Doses of Faith

  Saying "Goodbye" is hard. It is especially hard when we know it is the final GOODBYE. We build relationships, but the time comes to depart. In Acts, we read about Paul's travels. He has traveled many miles through Asia and Greece. He has preached the gospel of repentance and the resurrection in every town he entered. He has made many new friends. Now, after finishing his third missionary journey, it is time for him to return to Jerusalem. He encourages the leaders who will continue preaching. His final words to them: "I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35) Paul's missionary journey started in Acts 13 as he and Barnabas were sent out to preach. They traveled many miles before returning to Jerusalem. The first city they entered was Antioch. As they traveled preaching the gospel, other men joi...

 In our society, we tend to label people. We take one incident and immediately judge. Do not proudly consider that you have never judged or mislabeled someone. I have. I admit it. However, I have witnessed what God can do with the most least likely person.  My brother was quiet and had a little stutter when he spoke as a child. In his late teens, the stutter in his voice went away. Yet, there were a few in our church who still labeled him as the little boy who stutters. Then, he was called to be a preacher. A few of those church people were not supportive, because preachers can not communicate with a stutter. I heard the comments. It hurt. He made it through school and is a very good pastor and spiritual leader. How I wish they could see him today after years of youth ministry in the camp program, serving four congregations, and on the denominations board in a leadership position. Then, there was that wild young man with the long hair and pierced ear. Even, after he had served...