgiveness to a lost world.