Posts by Chuck Webster (Page 7)
Ready to go
A few years back I read a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Christian who lived during the Third Reich’s reign of terror. He refused to bow to the Nazis’ demands of the church, and ultimately they imprisoned and executed him. He faced his death with remarkable confidence, fully trusting that being executed for his convictions was far preferable to compromise. Death did not frighten him. That kind of attitude has always fascinated me, and the apostle Paul certainly had…
From Tanzania to our Hoover church family
I’m writing this on Thursday night Tanzania time, and this is the point in the week when we’re all pretty much both exhausted and exhilarated. We’re tired because of long days of walking and teaching, and we’re excited because of what God is doing in and through the Tanzanian people. And, of course, we’re a little homesick as well, even though things here are going well. Here’s a quick update: This week we’ve focused primarily on three goals: The majority…
No matter what
Many Christians have faced very difficult situations, and some of you are going through them right now. Sometimes it’s uncertainty at work: is my position going to be phased out? Should I make a career change? It might be one of your children that you’re worried about: life and relationship choices, immaturity, worldliness. Sometimes it’s health problems, either your own or someone close to you. Or maybe some other dilemma. You don’t know how something’s going to work out, and…
What We Talk About
Have you ever been around someone who talked about only one thing? Maybe sports or politics. Or clothes, movies, or books. And then a few just like to talk about other people. Paul was like that, I think, or at least he had one thing that dominated his conversations. He spent quite a bit of time in jail, and it’s interesting to think about what it must’ve been like to have been his jailer, or maybe his cellmate. I’m sure…
Paul’s Pity Party
Instead of blowing up the balloons and sending out invitations to the pity party, maybe we should first sit down and talk to the Lord.
Way more love
Some things you just can’t have too much of. Like ice cream. Or time with family. Or kisses from your three-day-old little girl. Of course, Paul wasn’t talking about any of those things in Philippians 1, though I doubt he’d disagree with me. Here’s what he says: And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for…
I don’t have time
I don’t have time. I say those words a lot, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with them. All of us have to make choices with our time. I think the issue is what we say those words about. And whom we say them to. Paul addresses the principle here: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16). How we spend our time…
He Lives
This week is the time of year when many people throughout the world think more about Jesus Christ than almost any other time, second only to Christmas. In contrast to Jesus’ birth, however, there is more confidence about the timing of his death, burial, and resurrection, since he was crucified during the weekend of the Jewish Passover. It is encouraging to see an increased interest in Jesus, especially when this annual interest leads people to pursue a relationship with him…
Fear
The longer I live, the more I realize the huge role fear plays in our lives as Christians. Do you ever worry? About your health, your kids, your future? Most of us do, and worry is just another word for fear. Why do we fudge the truth? Probably because we’re scared of what’ll happen if we don’t. Why do we sometimes fail to say what needs to be said? Because we’re afraid of confrontation, or the effects of confrontation, or…
People like you
Sometimes it’s easy to see the good stuff that God is doing in other people’s lives. Maybe that preacher or writer or godly stalwart of the faith at church—we can see what God is doing there. But in us? In me? We’re all-too-conscious of the ugly things we’ve shoved into one of our closets to think that God might be doing something significant in us. But listen to Paul: And I am sure of this, that he who began a…
Kids are Funny
It’s funny to watch kids. A two-year-old typically thinks it’s all about him. If there’s a toy in the room, it’s his toy. If you have something he wants, you should give it to him, and right now would be nice. Put two toddlers in a room with only one toy, and it’ll get ugly really soon. A kid’s world is very small—just big enough for him and the people who are there to get him what he wants. I’d…
Who’s Winning?
Sometimes I look at the world and get a little discouraged. I see inexplicable violence, blatant perversion, rampant materialism, and I worry about the future. I know they’re not, but sometimes like it looks like the bad guys are winning. The composers of the Psalms had the same thought, apparently, because thoughts like these are all over the place. Why are you letting them win, God? What are we supposed to do? Where are you? Why aren’t you doing something?…