My childhood memories of many sermons in church were from men who seemed angry about a lot of things. They preached long and hard about world conditions and the imminent battle of Armageddon. I greatly feared the nations of Gog and Magog! Late at night, I thought I could hear those evil armies crashing over […]

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Pakistan is an Islamic country in South Asia. It shares its border with India, Afghanistan, Iran, and China, and the good news is preached here. Pakistan is a member of the International Ministerial Congress. Religious beliefs Christians are free to worship and share the good news in most regions of Pakistan, as long as they […]

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On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge at Point Pleasant, West Virginia, collapsed, plunging many to their death. Investigation showed that the bridge was carrying far more weight than it was built to carry. That’s because cars and trucks weighed more in the ‘60s than they did in 1928 when the bridge was built. Unable […]

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The New Testament often paints its greatest truths with the broadest brush strokes. From it we get the big picture about the ministry of reconciliation, being ambassadors for Christ, and being compelled by love. But with these grand principles, the New Testament also sketches smaller portraits that show us what these truths look like in […]

The post Pursuing Peace with Paul appeared first on Bible Advocate.

I can’t go in there, I thought as I turned away. The ramshackle outhouse I stood in front of teetered on the edge of a ravine, with just a scrap of cloth serving as the door. Village children, stray dogs, and small pigs observed me with interest as I edged away. My husband and I […]

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Are you concerned about harmony within the church? Many of us are. How then can we be reconciled with our brothers and sisters in our congregations? What is the ministry of reconciliation that 2 Corinthians 5:18b talks about: “Christ . . . gave us the ministry of reconciliation”? After reading this text, I asked myself, Am […]

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Despite the best effort of some, we live in a world fractured along ethnic, religious, political, and racial lines. Peace seems to elude the human race. Many of us believe that under certain conditions, peace would be attainable. If only we all had the same religious or political beliefs, or if only we were more […]

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Six months ago, my husband and I began searching for a new church home. As we visited other congregations, I joked that we would join the first church where someone invited us to lunch. Six months and seven congregations later, we’re still waiting for that invitation. In our former church we had, from time to […]

The post My View From Your Pew appeared first on Bible Advocate.

After many years of faithful service, the ambassador to a major country was fired. The problem occurred when a dispute arose between his home country and the one he served in. At a press conference, when he was required to speak on behalf of his own government concerning a major disagreement — something that should […]

The post Found Faithful appeared first on Bible Advocate.

As I’m writing, the COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the globe, impacting daily life for billions of people. If the past few months have taught us anything, it’s that we cannot predict the future. I can’t imagine what the world may be like by the time this article is published. What I do know is that […]

The post Talk the Walk appeared first on Bible Advocate.

What roles do natural disasters, tragic accidents, plagues like COVID-19, and other human sufferings play in God’s will or plan?    Scripture offers no single, simple solution to this question. Consider these oft-heard answers, open your Bible, and see how they stack up against the Word.  Human suffering demonstrates God’s wrath and punishment for sin. […]

The post Why Does God Allow Suffering appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Peace Where is the peace the angels proclaimed? The earth still swirls with sin and pain. Only humble hearts swept clean Contain the Holy Gift. Believe, trust, bow low. Wise men still seek Him to know. Our true Peace.   “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. . . . Do not […]

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