suffering – Page 2 – 300 words a day

Like acid in a cut.

We’re struggling with some serious illness in our extended family. Hope was talking about it with a friend the other day. “It will be okay,” he said. “No it won’t,” she said. People will die. In the process they will hurt. Their minds will not work right. And other people will get hurt. That’s why I […]

by Jon Swanson

A hole in the hand.

It was a Good Wednesday several years ago. That’s the day two days before Good Friday. On Good Wednesday, creatives around churches are looking at their “really cool” concepts for Good Friday services and realizing all the pieces have to be ready in two days. It’s a scary time. We were going to have a […]

by Paul Merrill

Good Friday

Jesus Christ died. The son of God was crucified on a cross. We’ve heard the end of the story – He was raised again and lives forever. But on Good Friday we celebrate His death. “Celebrate” sounds like the wrong word to use. Why should anyone be happy about such a cruel event? The reason […]

by Paul Merrill

Complete Acceptance

David was pretty far from perfect. 2 Samuel 11-12 is the account of a very rough patch for him. David was relaxing when he should have been leading his nation. During a hazy warm afternoon after a nap, he saw a beautiful woman and had to have her. He killed her husband Uriah so that […]

by Jon Swanson

help.

“I don’t like to ask for help.” That’s what she told me today. Out of work. Heart problems. Great reasons to ask for help. But she waited. And we can help with food and paper goods and toothpaste and razors. I can offer a phone number to someone else. A couple weeks ago, someone else […]