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Posted in Difficulties, Perseverance, Struggles on Apr 27th, 2009
Living in the world of Wild West gunslingers would’ve been my undoing-I can see the scene unfold… “One more step and I’ll shoot.” My adversary chuckles, spits, and takes one more step toward me. “Really-one more step and I’ll shoot.” His eyes never blink as he takes one more step. [...]
Posted in Football, Perseverance, Suffering on Nov 8th, 2008
One advantage of being a football fan is that I get plenty of opportunities to partake of the wisdom of the sports analysts. Defensive schemes that don’t work and how to incorporate dink-and-dunk into the offensive plan. The nickel, three-four, four-three, crossing routes, finding the seam-the-crease-or-whatever discussions. But a few Sundays ago, when the Cowboys’ [...]
Posted in Discouragement, Perseverance, Suffering on Nov 2nd, 2008
I have to admit-given the chance, I’ll take the easy way. The path of least resistance. I really don’t like to struggle. Just give me that big red easy button and life is good. Don’t you ever wonder why God made life so hard? Why does He put us in difficult circumstances or allow [...]
Posted in Disappointment, Perseverance on Oct 17th, 2008
When we face overwhelming, painful circumstances, we typically don’t see our “Lazarus rise from the grave”–our loved one doesn’t sit up in his coffin and walk away from his own funeral, our illness worsens, and our dreams may shatter into a million tiny pieces. We believe. We ask. But whatever miracle we’re begging from God [...]
Posted in Disappointment, Perseverance on Oct 15th, 2008
When disappointment strikes and discouragement claims my heart, I often face the internal assault of the hard questions. Why doesn’t our all-powerful, always good and loving God stop our pain? Why doesn’t He solve our dilemmas? Why doesn’t He change our circumstances, intervene with a miracle, heal our hurts? Why? Doesn’t He care? And [...]
Posted in Disappointment, Perseverance on Oct 14th, 2008
My fourth grade teacher called me to her desk. “I see you’ve always made A’s on your report cards–since you started in first grade. Well, I don’t believe a student should always make A’s so that’s why I’m giving you a B in handwriting.” I was devastated. My big seventh grade disappointment came on cheerleader [...]
Posted in Perseverance on Aug 24th, 2008
Doctors embrace an oath to “first do no harm.” When they can’t figure out what’s wrong or the correct treatment, doctors fall back on this foundational principle. As Christians, we have a parallel, guiding principle—“corrupt no one.” Don’t be a stumbling block. Don’t cause someone else to trip and fall. Don’t violate someone else’s conscience. Don’t [...]