Tag: Faith
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The Shoes to Put on
A friend of mine, who’s a U.S. Army chaplain, talks about the challenges of ministering to young soldiers. Many of these fledgling “green suits” are sent to him for counsel, after they get in trouble for not abiding by Army values. Regularly the conversation goes something like this: I know it looks bad for me,…
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Reflections on Aging and Faith
I heard it as soon as I walked in from the garage: “chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp.” Thinking it was time to replace a smoke alarm battery, or something similar, I walked around the house, listening. Every minute or so the sound returned, “chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp.” Where was it coming from?! Finally, I found the culprit—a carbon monoxide alarm in the…
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Navigating Life’s Storms with Faith
I’m trying urgently to reach Pastor Ron by phone, but my mentor in the ministry doesn’t answer. A few seconds later, another phone lying on the desk, begins to vibrate. Somehow, I know it’s Ron. He’s trying to call me back! But it’s locked, and I don’t know the passcode. So it rings and rings…📳…
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Sweet Counsel to the Soul
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend. Proverbs 27:9 NASB The email came, just before the first weekend of October. Rainer Bantau, a fellow Christian blogger, was coming to Oklahoma City for a conference. Would I like to get together for coffee? “The Devotional Guy wants…
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Under the World’s Influence
It’s a daydream. I’m speeding down the interstate, seething about someone who did me wrong, when I see the flashing lights of a police motorcycle behind me. I pull over, and up walks a larger-than-life person in dazzling white clothing. It’s not the police, but an angel from heaven, who tickets me for DUWI—Driving Under…
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When a Grandpa Joined the Youth Group
He was an older deacon in our little Baptist church, a retired guy who preferred bib overalls to three-piece suits. Brother Orville had soul-searching eyes, and a calm, yet inquisitive, demeanor. But the most peculiar thing about him is that he volunteered to work with our church youth group—even though he was five or six…
