Tag

suffering

IN THE ROUGH Uncategorized

IN THE ROUGH

The rough - its a destination for which my golf ball never needs to ask directions. Recreational and professional golfers alike, end up in it. It can be a place of intimidation or immortality. Some of the most memorable victories in the PGA or LPGA are of pros who made improbable shots out of the rough. In golf, championships are won not by avoiding getting into the rough but by successfully getting out. Life is much the same way. Life's UnFair Way To be in the rough is to be off the fairway. The rough feels unfair, frustrating, discouraging, and stands in the way of success. All too often, life resembles golf: our lives end up "in the rough" and…
Jones Bob
July 19, 2018
CRUSHED: RON POWELL’S STORY Uncategorized

CRUSHED: RON POWELL’S STORY

“There’s somebody under all that stuff!” a young man shouted. My eyes were open but I couldn’t see. I couldn’t breathe either. I had been winded before but this was different. I really couldn’t breathe. All I could do was pray silently, “God I have to live. Anna is pregnant and I have to be there to help her bring up the baby.” Finally I sucked in a tiny breath with searing pain. I could see dimly. One shoe and my glasses were gone. I could hear myself groaning as people were pulling twisted shelves, cans and ceiling tiles off of me. My mind reeled. How Did I Get Here? It was the day before our first anniversary June 21,…
Bob Jones
October 18, 2015
People of the Cross: The 21 Martyrs Uncategorized

People of the Cross: The 21 Martyrs

There they were, for all the world to see - 21 orange clad men  - kneeling on a beach. Most were Egyptians, working in Libya, trying to make some money and a future, just like the rest of us. They were captured by ISIS, tortured and threatened with death. Their crime? They were "people of the cross." Each one was given the chance to save their life by renouncing Christianity and embracing Islam. They chose to say, "No." Their last words were, "Lord Jesus Christ." People of the Cross 24-year-old Luqa Najati, a newlywed working in Libya to build a life for his family in Egypt. Najati didn’t know his wife was pregnant when he left to search for work.…
Bob Jones
August 21, 2015
3 Choices for Strength in Suffering Uncategorized

3 Choices for Strength in Suffering

"Suffering" can be an ugly word. Suffering brings to mind shades of pain, discouragement, anger, and darkness. You know all about it. So does God. It is tough to believe that suffering can reveal anything worth knowing. However, in the upside-down, inside-out, way of the Christian faith, suffering produces more than easy living ever could. Suffering has meaning. In the middle of intense affliction your spirit is more open than ever to the outpouring of God’s love into your life. 3 choices for strength in suffering: 1. Choose to cultivate spiritual serenity in spite of chaotic conditions.  "Shaking mountains” and “agitated waters” (Psalm 46:2,3) are figures of speech for the difficulties we face in life. The Psalmist was inspired to…
Bob Jones
October 5, 2013