Here’s a question for you: How is a slanderer like a spider? In his book, "Ragman and Other Cries of Faith," Walter Wangerin starts one story with a lesson about eight-legged arachnids. He explains that a female spider is often a widow for embarrassing reasons — she eats her spouse. In fact, the female spider … Continue reading Leave this spidery habit behind
You should not use James’ encouragement to “Submit yourselves to God and resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” as if it were a formula for exorcism. Some have tried, and missed the first part of the verse completely. Check out the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19. Their idea of “submitting … Continue reading This is how you resist the devil
It is so hard for us to disentangle our affections from this world system and transfer them to the One who created us and redeemed us. James writes in his “in your face” letter that too many followers of Jesus are adulterous — choosing daily to pursue intimacy with the world instead of him. And … Continue reading God gives more grace
Scene one: A boy walking home from school is cornered by a bully who forces him to his knees, throws his books in a mud puddle, and runs off as the boy whimpers with shame. Scene two: The boy takes a different path home, fearing another encounter with his tormenter. It doesn’t work. The bully … Continue reading As believers, we are called to this fight
“Many people learn history. Very few people learn from it.” That was one of the statements Benyamim Tsedaka made in our 90-minute meeting for lunch a few weeks ago. Benyamim, who prefers to be called Benny to make it easier for Americans, is a 125th-generation Samaritan who knows his history and is on a mission … Continue reading Benny is a good Samaritan
When I was 15, I saw the New Directions perform on a Sunday in Advance, N.C. There were 25 young people, not much older than me, singing about Jesus and giving testimonies about how he had changed their lives. The leader of this interracial group was a man with longer hair and bushy sideburns, a … Continue reading He was ready to preach, pray, or die
J. Mark Fox 