After the initial shock about the coronavirus (and adapting to restrictions) had passed, I began to be disappointed in some of the reactions of my countrymen in general, and of Christians as well. Yes, I too felt a bit restricted, anxious, fearful. But over the weeks, we’ve been inundated with “helps”: ways to minimize stress tips to conquer severe anxiety…
Years ago, one of our Bible study members confessed that she was absolutely at the end of her rope. Besides full-time work, she was caregiver for younger and older family members with various problems. This woman was so completely overwhelmed, feeling that no one else had problems as bad as hers, wondering where God was…all that. We helped her as…
I love Elijah, so I’d be the last person to criticize him. The account of Elijah’s contest against the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18, 19) is a favorite. But something I’d not noticed before was recently pointed out. After Elijah’s victory, he ran from Jezebel’s threat. “Let me die,” he begged God. And God mercifully refreshed him with sleep,…
A Japanese lady I met in Seattle had, 50 years ago as a very young woman in Japan, started reading the Bible on her own. But she had no one to discuss it with. Experiencing many family difficulties, she asked the Buddhist priest how to find peace. He basically explained karma: do good and good will come; do bad and…
Once at my daughter’s church in Seattle, the guest Sunday school speaker described the life and work of the late Japanese Christian artist Sadao Watanabe, under whom she had studied. Watanabe had been looking for peace, when he read Jesus’ words in a Bible: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”…