“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do those without hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Attending the funeral last week of Fran Buckley reminded me, in the unavoidable emotions I experienced, of the unique Christian perspective on death. Fran, with her husband, R.T., served for more than 30 years as missionaries in Bangladesh. It was our privilege to work with these dedicated missionary colleagues and personal friends from Mississippi.

Earlier this spring Bobbye and I participated in the funerals of both Win and Laverne Applewhite, fellow missionaries from Indonesia who mentored and encouraged us when we arrived as novices. We joined Matt Bristol in grieving the passing …

When the New Testament church was born, and the followers of Christ set out to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, it was not a welcoming environment. In fact, they encountered hostility, rejection and government restrictions, similar to what many modern day missionaries are experiencing. The reaction of established religious authorities was especially harsh. The apostles were threatened, arrested, beaten and were soon to be martyred; they were ordered not to preach and teach publicly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 4 tells of the arrest of Peter and John. When they were released they went and reported their harassment to the gathering of local believers who responded by praying. It is worthy to note the nature …

“Send the crowd away so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.” (Luke 9:12)

Feeding the 5,000 is one of the most prominent miracles in the Bible; it is the only miracle of Jesus recorded in all four Gospels. It reflects the compassion of Jesus for people in need and is an amazing demonstration of His power to meet our daily needs. It did have negative repercussions in the people missing the spiritual implications of Jesus as the Bread of Life and their wanting to make Him an earthly king that would fulfill their entitlement of food and material things.

Often missed in this familiar …

“Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him.” (Luke 24:31)

On Easter Sunday the focus of our Bible study group was on the account of the two men on the road to Emmaus. These, identified as Cleopas and his companion, were disciples of Jesus. Though not included among the twelve, they had been with Jesus, followed Him, seen His miracles, heard His teachings and believed in Him as the promised Messiah. Yet they did not recognize Him when Jesus came along and joined them on the road and in the conversation about the events in Jerusalem.

The Scripture indicates a passive action; they were prevented from recognizing Him, implying God had a purpose in obscuring Jesus’ identity. We also …

Jesus had a remarkable way of teaching and getting His point across. Sometimes it was  “in your face” confrontation, especially when it came to His intolerance of the pious, hypocritical religious leaders. He seldom gravitated to vague theological homilies though His listeners had difficulty grasping His references to His relationship with the Father. His remarkable way of telling stories and practical illustrations made applications with which the people could readily identify.

Often He told the story, but left His listeners to figure out the point He was making. Such is a brief account of two brothers in Matthew 21:28-31. “But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work …

“I have seen the affliction of My people and…am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them….Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh so that you may bring my people out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:7-10)

It is impossible to watch newscasts and read daily events without being impressed that we live in a world of suffering and oppression. Rioting and massive killing by the government in Syria and by insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq, human trafficking in India and victims of natural disasters that seem to occur with increasing frequency alert us to constant human tragedy. We continue to hear of Muslims and Christians slaughtering each other in Nigeria, AIDS continuing to decimate …

“The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted” (Proverbs 29:25).

There may be a few people who don’t give a flip about what people think, but most of us are inclined to need the approval of others. In fact, upholding an image in the eyes of people and guarding our reputation often becomes an obsession for many. We may not be driven by lack of confidence or a low self-image but just about everyone wants to be liked, or at least for others to think favorably about us.

Conflict and having to deal with disagreements is to be avoided at all costs. Criticism can be absolutely debilitating. Unfortunately, there is …

“Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the sacrifice began, the song of the Lord also began” (2 Chronicles 29:27).

Many people have lost the song in their hearts. You know the feeling–those days when things are going well, someone has paid you an unexpected compliment, the future looks bright and you feel incredibly blessed. There is a spring in your step, enthusiasm in your work and a song in your heart. In fact, the uplifting lyrics of a familiar praise song are flowing through your mind sub-consciously.

But there are other days when plans go awry, relationships are strained, you feel unappreciated and overwhelmed with responsibility. The last thing you feel like …

“But my servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it” (Numbers 14:24).

All of us have encountered the kinds of problems confronting the Children of Israel when they faced the challenge of taking possession of the promised land. Remember the report of the spies who had been sent in to scout out the land? It was, indeed, a prosperous land flowing with milk and honey, but they were overwhelmed by the task.

In Numbers 13:25-33 the spies shared their sense of intimidation by the large, fortified cities. They said they felt like grasshoppers up against people who …

“Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?”

In preparation for a couple of events at which I have been invited to speak on leadership, my thinking reverted to this verse in Job 4:6. It became an anchor for me in stormy times and a foundational truth to keep priorities focused. One in leadership is subjected to perceptions of others that often lead to criticism and personal attacks. Decisions can be misunderstood and disagreements are inevitable.

Becoming defensive and counter-attacking is seldom an advisable solution, and it simply engenders further conflict. Ignoring detractors can cover the spectrum from aloofness and arrogance to being perceived as indifferent and insensitive. The greater the responsibility …