Each of us has probably known a friend or family member who has faced what is sometimes called a “terminal” illness, a condition with little known treatment or prospect of recovery. Or, perhaps we are facing such a situation ourselves.
Many people struggle with issues of purpose when they near the end of life. Dr. Ed Dobson, well-known former pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, is presently wrestling with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease). First diagnosed in 2005, he has chronicled his thoughts in a 152-page book entitled Prayers & Promises, published in 2007. This is divided into 30 chapters, one for each day of a month: each morning is a prayer of petition with his commentary and each evening is his meditation on a related promise (or answer) of hope and encouragement based on scripture texts. Each of the 30 chapters concludes with blank pages for the reader to enter personal reflections on the day’s lesson.
Read more: From the Bookshelf: Prayers & Promises--When Facing a Life-Threatening Illness
In addressing His followers Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last….”[John 15:16] For the Trinity congregation this began in a new form in 1993. A group of 12 members traveled to Central America guided by Tom Post to learn of the Lord’s working in the hearts and lives of many vibrant Christians—indigenous believers who had a vision for bringing about integral transformation in Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize. How was the Christian Reformed Church partnering with other visionary Christians working to instill a change in lives and in lifestyles? In teaching the Good News in these settings, how would it reform the culture in a “Gospel” way to bring wholeness? From this 1993 introductory trip, the travelers returned with enthusiasm and with plans. Over the next 11 years more than 50% of the Trinity families saw one or more of their members volunteer for work teams to partner with Latin American Christians on projects in those three countries with primary focus on Honduras. The Trinity congregation supported each work team financially and with much prayer. Teams returned with enthusiastic reports of blessings—both being a blessing and receiving a blessing! They learned to build relationships of trust; they learned that we work best when in unity with many types of Christians. They learned that the biblical worldview means presenting a God-honoring effort in every aspect of living, glorifying Him with every moment—redeeming every square inch of planet earth for our Creator. The many team members would each learn what Frederick Buechner once wrote, “the place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” [p.47]
As we struggle daily with seeking to serve our God, do we really understand Satan and his evil cohorts at work in our decision-making process? Do we truly appreciate the devil as a living entity as opposed to his just being a symbol of evil? The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome: I have the desire to do good, but I cannot carry it out…. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is the sin living in me that does it.[Romans 7:14-21] Due to Adam’s fall, we are each programmed with original sin. As we seek to show gratitude to God for all that He has done for us, we try to live to please Him. But, then we get frustrated when our best intentions turn out to be sinful. We end up as the “patient” of Satan and his hosts...
MIRACLE: an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs. Do you believe in miracles? Do you allow that miracles could happen today—or did such phenomena end with the Apostolic Age? With our Sovereign God in control of our daily lives, could He or would He allow one of His chosen ones to briefly visit heaven and then return to earth?
Growing up near the City of McBain in Missaukee County, Michigan, is not an experience unique to just this part of America. In many ways this is an American experience of the 1930s and 40s; it can be considered a quite-typical rural family life which could be found in many parts of agrarian America. First published in 1990, Eighty Acres is a very loving documentary of the influences of Northern Michigan family life forming the author’s values and worldview...
To say heaven is for real is a marvelous part of a Christian’s statement of faith. Yet, sometimes, as a reflection of our depravity, we doubt and make our faith statement into a question: Heaven is for real? This reminds us that Satan still seeks to wage war against our God and Savior. Throughout Scripture we are given glimpses of heaven. Sometimes this is presented as a vision or sometimes as a description of a special visit.
As followers of our Lord Jesus in a secular culture, we understand that the Bible teaches us the Creator God is also a loving God and watches over His entire creation. We know that we are in His loving care.