Consider this

            Many things in the word of God are easy to understand.   Other things leave us with unanswered questions.   Sometimes you just have to accept what you know and not get too caught up in the parts you cannot explain.             Such is the case with Acts 16:6-10.   Paul and his companions wanted to go western Turkey, but they were “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching there” (verse 6). Then they decided to go north but “the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (verse 7).   Finally, Paul receives a vision to go to Greece, so that is what they do (verses 8-10).             Now, here is what I want to know:   How did “the Spirit of Jesus” and “the Holy Spirit” prevent Paul from going to those places?   Did they understand at the time that this was the work of God, or did it just seem that “circumstances were against them”?   Did they attribute all of this to God only after the fact?   We do not have clear answers to those questions.   However, there are som

            Generous.   If you think about money when you see that word, you are not alone.   Most people do.   However, from a biblical perspective, “generous” is a much bigger word.               For example, Romans 13:12 says, “Share with God’s people who are in need.   Practice hospitality”.   In this case, “hospitality” does not just mean “having someone over for supper” as we often think about it.   Rather, it carries more the idea of being generous with our time and “making room in our life for others”.   Being hospitable and generous reminds us that we are to “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).             Biblical generosity can also be seen in how we use our words.   Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace” (Colossians 4:6).   This sort of graciousness and generosity can be very powerful.   I have a friend who always overstates the positive and treats people better than they des

            I am not a big “movie person”.   However, when our family is on holidays, I often get talked into going to a show and that is how I found myself at “Saving Mr. Banks”.   For those who don’t know, “Saving Mr. Banks” is the story about how Walt Disney convinced author P.L. Travers to let him make “Mary Poppins”.               I enjoyed the movie, but it was what happened at the end that really surprised me:   Everyone left the theatre with tears in their eyes!   Even the guy who sat behind me making fun of everything and acting tough through the first half hour or so was crying at the end.             The lesson:   Everyone likes a happy ending.   More to the point:   Everyone wants a happy ending.             The problem is things do not always look like they are heading that way.   From personal experience, I can tell you that there have been times when I thought the bad things in my life could not be overcome.   Fortunately, there is more going on than w