Life's Too Short to Give God the Silent Treatment

 A preview of June's email-only article.

P O W L Y

Have you ever been angry with God?

If so, how did you respond? Did you turn your back on him? Or petition him?

Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about how we should respond to God when our emotions run high. If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below. (If you're already on the list, check your email.)

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HAVE YOU EVER BEEN MAD at God? It's kind of a weird phenomenon—to be angry with a deity—but I know it's not uncommon. I've had multiple people tell me they have beef with the Almighty. 

Often these strong emotions come in response to a tragedy or an unjust situation, those in which one is left asking where God was or why he didn't prevent the disaster. 

These emotions are real. They are valid. Don't forget we are made in God's image and that God has emotions. He became angry with Moses when Moses tried to reject his proposal to save the Israelites. Psalm 78 tells us God grieved the sin of Israel in the wilderness. Hebrews tells us God is pleased by our faith. 

Nevertheless we must be careful what we do with those emotions. How we respond can be helpful or it can be unproductive (and even sinful).

 
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Remember, the Snake Has Already Been Bruised

 An encouragement for those in anguish.

Timothy Dykes

 

THE BIBLE DEDICATES a healthy percentage of its words to content that's downright disgusting. Think about driving a tent peg through a man's temple or losing a sword in the belly of an obese king.

The book of Job is full of nastiness too as a result of the infirmities that befell him. One such verse is  Job 7:5 in which Job says, "My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh."

Yummy!

Some commentators like Charles Ellicott and Albert Barnes suggest Job suffered from a parasite called lymphatic filariasis, a disease transmitted by mosquitos infected with a certain type of roundworm. When the larvae enter the bloodstream they mature and reproduce, flooding the lymph system.

The Power of a Generous Heart

A preview of May's email-only article.

Ashley Green

The Bible has quite a bit to say about generosity.

And, while this shouldn't be your primary motivation, did you know that Proverbs suggests some pretty cool things will happen to you when you give freely?

Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about prosperity, generosity, and obesity. (Yes, you read that right.) If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below.

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The KJV renders Proverbs 11:25 as, "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."

It may be weird to think that getting fat is a reward for liberality; in the first world, we don't value fat. In fact, most everyone is obsessed with skinniness. Why?

Because in affluent cultures, it's easy to get fat.

McDonald's occupies a corner at every busy intersection, and our supermarkets have entire aisles dedicated to ice cream, cookies, and chips.

Because of this, slender figures are rarer. They are badges of youthfulness and sex appeal. Not so in other eras of history.

 
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How to Please God

Advice from Solomon and the book of Hebrews.

Ben White

 

HAVE YOU EVER PONDERED the daunting prospect of trying to please God?

Our God is omnipotent, so he doesn't need anything. And he's holy so we can never live up to his standard of morality.

How then can one possibly please God? Is it even possible?

Yes, it's possible, as you'll see, and the approach is actually pretty straightforward—though it might not be what you think. We'll take cues from Solomon and Job for an Old Testament, pre-messianic perspective and then the book of Hebrews to gain a more complete picture.

Before we dive in, though, here's the short answer:

The Importance of Christ's Recklessness

A preview of April's email-only article.

Daniel Thomas

What does the Bible say about cosigning loans?

Perhaps you're familiar with the proverb advising that those who cosign for strangers will suffer harm (Pro. 11:15). Sound advice, right?

Yet, I think there's another angle to this discussion worth bringing to light.

Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers. This month we're looking at the reckless decision Jesus made, and why that decision is so critical in our lives.

If you'd like instant, free access to the article, fill out the form below. If you're already a subscriber, check your inbox.

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I MET KATIE IN THE HALCYON DAYS of senior year at Norman High School. Life sped by at a thoroughbred's pace, and I did my best to maintain my grip on the reins; it seemed I went from a twerp teenager to man-child in a matter of days.

Two years after graduation, we were married.

One struggle of twenty-year-old newlyweds is leasing an apartment. We had jobs, but no credit, and they were part-time jobs. So even though our rent was something like $375, they wanted a cosigner—someone to fulfill the yearlong commitment were we to flake out.

My dad signed the paperwork.

It was probably stupid for him to do it, but he loved us and trusted in our work ethic and financial savvy.

Lest you think this is one of those financial horror stories, we paid our rent. Every month on time.

But the story could have turned out differently.

 
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