For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Cor. 5:14-15). From the day Paul was converted, he had two enthusiastic ardent convictions: First, he had undergone death of self so that he would no longer live. Second, he desired intensely to live for Christ alone. Immediately, I ask myself, what motivated Paul to live for Christ and not for himself? Jerry Bridges said, It was not a continual challenge to be more disciplined, or more committed, or more holy. Rather it ...

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If God exists, why do bad things happen to good people? For centuries, people have struggled with this. Philosophers, such as David Hume and Bertrand Russell, argued that the world is full of evil and suffering. Thus, if God is all good and all powerful, He can and should destroy evil. However, they point out, evil is not destroyed, and sufferings still continue. They say it appears that God is not able or willing to rid the world of evil; therefore, God is neither all powerful nor all good. Therefore, God, as He is understood by the Christian faith, must not exist. In the modern era, Jewish Rabbi Kushner is a God fearing individual who believes ...

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Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Does this mean we need to love ourselves first in order to love others? Someone said, “Yes, we need to love ourselves before we can love others.” If the condition to love others comes from our ability to love ourselves, then we will never be able to love others as ourselves. Why? Because, self-seeking love always has self-interest at the core of one’s being. Another name for self-seeking love is called pride. Pride is the presumption that we can be happy and our source of happiness can care for others to find their happiness in our self-seeking love. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor ...

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“Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…” Colossians 1:11 Things can and do go wrong in life. After House Church last Friday night, I stopped at a red light on my way home. Suddenly, a car hit me from behind, putting a dent on my bumper and trunk. After I exchanged information with the driver that hit me, my car wouldn’t start. So, Kathy, who had just arrived home with the kids, had to come and get me. Things can go wrong in life unexpectedly; and when you think that things can’t get any worse, they often do. In August, my mom had an open-heart surgery. The ...

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Last week, I couldn’t buy breakfast for the staff because I spent my $40.00 a week allowance in one day. One of the staff member said, “How can you live like that? I couldn't live like that.” I simply said, “I am willing to look like a fool in the eyes of others as long as I am happy with my wife.” To create intimacy in marriage, you must seek to know the needs of your mate at the cost of denying your own self-centered needs. Often, married couples come to me and say, “We just don’t do things the way we expect from each other. We have been married for so many years and nothing has changed.” I believe nothing changes because we want ...

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NLF, Join me in a prayer for Sang and Justy. Let us cry-out to the Lord until they can feel the impact of our prayer. Lord, I pray that the affection of Christ be revealed through Sang & Justy as a joyful desire to give thanks to You rises from their soul. Allow the indestructible, inexhaustible, and inseparable hope we have in Christ to ignite their faith to risk their lives for the sake of others. I also ask that there be an evidence of the Holy Spirit’s inner work in their lives so that the advancement of the gospel would go forth through them. I will continue to pray as their faith in Christ works through love so that Sang & Justy will ache ...

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We all need to make a statement of faith. Bold statements of faith that will guide us in difficult trials and help us to know what we are living for. As a result, you will make a difference in the lives of others. When the Taliban captured the South Korean short-term mission team, pastor Bae was killed because he had refused to convert to Islam. His wife made a statement that she will not have his funeral until rest of the team was released and brought home safely. Her bold statement guided her through the dark hours. When the Israelites were turning their backs on God by doing evil things, Joshua made a statement that would guide the nation back to ...

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