Thursday Thought

Are you a cultural crank? We’ve all got opinions about what’s wrong with America. Our souls sag with the weight of them. Among my top cultural concerns: We kill babies—and call that “pro-choice.” We release criminals without bond. We force taxpayers to cover someone else's college debt. We label parents as "terrorists" when they speak out at school meetings. We liken Christians to the Taliban. There’s a lot to be angry about. And we are! We’re angry about the moral decay around us. We're angry about the unfair treatment of believers. We’re angry about the indoctrination in public schools. We’re…

They say that a rut is nothing more than a grave with both ends kicked out. But when it comes to praying for unsaved family members, friends, and co-workers, the easiest thing in the world is to fall into a rut. (Boy, do I fight this!). Here's something you might find helpful. What follows are seven straightforward "Prayer Prompts" you can use in your own prayer ministry. As you read through the list, you'll notice these prayers are written for someone who is out in their neighborhood doing a prayer walk. But you can easily edit/modify/adapt these for your unique…

Her “place” is on Wells Street. Her bed is cement. Her name is Florence. But like so many other homeless people in Chicago, I knew nothing about her. A co-worker walked the same route I took from the train station to Moody that early morning. She was a block ahead and took the initiative to talk with the homeless lady. Turns out Florence is a nurse from Uganda who has come to the United States in hopes of securing a job in the medical field. However, there are forms, procedures, approvals, and acres of red tape—all of which add up…

Check out this collection of famous last words: “Step back a bit, I can't get you in the picture.” “I thought it tasted rather strange.” “I wonder what happens if these two wires touch.” “Listen, I'm taking a course in chemistry. I know what I'm doing.” "Yes, of course, the elastic is strong enough!" “And that one over there—the red flashing one—what does that mean?” Full disclosure: I got these online and can’t vouch for every source (how seriously can you take a website with a name like Mental Floss?). But what follows are the actual recorded words from people…

It’s easier to just “read” the Bible than let it mess with you. But mess with me it did when my personal Bible study time confronted me with Romans 12. In verse one, Paul urges us “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” “Holy and acceptable to God.” That phrase began to rumble…then rattle…then really unsettle me! The more I pondered that phrase, the more conviction it whispered. This one little verse commands an all-encompassing lifestyle. One that—quite frankly—mine doesn’t always resemble. Before the Holy Spirit had concluded His…

It’s hard to take seriously a town that goes by the name of Sandwich. Yet such a burg not only exists, it’s home to Illinois's oldest fair, since 1888. More notable yet is the train car parked at the corner of Main St. and US Route 34. Not just any train car, the "Isabella" was the railcar home of President Theodore Roosevelt. From 1900 to 1913, he trekked coast to coast in this Pullman-made beauty, featuring Mahogany-trimmed windows and stained glass. But in 1931, it was auctioned off for $75 to a Mr. Henry Tattrersol, who dreamed of converting it…

As I look back, it’s embarrassing. My computer mouse acted sluggishly. You could grab that mouse and whip it diagonally from one corner of the screen up to the other, and the cursor would move, but only sluggishly. At times, it appeared to freeze for a second. But was it my imagination that the lag times were getting longer? The mouse appeared to be pausing, halting randomly. Because the mouse is such a crucial part of any computer workflow, my productivity slowed down (though my pulse sped up!). Over time, it became apparent I wasn't just imagining things. That mouse…

JT and his wife had prayed earnestly for his church’s VBS, prayed that God would bring in kids who needed to hear about the love of Jesus. But JT was not prepared for God’s answer, nor did he particularly approve of the Almighty’s student selection for the class that he and his wife would lead. Elliot was loud, undisciplined, and unpredictable. He was also, it strongly appeared, on the autistic spectrum. Instead of singing along with the worship band, Elliot cried—the noise being too much. When others waved their worship streamers to the beat, Elliot thrashed his entire body. Instead…

Have you ever met anyone who has shipwrecked their faith? You've likely heard of the "exvangelical" movement. These people grew up in evangelical churches but have since "de-identified" from evangelicalism. They've walked away from their faith. According to a Religion in Public blog, between four and five percent of the American population can be classified as exvangelical. Personally, I’m weary of reading their stories. What’s behind this trend? Exvangelicals – A Note on Size and Sources Actually, it’s nothing new. Paul saw it coming in his day, which is why he wrote in 1 Timothy 1:18,19, “This command I entrust to…

It happened at Hogansville. I refer to the Georgia town 60 miles southwest of Atlanta. From a glance out the window, there isn't much going on in Hogansville, population 3,267. Unless, of course, you're into hummingbirds. Here, Hogansville shines. Since 1998, they have faithfully hosted an annual Hummingbird event, billed as "Midwest Georgia's Favorite Fall Festival." But it was a sign on a tree—not a bird at a fair— that caught my eye on Interstate 85 as we rolled past the outskirts of Hogansville. The letters popped out in fire engine red on a day-glow yellow diamond shape. There were…