Since Levi's death, I have had this recurring day-mare (what else should we call a nightmare one has during waking hours?): some unknown someone takes a high-powered handgun and blasts a huge, gaping hole -- not in my son, but in my family. The truth is out: Karen and I have confessed to each other we both told God, independently, in June of this year to please do whatever He needed in our lives to make us fully, completely HIS. Whatever He needed, that is, short of taking on

I love John Milton's heart for God on becoming blind: John Milton. 1608–1674 318. On His Blindness WHEN I consider how my light is spent E're half my days, in this dark world and wide, And that one Talent which is death to hide, Lodg'd with me useless, though my Soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, least he returning chide, Doth God exact day-labour, light deny'd, I fondly ask; But patience to prevent That murmur, soon repli

"Trusting God when the miracle does NOT come, when the urgent prayer gets no answer, when there is only darkness -- this is the kind of faith God values perhaps most of all. This is the kind of faith that can be developed and displayed only in the midst of difficult circumstances. This is the kind of faith that cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken." -- Nancy Guthrie; "Holding on to Hope."

"Does hope replace pain? No. Hope does not replace pain. Hope embroiders pain and ultimately hope transcends pain." -- Gregory Floyd; "A Grief Unveiled."

I've believed for a number of years, now, that a subtle but dangerous undermining of confidence in the Word of God is taking place among the people of God. If I'm right, I believe it could very well be part of what the Apostle Paul forecasts for the Church in the end times in II Timothy 4:3-4. Just one way (of several!) I see this taking place is the implication made over and over again that the Bible just does not hold all the answers we need for life. An author I happen to

I wouldn't have understood this, if I hadn't come to experience it myself: "NOTHING can make up for the absence of someone we love . . . we must simply hold out and see it through. That sounds very hard at first, but at the same time it is a great consolation, for the gap, as long as it remains unfulfilled, preserves the bonds between us. It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap; God doesn't fill it, but on the contrary, He keeps it empty and so helps us to keep alive our

1. The Bible really doesn't give us "chapter and verse" for most of the practical decisions we need to make, day by day (and that's what we REALLY need, so what's the point?) 2. Having a lot of Bible knowledge is no guarantee you'll be a truly godly person, anyway! As a matter of fact, it seems to me it has the OPPOSITE effect! I've seen, or known, or heard of, or read about (or imagined?) so many guys who know tons of Bible verses, and have all their doctrines in order, who

Twenty years ago, we had three wonderful children. Karen was still a young chick not even quite 30, and yet, not one, but two ob/gyn specialists we regarded highly said she really should have a hysterectomy. No more kids. We were stunned by the news. When we were engaged, Karen had wanted a nice, even, ten. After going through three fairly long labors (the first was 36 hours), she had grown more willing to consider modifying that number. But stop at just three??? I, on the ot

I want to thank from the bottom of my heart every friend who as much as uttered a single prayer for our family, especially in the time leading up to and during this holiday season. We were all openly dreading Christmas, knowing from all we've heard and all we've read that holidays, birthdays, etc., are especially gut-wrenching for the grieving, and knowing that we would be facing SO many painful yet sweet memories of Levi at every turn. It actually turned out to be a wonderfu

Thoughts from Joni Eareckson Tada "This is what God wants -- hearts burning with passion for future things, on fire for kingdom realities that are out of this world. God wants His people aflame with His Hope. A "consider it pure joy" outlook affects the way we live on earth. Though we still suffer, we become "cities on a hill" and "lights on a lamp stand" (Matthew 5:14-15) for all to see and thus be encouraged. People whose hearts are ignited for heaven make good inhabitants