Saturday, June 23, 2012

How I Got to Know My Wife

When I was first getting to know my wife Kristin, it didn't help me to go on what other people said about her. I had to get to know her. I had to learn about her likes and dislikes. I had to learn what would make her happy or sad. I had to learn about her past as well as her dreams for the future. I had to take a lot of unhurried TIME with her to get to know her.

In the same way, we cannot really get to know God without spending TIME with Him. There are many books about Him - some good, some bad. There are many people who say many things about Him - some that are accurate and some that are inaccurate. But the best way to really get to know Him is not through what others write or say. We need to get to know Him from what He has said about Himself. Read the Bible - the book God wrote to help us get to know Him.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

It's Not the End of the Book

Help for Widows and Widowers: It's Not the End of the Book: When we are in the throes of grief, it may seem that life has ended. Everything has changed, and without our permission. It's a dark place t...

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Help for Widows and Widowers: Grieving With Others

Help for Widows and Widowers: Grieving With Others: When our spouse dies, we enter a season of profound grief. In the midst of my own grief, I sometimes forgot an important point: others aroun...

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Help for Widows and Widowers: The Death of the Future

Help for Widows and Widowers: The Death of the Future: When my wife died, I felt hopeless for the future. We had planned some vacation times that we would never take together. I thought of all th...

Christian Husbands and Fathers: An All-The-Time Job

Christian Husbands and Fathers: An All-The-Time Job: "Dad! Dad! Dad! Daddy!" One day in the car I had heard the name "Dad" so many times that I raised my voice and said, "I'm changing my name! ...

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Monday, June 4, 2012

Keep Serving!

Last night I met a man who had been one of my favorite seminary professors, a mentor, and a friend. David Larsen is now advanced in years, "an octogenarian" as he called himself, and still he taught with great energy and biblical accuracy. I found myself impulsively asking the Lord to give me the ability to minister that effectively when I one day reach his age.

He pointed out his age a couple of times, noting that he is slowing down, and all I could say in response was, "Keep serving!" Keep on serving the Lord. Keep sharing the wisdom you've gained from pastoring and teaching for 50+ years. We who are younger in age and faith need the wisdom and the example of men like you.

If you are reading this post while feeling the pangs of growing older, please allow me to encourage you also to "Keep serving!" Even if you are in the last lap of the race we call Christian Life, keep pressing on toward the goal.  In Hebrews 12:1-3 we read these words:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." 
Likewise, we read in 2 Thessalonians 3:13: "As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good."

No matter how old - or how young - you are, keep serving the Lord with every ounce of strength you have, until the day He calls you home.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Help for Widows and Widowers: My Story - Part 1

Help for Widows and Widowers: My Story - Part 1: Personal stories are very important. As you look at the material in this blog, you are likely curious about my own story and why I am intere...