Some years ago, a study was done by an agricultural school in Iowa. It reported that production of a hundred bushels of corn from one acre of land required 4,000,000 lbs. of water, 6,800 lbs. of oxygen, 5,200 lbs. of carbon, 160 lbs. of nitrogen, 125 lbs. of potassium, 75 lbs. of yellow sulphur, and … Continue reading “SPIRITUAL GROWTH, SOURCE OF”
SPIRITUAL GROWTH, EVIDENCE OF
We have all been driving down a highway and noticed bright orange signs that state, “begin construction” and “end construction.” One thing about these signs is that they tend to remain around long after the construction work is over. If one of us were to announce that—for the time being—God’s construction in our lives was … Continue reading “SPIRITUAL GROWTH, EVIDENCE OF”
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
The Christian church is composed of many different kinds of people with different gifts and different ministries. The manner in which these are combined is not like a melting pot but like a salad bowl. Within the church, there is no loss of individual identity, but rather the complementing of distinct elements to create a … Continue reading “SPIRITUAL GIFTS”
SPEAKING
“Blessed are they who have nothing to say and cannot be persuaded to say it” (James Russell Lowell).1299 The six most important words: “I admit I made a mistake.” The five most important words: “You did a good job.” The four most important words: “What is your opinion?” The three most important words: “If you … Continue reading “SPEAKING”
SORROW, LESSONS FROM
Until I learned to trust, I never learned to pray; And I did not learn to fully trust Till sorrows came my way. Until I felt my weakness, His strength I never knew Nor dreamed ‘til I was stricken That he could see me through. Who deepest drinks of sorrow, Drinks deepest, too, of grace; … Continue reading “SORROW, LESSONS FROM”
SOCIAL ACTION
Many non-evangelicals have criticized evangelical Christians for not “caring,” that is, for what they perceive to be too-little social involvement. In 1979 the Gallup Poll organization surveyed a cross section of Americans. The facts speak for themselves. The question was “Do you as an individual happen to be involved in any charity or social service … Continue reading “SOCIAL ACTION”
SLAVERY, SPIRITUAL
Some years ago in Los Angeles a man was walking down the street with a sign on his shoulders. The front of it said, ‘i’m a slave for christ.” The back of it read, “whose slave are you?” That is a good question, because all of us are slaves to one or the other of … Continue reading “SLAVERY, SPIRITUAL”
SIN, TOLERATION OF
For two years the hydraulic earthquake stabilizers in the thirteen-story “Nuevo Leon” apartment building in Mexico City were left out of service. Then, unexpectedly, at 7:30 a.m. on September 19, 1985, a devastating earthquake shook Mexico City. The thirteen-story building began to sway. Without hydraulic stabilizers to cushion the shocks, the building continued to sway … Continue reading “SIN, TOLERATION OF”
SIN, STRUGGLE AGAINST
Near Watsonville, California, there is a creek that has a strange name: Salsipuedes Creek. Salsi puedes is Spanish for “Get out of it, if you can.” The creek is lined with quicksand, and the story is that many years ago, in the early days of California, a Mexican laborer fell into the quicksand. A Spaniard, … Continue reading “SIN, STRUGGLE AGAINST”
SIN, SOURCE OF
We are all like the moon. On one side all looks well, but the other side is dark.1286 Satan once came dejected before God and wailed, “Almighty God, I want you to know that I am bored—bored to tears! I go around doing nothing all day long. There isn’t a stitch of work for me … Continue reading “SIN, SOURCE OF”