Dreams and Suffering

Joseph dreamt his brothers were sheaves of wheat that bowed to his sheaf; he dreamt the sun, moon, and 11 stars all bowed to his star.  His brothers hated him because of his dreams, and because he was his father’s most loved son.   One day, their hatred brimmed over.  They stripped Joseph of the…

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Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  If you would like to share something you are thankful for, leave a comment below 🙂

Blame

Picture from the Whitman Mission Site Last weekend, my wife and I visited Walla Walla in Washington State.  Walla Walla is a cool little town surrounded by rolling prairie, farmland, and hills.  It is named for one of the Indian tribes that are native to the area. During our stay, we visited the Whitman Mission….

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Not to Destroy but Fulfill

“Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). I have heard the verse above used to prove that Christians are still required to keep the law.  Jesus said He didn’t come to destroy the law so we need to keep…

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Halloween in Context—Dennis Patrick

The following is by Dennis Patrick, my father-in-law.  Dennis writes a weekly column for the Mountrail County Promoter, in which this piece originally appeared. *** It’s that time of year when pumpkins metamorphose into jack-o-lanterns and little imps provoke adults to give them candy. Halloween is here again. ​Is this really a time for celebrating…

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The Pain of Childbirth

After leaving Bethel, Rachel goes into labor.  It is hard labor.  She dies while birthing a son.  Scripture says, “With her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni, but his father called him Benjamin” (Gen. 35:18).  Ben-oni means, “Son of my sorrow,” while Benjamin means, “Son of my right hand.” This turn of names…

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Learning Lessons or Letting It Be Christ

The following is by a friend who loves Jesus and wished to be anonymous. *** King Nebuchadnezzar had an amazing experience (Dan. 4). The Lord showed him his future. The Most High wanted to deal with the king’s pride, to show he was a tool to bring about what would please God’s heart. The vision came to pass…

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Kavan-augh!!

Charlie Brown by Charles Schulz Last week, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed and sworn in as America’s newest Supreme Court Justice.  If you followed this situation even remotely, you know it was grueling for all involved.  Allegations of sexual misconduct were made against Kavanaugh.  Politicians, pundits, and protesters hissed, slithered, and bared their fangs throughout the…

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He Is Risen in Us!

What does it mean to be a witness of Christ’s resurrection?  People often wish they could’ve been present when Jesus rose or could’ve seen Him bodily after rising.  But would either make us witnesses of Christ’s resurrection?  Matthew 28 helps us consider these things. Roman soldiers were at Jesus’s tomb when He rose.  They saw…

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Not What I Want

Picture from “The Passion of the Christ,” a film by Mel Gibson. “Not what I want but what You want” (Matt. 26:39). I have been meditating on these words of Jesus.  He said them to His Father just before being brutally executed. I see in these words the entirety of walking with God in this…

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