“Why?” we cry out when we suffer. While we cannot understand all the reasons for pain. There are comforting answers to consider. Many of you have prayed recently for our niece Michelle who underwent major surgery last week. Michelle (the…
The Jesus Storybook Bible on the Hope of Christians
The final pages of The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name: One day, John knew, Heaven would come down and mend God’s broken world and make it our true, perfect home once again. And he knew, in some…
Wrestling with Incurable Cancer and Life in Christ
I haven’t yet read Rejoicing in Lament: Wrestling with Incurable Cancer and Life in Christ, but I’ve ordered it. J. Todd Billings, the Gordon H. Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, describes his…
Resurrection: When Everything Sad Becomes Untrue
The hope of the resurrection is the sure promise that, for the believer, all that is sad and hurts will become untrue. These quotes help us meditate on our blessed hope. From The Lord of the Rings series: “Gandalf! I…
The Real Problem of Evil
The reality that so few struggle with the problem of evil is a major warning sign that many are not considering the reality of a sovereign and good God. John Stott wrote, “The fact of suffering undoubtedly constitutes the single…
Ask “How Long?” Instead of “Why?”
Interacting with the problem of suffering, Christopher J.H. Wright writes: Whereas we often ask “Why?” people in the Bible more often asked “How long?” Their tendency was not to demand that God give an explanation for the origin of evil…
This is Just the Beginning of the Beginning
I am thankful for the ways that the Internet and social media allow others to suggest worship music to accompany sermon series. My youngest sister, Erin (see her blog here), suggested this song to go along with our Job series…
Hitting Hard Questions Head On
Only Christianity can truly hit the hard questions head-on. A new sermon series at the Red Brick Church will address the central questions of life. Thoughtful human beings encounter vexing questions: · Why are we here? What’s the purpose of…
Does the book of Job offer an explanation for why people suffer?
I am preparing to preach this coming fall on the book of Job. This week, I am studying with a group with Dr. John Walton of Wheaton College. One of the first questions that comes up when studying Job is…
Christian Books on Pain and Suffering
Christian books on pain and suffering shouldn’t give simplistic answers. Yancey is right, “Why?” is a question that doesn’t go away. I am preparing for a series on Job this fall at the Red Brick Church– – and I’m a…