http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=58463&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Friday, July 10, 2009 • • Evangelism
"I'm canceling my devotional subscription because you refuse to tackle the important issues; you're no longer relevant. In fact, I think you're a coward." "I'm canceling my devotional subscription because you refuse to lower your standards about what gets people into heaven." "I'm canceling my devotional subscription because you keep saying I have to share my faith."
In order, these are the three biggest reasons people write to tell us they're no longer reading Madetomatter. How should we respond? How should Christians behave in today's culture, which seems to invite us to war with unbelievers, and with each other?
http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=58012&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 • • Patience
I stepped from the sidewalk to the crosswalk before I heard the roar of the van approaching the intersection. The driver had a stop sign, but it was clear he wasn't going to be able to stop before he hit me.
Unless, of course, I jumped back out of the way, which, of course I did. I gave the driver my best glare.
The van driver did slow down enough to make it look like he thought about a "rolling stop", but then he quickly wheeled a right turn and sped away. Muttering to myself, I watched with some satisfaction as the van pulled up to the sidewalk about a block and a half ahead.
Like a Wild West gunslinger headed for a high-noon shootout, I picked up my pace to arrive at the same time he'd be getting out of his van. Alas, his driving wasn't the only near-miss in this encounter.
http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=57571&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 • • Discipleship
An electronic debate took place recently, among Christian writers, over whether Christians should use profanity...
http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=56984&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Thursday, May 7, 2009 • • Suffering
"Next week," I told my son's fifth-grade Sunday School class, "we're going to have Jesus as our guest teacher." They looked at me like I had two heads. "Okay, obviously Jesus isn't really going to show up here, but if I could get him here in person, what questions would you ask Him."
http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=56363&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Thursday, April 16, 2009 • • Evangelism
Scriptwriters would be laughed out of Hollywood for writing these two stories; and yet life almost always proves stranger--and more dramatic--than fiction. So when I heard about the major league pitcher whose medicine rescued thousands, and the WWII soldier who just remembers rescuing one, how could I not chase down the details. See what I learned in the chasing...
http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=56119&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Monday, April 6, 2009 • • Faith
Two teams of doctors and nurses worked frantically; one trying to save my wife, the other trying to save our newborn son. All I could do was watch--and pray.
http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=55487&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Monday, March 30, 2009 • • Guidance
Jeff is facing a crisis of conscience at work. Looking for answers, he's been cruising the websites and blogs specializing in workplace faith issues. The trouble is, he's finding contradictory answers to his questions. So whose advice should he follow?
http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=54912&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Thursday, March 12, 2009 • • Active faith
The past week's emails included two long-time readers who'd cancelled their subscriptions because they disagreed with one sentence in the 357th devotional I'd posted since they joined. Just that quickly, the relationship disappeared after eight years. Earlier, I'd listened to a pastor I deeply admire complain about mortgage bailouts. "Nobody helped me." he started; a hugely discouraging attitude to hear from any believer. Then I read the article in Smithsonian about Christians fighting over the Church of the Nativity, and about how secular Palestinians are trying to fix the problem for us.
So, keyboard in hand, I zinged 'em all.
http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=54503&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Friday, February 27, 2009 • Randy Kilgore • General
Even my hero, Oswald Chambers-the mighty spiritual giant who authored the bestselling Christian book of all time (other than the Bible), My Utmost for His Highest-even my hero Oswald Chambers struggled over not being able to pay his rent. How could God not answer Oswald's prayers!?!
Same with Tom. Before, when he was still answering the phone, Tom endured the steady mix of soothing promises and abusive threats. Confident God would answer his prayers, he patiently worked through the telephone calls, making promises where he could pay and trying to explain when he couldn't...
http://www.madetomatter.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=4631&view=post&articleid=54307&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 • • Active faith
We're an all-or-nothing culture at the worst possible moment in human history. Except for the psychopaths incapable of clear thought, even the hardest hearts among us hide this secret: We want heroes.
But every man has another level to this secret: Not only do we want heroes, we once wanted to be those heroes. It's why we cry at courage but not at loss; why we'll march to war but not in protests; why we hate war but love warriors.
