Author Archive
Of Mice and Dogs
It’s an old adage in our family: when dad’s away, the rodents play. Without exaggeration, since Steve began going on ministry trips years ago leaving us to hold the fort, the rats and mice have always used the opportunity to their advantage at home. They must know that I don’t have my husband’s skill with [...]
One at a Time, Please
“Humility born of the awareness of our sinful tendencies is an essential character quality in mature Christians. As single women you should cultivate this humility and look for it in any man who might pursue you for marriage.” Carolyn Mahaney in Feminine Appeal I like this “tongue-in-cheek” poem about a girl’s daydreams of marriage, revealing how [...]
Whose Hero?
Remember in the Princess Bride when Miracle Max pumps the mostly-dead Westley’s mouth with air from the bellows and bawls at him: “Hey! Whaddya got that’s worth living for?” With the miracle man leaning on his chest, the prone Westley replies: “Tr-u-e l-o-v-e.” If someone tried the same procedure on you today, what would [...]
Think Fasting’s Not for You?
From Prayer Essentials for Living in His Presence, Vol. 1 by Sylvia Gunter Fast Of Words: A Different Kind Of Fast Time and again God brings me to my knees over my heart attitude expressed out of my mouth. More than once, God has led me to fast of negative, critical, judgmental, and complaining words. [...]
Teach Us About Sex
Part of our ministry here in the islands is being a spiritual mum and dad to the Christian fellowship at the local university. The students themselves lead all the meetings and make all the plans. All we do is give occasional advice and provide spiritual nourishment once or twice a week. The weekend before last [...]
Wiser Because of Weakness
Do you remember the circumstances in which the Lord gave you a special window into your own weakness? Did that knowledge suddenly come to you, or did that realization slowly dawn on you over a lengthy period of time? Moses first attempted to deliver the Israelites from bondage when he was forty years old and “…full of [...]
The Witch Doctor and the Inscrutability of God
Mournful wailing wafted across the jagged rocks to the watchers waiting on shore. Her children at her side, a young mother pleaded into the wind, willing her voice to be carried to her missing husband. “Why did you run away from us? You left without even one word! We don’t know where you have gone. [...]
Want secure children?
A couple of weeks ago my girls asked me if they could go to a friend’s house to watch a DVD. After the choice of movie was researched and discussed, and we had prayed for wisdom, Steve and I had no peace about the girls watching it. So I gathered my three teenage girls at [...]
Love Mercy
How is your social conscience? In your thinking is “humanitarian aid” nothing more than the theological liberal’s version of the gospel? Should we as fundamentalists be deeply involved in societal needs outside our own congregations, or are humanitarian concerns out of the realm of our biblical duty? Gerald L. Priest, in an article entitled “Is [...]
How Do You Perceive Reality?
Concealed in a cosy corner, she busily nibbled on a roasted coffee bean. A sudden noise and stream of light sent her dashing to the back of the drawer for safety, coffee break forgotten. I was not at all happy to glimpse the grey fur and discover the tiny droppings. That mouse and I have [...]
Some things are just more important than deadlines
Hey, I’m due to post on InFocus today, but I’m taking a break. We’ve had a really hectic week, and I’m going to spend some time with my wonderful husband instead. So I’m shutting down the computer, and the two of us are heading off into the sunset. I’m not even taking time to post [...]
Devastating Renovations
The deafening drone of the masonry saw, the pounding ring of the sledge hammer, the crash of waste materials thrown down—all sweet sounds of renovation. In fact, we have a plaque hanging in the middle of the work area that reads “Joyful Noise.” The ex-recording studio is being converted to a meeting place for Bible [...]
