I was born on Tuesday – in church on Sunday. My father, a flower farmer, was also, in my early childhood, the pastor of the Community Church in Dora. Both my parents were graduates of Prairie Bible College and so my earliest impressions had to do with God and growing things. As happens with many kids raised […]
In its early years the church had a vibrant youth program which was oddly mostly boys. We went on countless weekend and summer camping trips and developed wonderful memories. During construction the other boys and I helped other members raise the walls on the building that this church still occupies. When I left home for college in
Pastor Bill’s Story Read More »
AMOS: THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR CALLING I recently had the opportunity to hear a missionary to Kenya speak on the results of his experience. He had returned to this country a little disillusioned from his first period of service, yet he was determined to return and make a better showing the next time. He had
Shame, facing the demon. I recall the story of a man who was forced to witness the execution of his best friend, whom he had followed wholeheartedly in a very risky venture. Before his execution, his friend was publicly exposed, and brought to trial in shame and ridicule, whereas prior to this he had been
A few week ago I was browsing through the inventory at Walden Books looking for one of those ubiquitous yellow and black books, you know the ones, “Anything For Dummies.” After looking unsuccessfully for a while I decided to do the undecidedly male thing and ask for help. While talking to the manager I queried
Everyone wants to be known as an instrument of God’s power, whether they fancy themselves prophets of doom, salvation, judgment, terror, or abandonment, or whether they even fancy themselves the equivalent of God. Even if they don’t believe in God, and choose to call him something else, such as fate or karma, or just natural
A couple of days ago I was watching the river, as it has swollen some due to the recent heavy rains. This particular day I was awed by what a wilderness river it truly is, surging and raging in the winter and peaceful and calm in the summer. On a warm late summer day one
Seems like a pretty straightforward question, huh? Ask anyone, and you would suppose, wouldn’t you, that they would answer “yes,”don’t ya think? But in reality the various answers people give are much more complex than one would first imagine, and the motives behind these answers lie at the root of why healing doesn’t occur. If
Do You Wish to Get Well Read More »
