When something positive happens, some Christians have a tendency to respond with “God is good”. I got some of these replies after texting about the results of my first blood test after radiation treatment for cancer. I don’t mean to knock the thought. But I often wonder, what would the reply be if the news was negative?
Does my undetectable cancer test really mean God is good? More
Things sounded rather well for Screwtape and Wormwood at the end of the first letter. But no letter that has “I note with grave displeasure” can be good. Add to that the comment that “your patient has become a Christian”, and we know right away, Screwtape Letter #2 is not going to be a happy one for Wormwood.
Screwtape Letter #2. Discussion Guide. “Your patient has become a Christian” More
My first side effect from radiation isn’t really that bad. But it is annoying. The treatment Radiation treatment conflicts with my favorite foods. For now. It’s only temporary.
Radiation treatment conflicts with my favorite foods. For now. More
Christians talk about God’s peace. Do things need to be going well in order to feel that peace? Or can we feel God’s peace when things start to improve? Or, would you believe, can we feel His peace even if nothing’s changed about our situation at all?
Psalm 4 – Feel God’s peace even when things are bad More
So, it begins again. I started active surveillance for prostate cancer early in 2020. Now, two years later, after surgery for removal became necessary, I’m in active surveillance for cancer again. We’ll get to how that happened in a moment. For today though, after going from surveillance to surgery and back to active surveillance, I can’t help but think about the guy in Mark’s Gospel who asked Jesus, “help me overcome my unbelief”.
Active surveillance for cancer again. Help me overcome my unbelief. More
The Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. How is it then that we can be Christian and depressed? With all that love, joy, peace, Etc., is it really possible to still be depressed? From experience, I say absolutely yes.
Christian and depressed. How is that possible? More
Don’t dwell on your haters – but do spend time with them
Huh? Spend time with them? Even in the secular world, there a saying that some people go by. Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer. But that’s to protect yourself from them. As a Christian, there’s a different reason for spending time with our enemies. Remember the kinds of things Jesus did in that regard?
Don’t settle for less, #04: Don’t dwell on your haters More
A funny thing happened on the way to writing Distractions. I got distracted. First, it was going to be an update to something I wrote almost eight years ago. Somehow, it turned into something brand new. Then, I got distracted again. This time, by medical news. News that raises the question – to run from God – or run to God?
Distractions – part 1 – run away from God, or run to God? More
Are we supposed to be happy? To most people, the answer is probably obvious. At least it may seem obvious. But to others, like me, who have issues with depression – the answer is hardly obvious at all. Being happy can feel like something for other people. Whether happiness is something to experience can be a question for Christians as well.
The preachers who are into the so-called prosperity gospel, which isn’t in the New Testament, say – of course, God wants us to be happy. But what does Jesus actually say about being happy during His time on this planet? Jesus’ words should be shocking to those proponents and believers of that “prosperity gospel”.
I’m asking this question because I’m trying to write this series on The Beatitudes. You know – the part of the Sermon On The Mount where everything starts with “Blessed are …”? Well, if you didn’t know already, that can also be translated as “happy are …”.
When you read it, it sounds kind of odd. Actually – it can sound really odd.
Yes, John’s Gospel really does record Jesus saying “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete”. And you know what? If that was the only thing Jesus said – it might even mean what too many of us think it does / should mean. But there are two problems with that line of thinking.
The problem of “Ask and you will receive”
What the Bible Really Says More
