"Almost anything that happens to us may be woven into the purposes of God. It may lengthen our cords of sympathy. It may break our self-centered pride. The cross, which was willed by wicked men, was woven by God into the tapestry of world redemption." ML King
Tag: suffering
Quote of Note #178: Our Broken Selves
"I understand why people work so hard to conceal their suffering. They don't want other people to think something is wrong with them. But, beloved, there is something wrong with all of us. We live in a fallen, sin-stained world, we all suffer its effects--yes, even those of us who call Jesus Christ our Lord … Continue reading Quote of Note #178: Our Broken Selves
Quote of Note #137: Bearing the Cross
photo by GAC "Honesty impels me to admit that transformed nonconformity, which is always costly and never altogether comfortable, may mean walking through the valley of the shadow of suffering, losing a job, or having a six-year-old daughter ask, 'Daddy, why do you have to go to jail so much?' But we are gravely mistaken … Continue reading Quote of Note #137: Bearing the Cross
Pastor Note #99: Following Jesus in a Time of Pandemic, Poisonous Politics, and Social Unrest
In a recent e-mail to a friend, I described some of the challenges of church ministry in this time of pandemic, political divisiveness, and social unrest. I told him, “During the past six months, pastoring a church feels like jumping out of an airplane and trying to sew your parachute as you fall.” That experience … Continue reading Pastor Note #99: Following Jesus in a Time of Pandemic, Poisonous Politics, and Social Unrest
Quote of Note #104: God’s Response to Disasters
Dutch Fork Lake in the fog; photo by GAC "After all, so often when people look out on the world and its disasters they wonder why God doesn't just march in and take over. Why, they ask, does he permit it? Why doesn't he send a thunderbolt (or perhaps something a little less like what … Continue reading Quote of Note #104: God’s Response to Disasters
Quote of Note #100: No Panic in Heaven
"The Lord never makes a mistake. One day, when we are in heaven, I'm sure we shall see the answers to the whys. My, how often I have asked, 'Why?' In heaven, we shall see God's side of the embroidery. God has no problems--only plans. There is never panic in heaven." Corrie ten Boom, He … Continue reading Quote of Note #100: No Panic in Heaven
Bible Note #36 — Why Do the Just Suffer? — Ecclesiastes 8:14
"Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said, “This also is an enigma.” Ecclesiastes 8:14 [NET] Who can’t relate to this? Who hasn’t … Continue reading Bible Note #36 — Why Do the Just Suffer? — Ecclesiastes 8:14
Pastor Note #34–A Pastoral Letter to Someone Who Had Suffered a Debilitating Accident
Dear "L," It was really good to see you at the church yesterday. It was very brave of you, because I could see that you were suffering a lot of pain. I don't understand why you have had to suffer so much in the last few months. I wish I did. I do know that … Continue reading Pastor Note #34–A Pastoral Letter to Someone Who Had Suffered a Debilitating Accident
Prayer Note #23 — A Bible Study on Prayer, Psalm 84:1-12
The Bible has a lot to say about prayer. Some of the places where we find wisdom and instruction on prayer don't actually use the word much or even at all. In Psalm 84, the word, "prayer," appears once, yet the entire psalm is about communing with God. And communing with God is certainly the … Continue reading Prayer Note #23 — A Bible Study on Prayer, Psalm 84:1-12
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 