Articles for tag: Death

November 1, 2012

Christian Standard

Considering the One Who Truly Is in Control

By Mark A. Taylor In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, we”re seeing heroic rescue efforts and exhausting work to feed and repair and clear and rebuild. Churches are holding special times of prayer, and many are reaching out to help the suffering in Jesus” name. I would encourage one more activity, and that may look like no activity at all. Let us simply pause in God”s presence and admit that he is in control and we never will be. Amid pictures of cars submerged in flooded parking garages, yachts tossed aside like discarded toys, and whole subdivisions blown or burned

May 7, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for May 13, 2012: The Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone In the Old Testament, God”s relation to the Hebrew people was often compared to that of a shepherd and his sheep (Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:31). It is not surprising to find that Jesus used the same illustration (Luke 15:3-6). Today”s lesson is taken again from John”s Gospel. The setting is Jerusalem, well into Christ”s ministry.   The Good Shepherd and the Sheep John 10:7-10 By saying, “I tell you the truth,” Jesus clearly connects what he

May 3, 2012

Christian Standard

Backward, Inward, and Forward

By Bryce Jessup Communion points us in three directions. We look backward, inward, and forward. First Corinthians 11:23-29 was written for troubled people who needed repentance, forgiveness, and acceptance in order to go forward with their lives. The same need exists for us today. The backward look is to Jesus when he said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” (v. 25). Communion is looking back to the cross and seeing the One who died so that we might live. He hung from the cross not because of

April 23, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 29, 2012: Blind Man Receives Sight (John 9)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone The miracle that we study today took place later in Jesus” earthly ministry, probably four or five months before his final Passover. Once more the scene is Jerusalem. Jesus chose to demonstrate his authority by another miracle of healing. Giving sight to the blind had been prophesied as an example of the Messiah”s work (see Isaiah 35:5; 42:7).   The Healing John 9:1-7 When the disciples encountered a man who had been blind from birth, it

March 26, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 1, 2012: Jesus Testifies to the Truth (John 18, 19)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Instead of continuing chronologically through the Gospel of John, this week we will consider events leading up to the cross. Then on Easter Sunday, we will study the resurrection. Jesus actually underwent not one trial, but three. Two high priests were involved in the trials (Luke 3:2). The three Synoptic Gospels explain what happened in those trials (Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:66-71). Jesus was taken first to the house of Annas (John 18:13), then to

March 24, 2012

Christian Standard

Unwelcome at the Table

By William Baker   The original Supper of the Lord took place at a table (Luke 22:21, 30). Devoted disciples ate with Jesus at this Passover meal. One, however, left before the meal was over. Judas ate the wine-soaked bread Jesus offered him but immediately left to do his dirty deed of informing on Jesus to the temple authorities (John 13:26-30). His pact to help them capture Jesus out of the public eye would be honored that night (Luke 22:1-6). In a few hours, Judas would lead the guard to Jesus and betray him with a kiss of death. Jesus

March 17, 2012

Christian Standard

The Family Reunion

By William Baker The original Supper of the Lord took place at a table (Luke 22:21, 30). It was a Passover meal. It was Jesus” last supper with his devoted disciples. In a matter of hours he would be arrested, beaten, and crucified. He treasured these last moments with them because they offered a foretaste of the greatest family festival reunion of all time. They would be back together again like this””at another table, at another time. Next time, gathered around the table would not just be this handful of solemn believers. Next time, every tribe, tongue, and nation would

March 13, 2012

Christian Standard

Ten Skills Every Leader Needs

By Victor M. Parachin Everyone leads someone, and every ministry demands leadership. Look at this inventory to see what you can add to your leadership skill set. In 1812, when Napoleon invaded Russia, he was regarded across Europe as a brilliant, inspiring leader who enjoyed one success after another. His attack on Russia was viewed by many as another example of his military genius and bravado. Opposing Napoleon was General Mikhail Kutuzov, an older man who was not well-known. Nothing about Kutuzov suggested he was up for the challenge of repelling Napoleon and his mighty force. Kutuzov was a veteran

January 9, 2012

Christian Standard

In Just One Year: I Pray I’m Wrong

Nothing challenges us to think about changing times more than the transition from one year to the next. On this first day of 2012, we asked six Christian leaders to think about the church a year from now and to draw a picture of our progress””and our problems””then.  * * * By Rob Kastens While I pray that I am wrong, my sense is that as the year 2012 draws to a close in the United States, we will be increasingly aware that God”s marvelous church is losing sight of her prime purpose of knowing him, growing in him, and

January 3, 2012

Christian Standard

Aging, Dying, Disasters . . . and Joy

By LeRoy Lawson   Emily Alone: A Novel Stewart O”Nan New York: Penguin Group, 2011 Death with Interruptions Jose Saramago Orlando: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008 A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster Rebecca Solnit New York: Penguin Books, 2009   I speak fairly often for seniors” conferences. I used to speak for youth conventions. As a wag has noted, that means I”m still talking to the same people. Last year I was on the program for two such conferences in Oregon, one at the state convention grounds in the Willamette Valley, the other at Camp WiNeMa

