Part 4 of 5 Piercing the Darkness We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 After a drill bit pierced the roof of the chamber in which 33 Chilean miners were trapped, things rapidly kicked into high gear for rescue workers […]
Part 3 of 5 The Advocates But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1–2 Despite the fact that 33 miners at the […]
Part 2 of 5 Out of the Pit I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Psalm 142:5 Immediately after the August 2010 cave-in at the San José mine in the Atacama Desert of Chilé, fellow mine workers jumped into action. Attempts to reach the 33 men […]
Part 1 of 5 Buried Alive The things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9–10 On August 5, 2010, 33 men were buried alive in a mining accident at the San José copper and gold mine in northern Chilé. The accident […]
Men and Magma Then the master said to the servant, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” ––Luke 14:23 I was obsessed with volcanoes when I was a kid. I drew tons of pictures, volcanoes in the background with lava spewing into the sky and […]
The Desert at Night So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ––Isaiah 41:10 I’m blessed to live in a Mediterranean climate, where the summers aren’t too hot, the winters aren’t too cold, […]
Cynicism the Brutalizer The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me … to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. ––Isaiah 61:1, 3 I distinctly recall several times when I was a child thinking, “I never […]
The Bloodiest Day How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ––Hebrews 9:14, ESV Every century and civilization has seen the blood of men and women spilled in wars and conquests. According to most military historians, the […]
Black Sheep The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow […]
Taking Spiritual Inventory Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ––2 Corinthians 13:5 As another year closes and we prepare to enter a new season, it’s a good time to take spiritual inventory. I try to […]
