Topic(s): Christian Life

We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. - Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

The Best Thing

Topic(s): Love

The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to your father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity. - Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930)

Smile Awhile

Topic(s): Humor

Have you ever noticed that they put advertisements in with your bills now? Like bills aren’t distasteful enough, they have to stuff junk mail in there with them! I get back at them. I put garbage in with my check when I mail it in. Coffee grinds, banana peels... I write, “Could you throw this away for me? Thank you.”

Discover Doubt

Topic(s): Faith

Do you occasionally find yourself doubting your ability to successfully serve the Lord? A preacher whose name was Charles Reynolds Brown told the following story to illustrate how to overcome your doubts.

General Sherman used to say that when he was at the front, on the firing line, leading and directing his troops, he was always full of hope. He felt sure the victory would be won. When he was at the rear where the wounded were being brought back, where the stragglers and deserters were in evidence, he was filled with fear and depression. If you really want to overcome your doubt and discouragement, if you want to ‘greet the unseen with a cheer,’ always with a cheer, get into the fight against the evil of the world. Stand in the forefront of this resolute effort to make the spirit and method of Jesus everywhere triumphant. Then He will bring you off as more than conquerors.

Those who are personally involved in the battle are the ones who believe victory will be won. The ones doing the fighting are the confident ones.

Some continually give out pessimistic reports about the success of the church. Prophets of doom predict, “The church, as we know it, will, in another generation, be history.” I do not believe that! I am convinced that my God and my brethren will not let that happen. Are these pessimists, as Brown’s story illustrates, far away from the battle talking to the stragglers and deserters?

Christians who are in the forefront of the battle against Satan and against sin seem more confident than ever of the success of the Gospel. Those who are seeking to teach the lost of God’s saving grace are finding that many are still willing to listen. Many are obeying the Lord and being saved. Where there are soldiers in the forefront of the battle for the souls of men, the victory is being won.

Let us, with confidence rather than doubt, take our place in the battle against sin. Armed with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), let us take our place in the front line of the fight. Faith in our Master demands that we do exactly that. The victory is there to be won. Let us join the fight free from the doubt that Satan will give us if we will let him. — Rogers

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” - 2 Corinthians 2:14

Rifle or Shotgun?

Topic(s): Evangelism

Imagine two deer hunters coming upon a herd of twenty deer! One with a shotgun suggests he should fire because he could hit almost every one of them. The man with a rifle suggests he should fire. The man with the shotgun will hit most of them but will not kill one. The man with the rifle will let most of them get away, but he will kill one.

We face the same dilemma. We have so many friends we want to reach for Christ—we try to reach them all. The result: lots of “wounded,” but no one converted. What to do? Invite everyone to visit with you (“shotgun”) but use a “rifle” on one—pick out one special friend to encourage, invite, visit, and pray for extensively. Then, as your efforts win trust, patiently teach that ONE the Gospel of Christ. Lots of friends may get away...but this is more likely to get real results!

“He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus…” - John 1:41,42