What the World Needs Now is . . .

I’ve always known exactly what I needed. More money and resources for a dream to be accomplished. Likeminded people on my team in life. A near-perfect marriage and kids. A job or career I enjoyed on any day—Mondays, long days, and extra days. And for the good parts of life to outweigh the bad. I mean really tip the scale toward good.

Here’s the thing. I was wrong on every account. When one came true, I only moved on to the next wish. The ones that did come true, didn’t stay that way long. None of these felt-based needs brought long-lasting satisfaction.

So, what do I need? What ushers in a well-spring of satisfaction deep down in my soul? What in the world can meet the world’s hunger of soul or thirst of spirit?

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Can A Genuine Christian Do Evil?

Do what’s right, not what’s wrong. A conflict known to every man and woman. If we’re brutally honest, Christians and the church are very familiar with the struggle.

Right VS Wrong/Good VS Evil

“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” Romans 7:15.

The Apostle Paul’s writing to the church at Rome. He had a unregenerate past. Persecuting Christ-followers and the early church.

But this is the new Paul—transformed. The man who met God and lived his latter years devoted to serving the church he tried to destroy. He journeyed on missionary trips, shared the gospel with countless people, and wrote letters to the churches to teach God’s truths and aid in their spiritual growth.

The question has been raised if Paul’s speaking here as a Christian under grace. I like how John Piper tackles the answer.

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There’s Never Been an Emergency Meeting in Heaven

Heaven doesn’t have emergency meetings.

Calling All Floor Pacers

I glanced at the clock in the hospital’s surgical waiting room. My heart was racing faster than the second hand ticking away the time. My five-year-old daughter was having a cyst removed from her leg.

The procedure was scheduled at the hospital after a failed attempt in the surgeon’s medical office. What were they thinking? A young child was going to lay on her stomach while they numbed and performed the incision, removal, and stitching? Really?

We could hear her crying and screaming down the hallway. The doctor advised we were moving to plan B—under anesthesia at the hospital. “She’s not going to cooperate for us to do it here at our offices.”

Well doc, I could have told you that. Yet, I didn’t want deep sedation either. I’d wished there was another option. But the cyst had grown and spread into her calf’s muscle tissue. It would be tested for cancer. I was worried.

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You’re a Keeper—Lessons From Fishing and Life

I remember the first time I went fishing. It was with my dad. My twin sister and I hadn’t seen him in several years. Now back in our lives, visits with him included adventures—roller skating, target shooting, and scary movies.

A memorable adventure was fishing. I didn’t like dealing with worms that squirmed or baiting the hooks.

There’s something I quickly learned about fishing—not all fish were keepers.

Maybe, it’s just the sport of fishing—to say you caught this fish—then throw it back. Possibly, it’s for dinner or a fish story. You know, the thrill of using hands to describe you caught a humdinger. Perhaps, it’s to pose with a fish for a picture or a fishing contest. But sometimes the fish isn’t the one you were hoping to catch.

You keep some, you throw some back.

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