Two seriously ill men occupied the same hospital room. The man next to the window was able to sit up, while the other couldn’t. Each day the man by the window described in picturesque detail what he saw—including a lake, ducks, and children sailing model boats. This meant the world to his roommate, who had no outside view. Witnessing these sights secondhand brought him daily happiness. Eventually the man by the window died. His saddened roommate requested a move to... Read more
Our ministry sometimes hears from those who are grieving and feel completely hopeless and purposeless in life. There’s no doubt that grieving a loved one’s death is a long, often lonely, always painful process. But I encourage those of you who might feel you now have no purpose: don’t throw away the calling God has for you to serve Him here until your time is done and He takes you home. (Let me preface this blog by saying: if you have... Read more
I asked the men in my weekly small group, “If you knew today you had only one week to live, what would you do?” We came up with a number of answers and then asked ourselves why we wouldn’t do those things soon—this week or this month or at the next family gathering—since none of us knows when we will die. This is not morbid; it is just facing head-on what Scripture says—that our days are numbered. (A vivid reminder... Read more
There is a great phrase many say: “God is good.“ That is certainly true and an appropriate thing to proclaim. However, many of us say it routinely only when life goes our way. “Traffic was easy today, I made all the lights, and I wasn’t late for work or class—God is good!” When we hear that God has healed someone, inevitably someone says, “God is good.“ True enough. But when God chose not to answer our prayers for my wife... Read more
Training children about money and possessions begins at birth. For better or worse, we are their tutors, every hour of every day. Albert Schweitzer put it this way: “There are only three ways to teach a child. The first is by example; the second is by example; the third is by example.” Our perspective on money and possessions—and how we handle them—lies at the very heart of the Christian life. That’s no overstatement. The Bible emphatically demonstrates that our view... Read more
Under God’s direction, angels serve us on Earth (Hebrews 1:14). Michael the archangel serves under God, and the other angels, in various positions, serve under Michael (Daniel 10:13; Revelation 12:7). In Heaven, human beings will govern angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). It’s a bit difficult to know the role angels will have on the New Earth. I assume they will be visible, though even that’s not certain. Presumably, their role as servants of those who will inherit salvation (though on the New Earth... Read more
I think one of the most powerful and chilling portrayals of the insanity of rejecting God—which we do whenever in words or actions we proudly affirm our greatness and achievements—is Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. It doesn’t get the attention of the fiery furnace in chapter 3, the lions’ den in chapter 6, or even the handwriting on the wall in chapter 5. But Daniel 4 is a stunning and insightful look into the fact that it is not merely wrong, but... Read more
The EPM staff posted this video on Facebook of my answer to the question, “When Someone Dies Young, Did They Die Before Their Time or Did They Die at the Appointed Time?” A commenter replied: “What about babies who die by abortion? I cannot believe God would ordain a child to be killed by abortion. If everything is pre-ordained, why worry about fighting against anything, like abortion? God ALLOWS Satan to do so much and wants us to take responsibility for standing... Read more
My book The Law of Rewards was first published in 2003, but in 2023, I had the opportunity to update it and also add some new material, especially as it relates to Nanci’s life, death, and relocation to Heaven. I continue to be excited about this small book and its potential for big impact in the lives as believers as they get excited about investing in eternity. (The updated book is available from EPM both in softcover and as a special edition with a leatherlike cover.)... Read more
Countless Christians believe that Bible reading is their duty—something holy people do. What many don’t understand is exactly what Scripture really tells us: that meditating on God’s Word can and should delight us, infusing us with heartfelt happiness (see Psalm 1; the world translated “blessed” is asher, which means “happy”). David said of God’s words, “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). Throughout the difficulties and joys that... Read more
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