A dear Methodist couple involved in sacrificial ministry were among several who wrote to say that recent gracEmail thoughts about being "on the shelf" in God's service also expressed their feelings. Perhaps these words to them will also connect with other hearts already joined in human frailty, ambitions and frustration. * * * Never forget that God is using and will use you both, according to his sovereign will. Part of my problem (and perhaps it is more widespread) is in thinking that little or nothing happens in the one-on-one encounters and in the many obscure events, in the … [Read more...]

A gracEmail subscriber asks, "In Deuteronomy 14:26, the King James Version and American Standard Version use 'strong drink,' while the New King James and other versions say 'similar drink.' Should the English translation say 'strong drink' with all that implies?" * * * This passage describes payment of the annual tithe which the Israelites were required to dedicate to God. It pictures a festive occasion of feasting and gaity. If one lived too far from the Holy Place to bring the actual produce, he was to sell one-tenth of the harvest and bring the money instead. This verse says "You may … [Read more...]

A gracEmail subscriber asks whether it is wrong for him and his wife to drink a glass of wine. His church flatly condemns drinking, with no exceptions. He wants to know what the Bible actually says. * * * The Bible does not condemn temperate drinking as such. Wine, like food, is God's gift to humankind from the earth (Psalm 104:14-15; 1 Tim. 4:4-5). Used properly, it benefits both health and conviviality (1 Tim. 5:23; Deut. 14:22-26). Jesus himself once miraculously provided wine for a wedding feast (John 1:1-11). By Jesus' day, the Passover Seder involved several cups of wine, one of which … [Read more...]

"Life seems overwhelming," a gracEmail subscriber says. "I don't know how I can handle another day." * * * 3. REST IN GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY (Matt. 11:20-30). Some cities which saw most of Jesus' miracles still did not believe in him. Jesus' response was a joy-filled heart and a prayer to God -- who is always in charge and whose work will never be defeated. When your agenda crashes and your hopes and plans fail, rest in the knowledge that God has an eternal purpose, and that no one will ever thwart his master plan for the salvation of all those who rely on him. 4. SEEK GOD'S PRESENCE (Matt. … [Read more...]

"Life seems overwhelming," a gracEmail subscriber says. "I don't know how I can handle another day." * * * I am very sorry for your troubles and I pray for God's constant presence with you, for his protection around you and for his power within you. You rightly note that we live just one day at a time. For encouragement in living each new day as it comes, let us look to Jesus our Savior -- "a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs" (Isaiah 53:3). He sympathizes with our weaknesses and he invites us to come to him for grace to help in our times of need (Heb. 4:14-16). Jesus' own example … [Read more...]

A friend writes that his business has been down lately, he has been feeling anxious about the future and he has gone through a period of discouragement. He asks if I can offer any encouragement. * * * You are certainly not alone in your feelings. Discouragement swats us all from time to time. When anxiety begins to churn my heart, I have found the only solution is to hand over to God whatever is bothering me or causing me concern, and to ask him to renew my trust in him alone. I do not mean some shallow or pseudo-spiritual prayer. I mean telling God the complete and unvarnished story, … [Read more...]

The August sun beams warmly in Greeley this Saturday morning in 1998, on these outdoor graduation ceremonies of the University of Northern Colorado. Kristy, our new daughter-in-law as of the night before, is graduating from college 14 hours later. It has been a busy, happy weekend for us all. I look at my watch as the commencement speaker walk to the microphone on the field before us. He is, says the master of ceremonies, Daniel L. Ritchie, Chancellor of the University of Denver. "When I graduated from college, I thought about my classmates," Ritchie begins, "and I put them in two categories. … [Read more...]

A gracEmail subscriber writes: "In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul urges us to avoid even innocent activities if our doing them 'offends' a weak brother or sister. My own relatives and friends include different people who object to using instrumental music in church, celebrating Christmas, playing cards, women wearing pants, wearing clothes with zippers, and drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation. Am I required to cease every activity to which anyone happens to object?" * * * Regarding this subject, people easily go to either of two opposite extremes. On the one hand, some selfish, immature and … [Read more...]

Bible readers know the phrase "Jews and Gentiles," but not everyone remembers that "Gentiles" are literally "the nations," meaning all those who are not Jews. The Greeks of the Hellenistic period divided the world into "Greeks and Barbarians," with "Barbarians" being those who did not speak Greek and who therefore sounded (to Greek ears) as if they said "bar-bar-bar." I have read, but cannot prove, that the names of Native American tribes all mean "the people" in the languages of each respective tribe. Each tribe viewed the world as inhabited by "the people" (themselves) and everyone … [Read more...]

Now and then I read something in the Bible that leaves me positively dumbstruck. Such as those times someone allegedly speaking for God summarizes what God expects from folks -- in both Old and New Testaments. Take Micah, for example. "What does God really want from you?" asks this prophet from the 8th century B.C. The rabbis later counted 613 commandments in God's law, which they eventually expanded into an encyclopedia-sized set of books known as the Talmud. But Micah narrows the list considerably: "to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly before your God" (Micah 6:6-8). And … [Read more...]