Don’t Forget “After These Things…”

Burdens. Difficulties. Disaster Illness. Pressures. Problems. Suffering. Tragedies. Trials. Untimely death. We all have experienced situations that we could put in those categories. We have all experienced situations that we could put in those categories too often. At times we have experienced the suddenness of those trials. We receive an unexpected phone call with unwanted […]

One more…

I have seen the headlines of the shooting in Uvalde yesterday. I have not read the stories. I started to read one article. But I closed the web page. My heart couldn’t take it. I started to cry. “Lord…Lord…how many more? How much longer until You return and make all things right?” I have not […]

How to think about 9/11

This Sunday is the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks against America. Many are offering commentary on the topic. Here are two that I find particularly helpful and a couple more that I have penned in response to various tragedies. First, Al Mohler has republished the sermon he gave two days after the attack. His […]

What I wrote on 9/11/01

I wasn’t blogging in 2001. But I was writing an email devotional, and this is what I wrote the day after 9/11/01. “Enemy-occupied territory — that is what this world is.” So said C. S. Lewis nearly 50 years ago in Mere Christianity. Those words are haunting in their poignancy this morning, for as we […]

Violence, again

More than a decade ago, there was a shooting in a Fort Worth church where a number of people were killed by a gunman. That same week, John MacArthur was speaking at a conference I was attending and when he was asked about the event he responded, “The deeper the world sinks into the abyss […]

How a Japanese believer responded to the tsunami

In a somewhat extended article that is definitely worth reading, a Japanese believer talks about the spiritual needs in Japan, the goodness of God in the past week, the death of believers the tsunami, and the opportunity to demonstrate the transforming work of Christ in this circumstance: In a nation with such a small Christian […]

Another violent tragedy

I didn’t have my radio on most of the day yesterday, so I heard no news during the day. On my drive home I was listening to a sermon, so I likewise missed the news. So when I got home one of the girls said something about Fort Hood, and I was confused about what […]

Things worth reading and praying when a bridge collapses

How do you respond when a bridge collapses (or a tower falls)? What are you to think? What do you tell your children or young believers (or unbelievers) about God in such a situation? Three writers (one “old,” and two contemporary), help us answer these questions in a biblical framework: Oswald Chambers Al Mohler John […]

A few more thoughts on the tragedy at Virginia Tech

This week we have learned the importance and reality of Rom 12:15 — Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. You could not read the headlines, watch the news or hear the reports of what happened at Virginia Tech and not be moved to compassion. Amidst all the “analysis,” however, there […]

What to say about Virginia Tech

The events today at Virginia Tech are tragic. Several years ago, after the shootings at Columbine, John Piper compiled 21 ways to love and comfort the hurting. He later revised the list after the 9-11 tragedy. His words are just as appropriate for today. A condensed version of his essay may be found here.