December 26, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for Jan. 1, 2012: Joseph Shows Character (Genesis 37, 39)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ________ Joseph Shows Character (Genesis 37, 39) By Sam E. Stone Someone said, “Character is what a person does in the dark.” Another observed, “Character is what you do when you know no one will find out.” Both descriptions apply to Joseph. In last month”s lessons we studied Abraham. We saw the fulfillment of God”s promise to send the Savior through his descendants. Abraham”s son Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. In the years that followed, Jacob himself had 12

December 21, 2011

Christian Standard

Bethlehem: Inspired by a Preacher”s Renewal

By Bob Russell Phillips Brooks was nearly burned out. The man many regarded as the most inspirational preacher of his time had lost his fervor and couldn”t seem to recover. He requested and was granted a sabbatical from the church and took a trip to the Holy Land. On Christmas Eve in Jerusalem, he and a couple of friends mounted horses and took off riding. It was a wonderful, life-changing afternoon for him. He prayed and spent time alone with God. At dusk, when the first stars came out, he rode into the tiny village of Bethlehem. The town had

November 16, 2011

Christian Standard

What Do You Want?

By Mark A. Taylor All of us know people who never stop wanting. They”re always after the next trend, the newest gadget, the latest fashion, the next promotion. They”re like a dog chasing a porcupine. The hunt is exciting, but the catch doesn”t satisfy. And so they”re perpetually pursuing another challenge, a goal or a goodie they want even more than the last one they grabbed. It”s easy to criticize people who want the wrong things. But some Christians are burdened by an unexpressed fear that it may be wrong to want anything. After all, the Bible lessons and sermons

August 6, 2011

Christian Standard

Discovering the Good in the Bad

By Eleanor Daniel   G. K. Chesterton wrote a series of short stories featuring Father Brown, a little priest with amazing discernment and wisdom. He solves crimes and other puzzling situations easily. He dispenses wisdom freely. These are fascinating stories. In “Father Brown”s Secret,” the cleric explains how he solves the mysteries that regularly come his way. The priest says he imagines himself as the perpetrator of the crime””and that reveals the solution. When someone in the story objected that he could not carry out such evil, the priest observes that no man can know how good he can be

August 2, 2011

Christian Standard

What Does God Say About Race?

By Brian Jennings “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). We usually focus on the second truth in that sentence, but it”s healthy to remember the first: “People look at the outward appearance.” Not only in Samuel”s time, but in all the years since then, people have been looking at the outward appearance. While we”ve come a long way, still today we struggle. My wife and I have two boys. In July 2009, we had the blessing of adopting our first daughter, Shurabe, who is from Ethiopia. Four months later, my

March 16, 2011

Christian Standard

Clearing a Path to Life

By Mark A. Taylor Maybe by the time you read this, the threat of major snowfall in your community will have passed. And if you live in Derry, New Hampshire, maybe your city workers have resumed digging graves. Derry town administrator Jack Anderson told reporters February 7 the Forest Hills Cemetery would probably be closed for four weeks, its frozen acres buried under too much ice and snow to make digging new graves possible. This is because the gravediggers in Derry also drive the small town”s snowplows. And, given the onslaught of this winter”s storms, there just wasn”t manpower to

February 8, 2011

Christian Standard

Free for All

By Jennifer Taylor Each year, thousands of people in the Peoria, Arizona, area experience the death of a family member””but only 13 percent attend any kind of church. Christ”s Church of the Valley extends the love of Christ by providing funerals for these unchurched people””at no cost to grieving families. CCV senior pastor Don Wilson began the program and lead neighborhood pastor Bob Fesmire leads it. “For many people, a death is their first experience with church, and it can involve a lot of expenses,” Fesmire says. “We have space dedicated to the services and provide the pastor, the music,

August 8, 2010

Christian Standard

Dying to Self

By Nicholas Schonlau Since I became a follower of Christ, I”ve been enthralled with what it means to follow him. One of my favorite passages on this subject is, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). That has always been the challenge, for me and for many other Christians I”ve known over the years. What does it mean to deny myself? It means I must die. I think back to when I was buried with Christ through baptism. According to Paul, I died that day and

June 13, 2010

Christian Standard

Broken People Change the World

By Janet McMahon “Now with God”s help, I shall become myself.” “”Soren Kierkegaard When the phone rang, I was sitting on the couch taking care of my 4-month-old baby girl. Since my hands were full, my husband got up to answer the phone. The call was short; my husband listened a lot and finally said, “OK, I”ll talk to her.” He hung up, looked at me, and smiled. “Dave has an idea, and it involves you.” Dave is the lead pastor of Community Christian Church where my husband was on staff. Troy couldn”t wipe the quirky smile off his face.

April 4, 2010

Christian Standard

Good Friday: On Being Human

By John E. Wasem A gold cross””attached to a necklace or pinned to your lapel””tells the world of your faith. It is a testimony of your belief””or so we suppose. That simple cross also symbolizes a certain morality to which people may presume you adhere. Why? Because observers logically assume you are a follower of Christ. Wearing a cross can bring you a degree of respect from others. Now, travel back in time about 2,070 years. That little piece of jewelry dangling around your neck or from your pierced ear or attached to your toga would have resulted in far

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