God’s Loving-Kindness

“Loving-kindness” is a term first used by Myles Coverdale in the 16th century to translate the Hebrew word chesed in the Old Testament. Other translations have used words like “love”, “kindness”, “mercy”, “compassion” and “steadfast love”. The word chesed does not refer to random acts of kindness, but deliberate goodness within a relationship. When God…

How then Shall We Live in the Shadow of Coronavirus Panic and Pandemic?

As Christians, we will remember that we belong to Christ, and conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the people of God. We are people of faith, and will trust God in illness or in health, in life and death and in the resurrection. We value life, so we will follow the best advice of…

Home at Last

My co-author and mother (yes, it is possible for a mother & daughter to write a book together and still like each other!) died last Tuesday, and is to be buried this Tuesday. Nancy Ann Lewis Ferguson of Abilene passed away Tuesday, July 16. Funeral services will be at Hillcrest Church of Christ, Abilene at…

Onesiphorus

Onesiphorus from 11th century Byzantine illuminated manuscript known as Menologion of Basil II (Vaticanus graecus 1613) picturing 70 disciples in Luke 10. (Wikimedia Commons) Betrayed and abandoned by those who should have been friends.  Imprisoned in a foreign country on false charges and expecting execution.  If there was ever a time for despair, this was…

Practice These Things and Devote Yourself to Them

Its not unusual for church leaders to be frustrated that members aren’t more active. And they tend to attribute lack of involvement to lack of commitment, or not taking faith seriously. But the results of actual attempts at involvement suggest other factors are at work. Consider these (real) examples. Young mother sees specific way to…

The Isaiah 40 Response

I remember hearing one minister who preached twice and taught a class every Sunday morning talk about how tired he was Sunday afternoons.  He said he usually didn’t even feel like eating Sunday dinner, and joked that his wife would spoon food the baby, then a bite for Dad, then the baby, then Dad.  What…

But Grow in the Grace of Our Savior Jesus Christ

“You’re such a people-person!” he said. Startled, I did not know how to reply. I am, in all respects an “introvert”: more comfortable observing rather than participating; having little patience with “small talk”; preferring to work alone; and needing solitude. I thought he knew me better than this! If in doubt, smile. Afterwards, I had…

Do Not Neglect to Do Good

New friends brought this lovely blooming plant; as soon as it was hung in back yard, a hummingbird was checking it out. I soon grew accustomed to watering it morning and evening in the triple-digit sunny West Texas summer, and greatly enjoyed both its colorful flowers and the hummers which flutter around it. A quart…

My Cup Runneth Over

The Twenty-third Psalm is a favorite of many. It describes the love of God for us as that of a good shepherd caring for his own sheep. Most of the Psalm describes the work of a shepherd in terms that even those of us who never spent any time around sheep can understand: the shepherd…

Jesus said, “I Am…” in John

The Gospel of John records the testimony of many eyewitnesses to Jesus’ work and teachings. It also records many of the things Jesus said about himself. To the Roman Governor Pilate, he affirms that he is king (John 18:37, 19:21), but his kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Jesus uses the prophetic title…