FrontLine
Would You Like Some Wise Counsel? (2)
Mark Minnick Yesterday’s introduction: Every pastor occasionally feels the need for wise counsel. Unfortunately, he’s not always able to get it from a busy contemporary. But happily I’ve discovered that it’s often available at my leisure on the shelves of my library. For instance, how about an hour or so with John Newton?
Read MoreWould You Like Some Wise Counsel? (1)
Mark Minnick Every pastor occasionally feels the need for wise counsel. Unfortunately, he’s not always able to get it from a busy contemporary. But happily I’ve discovered that it’s often available at my leisure on the shelves of my library. For instance, how about an hour or so with John Newton?
Read MoreThe Calm of Christmas
Diane Heeney This is a busy, busy time of year. It seems we can become so inundated with “things to do, places to go, and people to see” that our spirits become disheveled and our nerves frayed. Make time in the coming weeks for the calm of Christmas. Turn off Bing Crosby and the Grinch…
Read MoreIsaiah 7—The Historical Setting of a Christmas Passage
Layton Talbert Most Christians are familiar with the virgin birth prophecy contained in Isaiah 7. Wander out of 7:14 into the surrounding territory, however, and the textual terrain bristles with peculiar terminology and thorny questions. For instance, what is 7:16 talking about? In the length of time it would take the child to cultivate a…
Read MoreThe Birth of Christ Brings a Decision
John C. Vaughn Each Gospel writer presents a slightly different perspective. Matthew addresses the Jews to prove that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. The first three verses of chapter two illustrate the implications of that fact. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there…
Read MoreGlobal Warming
Kevin Schaal and Mark Bouslog In early February of 2006, eightysix prominent evangelical leaders, including Rick Warren, inaugurated the “Evangelical Climate Initiative,” seeking legislation on global warming. The initiative immediately sparked a reaction from politically active evangelicals such as Charles Colson and James Dobson, declaring that “global warming is not a consensus issue.”1 Since that…
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Read MoreChristmas in Bethlehem
When the Shepherd Became My Lamb Wilbur Schoneweis The Christmas season is filled with many marvelous and encouraging themes in which the Christian can rejoice, be comforted, and glorify God. However, the Christian will have to look beyond the usual trappings of the season to find these themes. No season of the year is accompanied…
Read MoreTwo Coffee Shops
A Parable for Pastors Once upon a time there were two brothers, Al and Zack. Al liked making coffee. He served it in his kitchen. “This is delicious,” people said, and they invited others. Soon the group outgrew Al’s kitchen. He set up chairs in the living room. Al liked people — liked knowing their…
Read MoreProsperity and Poison
Aaron Blumer Prepare your heart for Christmas … and Black Friday! Last summer our garage acquired a new addition to its collection of lethal chemicals: a bottle of fungicide now adorns a high shelf. The chemical’s intended purpose is to keep the tomatoes alive and prospering, and it has proved to be wonderful stuff. But…
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