Wayne Stiles's Blog, page 81
July 10, 2015
How Jesus Determined His Priorities
And what we can do when choices toss us a live grenade.
Scripture has always taught God’s people to pursue God’s priorities. But over time, opinions differed on those priorities. No one’s opinion was conclusive. There were no guardrails on truth.
(Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com)
Religious leaders in Jesus’ day debated on the separation of the important commandments from the less-important ones. One day when Jesus was teaching in the temple, a scribe tossed this live grenade in front of Jesus...
July 8, 2015
The Wilderness of Zin— Inspiring Awe but Not Obedience to God
Some of God's blessings come only against impossible odds.
I thought I understood the wilderness wanderings of Israel. Then I traveled through the wilderness. On my summer visits there, I never had to check the forecast. It only fluctuated from blistering to broiling.
Photo: Machtesh Ramon at sunrise. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands.
After a searing hike through this wilderness, a traveling companion of mine boarded the bus, his shirt sweat-soaked. He collapsed in his seat, a...
July 6, 2015
Please Take My 2015 Reader Survey
I'd love to know what you think.
I want to make my blog more relevant to your needs and interests. To do that, I need to know what YOU think.
(Photo by Photodune)
Since my survey last year, my blog’s readership has almost doubled. That means I may have no clue about you!
By taking this quick survey, you will ultimately help yourself. Why? Because you will help me make my posts even more interesting and relevant to YOU.
The survey is easy to take. The results are completely anonymous. The que...July 3, 2015
What Freedom Means and Never Means
All those self-evident truths come in a broader context.
On a layover to Israel, we enjoyed some time in Philadelphia. We visited the Rocky steps (yes, I ran them), Betsy Ross’ house, and Ben Franklin’s grave. But I most enjoyed Independence Hall across the street from the Liberty Bell.
(Photo: Standing with George Washington in Independence Hall)
There’s nothing like standing where history happened. It reminds us that Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were more than just names in a hist...
July 1, 2015
Blessed are the Flexible for They Shall Not Be Broken
Does God really have the freedom to stretch you?
We love the idea of following God’s lead. We marvel at the changes a sovereign God brings. What isn’t so thrilling is when God—without warning—stretches us far beyond our capacity.
(Photo by Photodune)
One morning not long ago I simply rolled over in bed, and I felt a sharp POP in my back—followed by an excruciating current up my spine. I had thrown my back out just by rolling over in bed! I eased out of bed and literally had to crawl across t...
June 29, 2015
Update on My Holy Land Tour: Good News and Really Good News
Unless I’m wrong, you love connecting the Bible and its lands to life. In fact, that’s likely one of the reasons you read my blog. And honestly, that’s why I write it—so that we can make that connection together.
(Photo: Sunrise over Jerusalem. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
Reading about the Holy Land is one thing, but taking a journey to Israel is something else entirely. Entirely! Admittedly, it’s a wonderful privilege.
I spent many hours preparing for a tour this fall—a...
June 26, 2015
Giving Your Child Back to God
Hannah's decision at Shiloh shows us how to prepare.
Giving your child back to God can be a tough decision for parents. Eighteen or more years of sacrifice, commitment, and training suddenly bring you to a point of no return.
(Photo byMonkey Business Imagesvia Vivozoom)
Whether it is for college, for the military, or in the natural course of growing up, giving your child back to God is a point every parent has to face.
Hannah’s story shows us how to prepare for it, and then, how to do it.
June 25, 2015
Waiting on God Interview on I4J Live [Mediaappearance]
I look forward to speaking with host, Justin Blaney, and others on I4J Live (Innovate for Jesus) on the topic of waiting on God.
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June 24, 2015
How to Breathe When God Steps on Your Air Hose
Habakkuk Helps Us Turn Our Panic to Peace
We aren’t surprised when we see people sidestep God. What shocks us, however, is when God seems to ignore people. The God of the Bible isn’t a far-off deity. So why does He seem so uninvolved?
(Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com)
God’s response to people’s non-response to Him seems conspicuous by its absence. For those of us who believe in God, it’s tough to breathe when it seems like God is stepping on our air hose.
A prophet with a funny name helps us t...
June 23, 2015
Waiting on God and Special Needs [Mediaappearance]
I’m excited about my interview on Insight for Living’s Special Needs Ministry with Colleen Swindoll Thompson. Colleen’s significant ministry encourages special needs families in their spiritual lives. In this interview, Colleen and I discuss the value of waiting on God.
Keep reading this post. Better still, get my full posts the easy way when you SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG. When you do, I’ll also send you my FREE e-book!
