God is the ideal Father, so in-love with His children. He delights in them, enjoys them. Nothing makes Him happier. He is patient, forgiving, long-suffering even. But at some point, God has suffered our arrogance and effrontery long enough. Is there a limit, a line you can cross after which God must take action? Yes.Continue reading “MERCY. Jeremiah 46:28.”
Category Archives: God’s Justice and Mercy
JUSTICE. Nahum 1:3.
On June 24, 1993, Jennifer Lee Ertman (14) and Elizabeth Pena (16) took a shortcut through Houston’s T.C. Jester Park around 11:30 p.m. (The park snakes along White Oak Bayou about a mile north of Hwy 290 and Antoine.) In their hurry to get home after a birthday party, the two girls walked past sixContinue reading “JUSTICE. Nahum 1:3.”
Mercy.
“Corporal” or “bodily” punishment is effective with children because it is painful. There is also fearful anticipation associated with the instrument of punishment. In order of mildest to most severe, I would rank them: hand, wooden spoon, ruler, belt, tree branch/switch, the cricket-bat-style wooden paddle. I feared my father’s belt—that was his most severe tool. Continue reading “Mercy.”
The Bible is Filled With Unsavory Characters–Just Like Life.
Serving as a juror for a murder trial proved to me the soft or “delicate” nature of some members of our first-world culture. Then at work I discussed one aspect of last week’s trial and a female engineer covered her ears and hurried away—it was too much for her. The Bible does NOT avoid hardContinue reading “The Bible is Filled With Unsavory Characters–Just Like Life.”
Manslaughter.
When did you last use the word “accident” to excuse yourself from liability? Can you remember? Were you accidentally tardy? Did you accidentally dent your car? Accidentally neglect an assignment? How often I screamed as a child: “BUT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!” I knew accidents were not punished the way intentional acts were. If youContinue reading “Manslaughter.”
Child Sacrifice is Not a “Trade-off.”
Cultures around the world have been killing children longer than there has been recorded history, including the Aztecs, the Incas, the Mayans, the Carthaginians (who worshipped Moloch), the Phoenicians, non-Muslim Arabians, Ugandans, South Africans, and more. Why? What could motivate loving parents to toss their children into fires and volcanoes? I believe the devil isContinue reading “Child Sacrifice is Not a “Trade-off.””
Integrity Builds Courage & Wisdom.
Nothing builds COURAGE and WISDOM faster than integrity. Integrity builds courage because it requires people to do things they find frightening. Integrity builds wisdom because the good decisions it requires draw a person out of darkness and into the light. Both Job and his friends are men of integrity. (But only Job is a manContinue reading “Integrity Builds Courage & Wisdom.”
Do You Ever Feel Mistreated?
Have you ever been treated unfairly? Have you ever felt left out by friends or teammates or family? God sees. He knows what happened and He knows how bad it feels. Can you forgive? Can you leave the problem in God’s hands and trust Him to make things right? We are called to trust Him,Continue reading “Do You Ever Feel Mistreated?”
El Roi: The God Who Sees. Genesis 16:13-14.
Do you ever feel abandoned, like no one knows what you are going through? Like God is not really paying attention? Do you ever just want to cry out to God, “Hey, are you listening to me? Do you see what I’m going through here?” GOD SEES. Jacob worked seven years to marry Rebecca andContinue reading “El Roi: The God Who Sees. Genesis 16:13-14.”
GOD’S PROMISES. Genesis 9:13-16.
Do you know God’s promises? Praying is like a lawyer standing before a judge. If you can bring to God his promises, quoting his word back to him, then you are praying as he wants you to pray. That is when he will answer you and do what he promised. Forgetting God’s promises hobbles yourContinue reading “GOD’S PROMISES. Genesis 9:13-16.”
Household Words: 