Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
But Jesus overheard their report and said to the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting.” — Mark 5:36 If you read Mark 5:21-43, you get a clear picture of both Jesus’ compassion as well as faith. The synagogue leader had come to Jesus asking him to heal his daughter. However, word came that …
John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.” — Mark 9:38 Why did John say that to Jesus? Did he assume that, because Jesus had chosen him, other people weren’t chosen? Did he think that he had a …
Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her. — Luke 1:38 Here’s a story I found somewhere that gets to the heart of what believing in God really means. A Bible translator in India was working to translate the New Testament into one of …
Every so often you run across a quote that stops and makes you think, like this one from Rev. Molly Phinney Baskette: “Our faith, frail as it is sometimes, is also flexible. It is self-correcting as we have profound encounters with people who are different from us and are exposed to new experiences and ideas.” …
But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?” – Mark 4:38 Well, that seems like an appropriate question. If my boat is taking in water and going to sink, and I see a guy sleeping, I’d think …
She put [her baby son Moses] in the basket and set the basket among the reeds at the riverbank. The baby’s older sister stood watch nearby to see what would happen to him. – Exodus 2:3b-4 History shows how evil seems to be genetic in humanity. Just look at Pharaoh, who ordered the killing of male …
I will lift you up high, my God, the true king. I will bless your name forever and always. – Psalm 145:1 It’s easier to have faith when the sun is shining, birds are singing, and you’re feeling fine. It’s a lot tougher when it’s stormy and you received the lab results. In other words, …
“The Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims: Take these documents—this sealed deed of purchase along with the unsealed one—and put them into a clay container so they will last a long time.” – Jeremiah 32:16 There was one rule of investing that you should follow: If I buy a stock, don’t buy it. Too …
So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day.—2 Corinthians 4:16 Getting older makes us susceptible to the disease of depression. How can it not? You’re not as fast, admired, beautiful, smart, [fill in the blank] …
[NOTE: We’ll return to a Mondays-only format beginning next week.] Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. — Acts 16:25 One of the most counter-intuitive scenes in the Bible is that of imprisoned Paul and Silas, beaten and bloodied, singing a “robust” …