What did they do in the face of adversity in ACTS? Doesn’t it seem like life is just getting more and more difficult? There are more challenges, more division, more uncertainty, and it’s a lot harder to be optimistic about the future. In ACTS the community of faith had things they always did, an...

Power given to people in ACTS As we look at the beginning of ACTS, we read Jesus’ words that His followers will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon them and they witness for Him in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (ACTS 1:8). The word for […]...

If God’s willing, this coming Thanksgiving we will have our annual retreat again.  This time the theme will be, “Prove What Is That Good and Acceptable and Perfect Will of God,” taken Romans 12:2.  I will divide this topic into four sub-topics: (a) Prayer and the Will of Go...

As we’re nearing the end of our study on Hannah, I’ve been thinking about what a blessed life is.  Can we call Hannah’s life a blessed life and if we can, since what point of her life can we call it blessed?  We often hear testimonies from folks who point to a specific place and [&he...

As I write this on Friday, there is encouraging development in the country which we love: Indonesia. By the grace of God, the unrest has stopped and the communication between college students and members of the parliament has resulted in steps to implement the proposed changes. Despite attempts by s...

On Thursday, August 21 Dr. James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family passed away.  Almost all things about family I learned from him on my car radio as I drove to school or work more than forty years ago.  I remember his favorite words that he used to say to his children, “Be [&he...

There are several reasons why we do not pray—disappointed in and disillusioned with God, angry at and bitter toward God, loss of faith and loss of connection with God, etc.  Recently I heard another one that I had never heard of before; it’s from some folks who need medical treatment so cos...

The other day when I got home, I saw Santy kneeling on the side of the bed praying with two other female members of our church.  The women who attend the women’s fellowship are divided into groups of three and each week they pray together over the phone. They’ve done this for quite some tim...

A couple of days ago, a friend in ministry, who is a lot younger than I, died. He and I shared a room together in a retreat several decades ago.  Since then, we kept in contact periodically.  He’s a faithful man of God and gave all his heart and mind to serving Him.  He’s healthy ...

Years ago, a friend in ministry lost her husband in a tragic accident.  Her life was suddenly upended by the loss, and she lost her balance.  She could not stop crying and it was then a pastor who came to see her told her angrily that her excessive grief brought embarrassment to God. ...