One of the places our hearts get entangled is in the lives of our favorite animals. Loving always sets us up for experiencing pain. No, I’m not being cynical, just playing the odds, especially where pets are concerned. Since we outlive them, we are bound to suffer loss and, perhaps, even face some very difficult choices. I hope these thoughts will help you. Many people are genuinely troubled over the decision to put a much loved animal “to sleep.” I…
Are you ready for what is coming? I have a concern, growing ever stronger inside me as the US economy continues to fall deeper into debt, and it is this: If so many people have been finding it hard to trust God and live in peace, under our present conditions of relative prosperity and stability, what will become of them when we go over Niagara Falls? You don’t have to be a prophet…
Do nothing? Oh, how that rubs against the grain! Sure there are plenty of times when my lazy bone is acting up and I only want to lay back, roll over and do nothing. But those are never the times (so to speak) when my house is on fire! In such situations of pain or perceived danger I’m on fire to do all that I can to alleviate the problems I face. And yet sometimes the best thing to do…
Why did the prodigal take so long to return? Why did he linger in that pig pen which was so humiliating and hateful for him (as a Jew) to endure? Why didn’t he simply head straight home to his father once the money was gone? Why did he drag it out until he was practically starving? It wasn’t pride. That’s what people usually say when I ask the question in class, especially classes on recovery from addictions. They know only…