Em Griffin, author of The Mind Changers, tells about a good friend from the University of Michigan who went as a medical missionary to Bangladesh. When he arrived on the mission field, he was informed that he couldn’t keep his four children with him but that they would have to go away to boarding school. This was the policy of the mission and he didn’t have a choice.

He responded, “Sure I have a choice! Our kids need us. Evangelization in the home first, then on the mission field.” He then proceeded to raise more money, found a teacher, and established a mission school right on the hospital grounds.

Certainly we need to follow our God-given leaders. However, when they are obviously in the wrong, it is important to confront them in Christian love where necessary, and do what is right. As Peter pointed out, no leader has a right to control (lord it over) anybody else.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please don’t let me play God or the role of the Holy Spirit in other people’s lives by telling them what they should or shouldn’t do, nor by seeking either consciously or unconsciously to control anyone. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Peter 5:2-3 (NIV).

“Dear Brothers [and sisters], is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.”¹

In almost every trial we face God is seeking to “tell” us something. Sometimes the only time he can get our attention is when we’re hurting sufficiently to slow us down so we will stop and listen.

That has certainly been true in my life. On one occasion, God used an accident and a time in the hospital to get my attention and to speak to me. The decision I made as a result ended up radically changing the total course of my life. Another time God used a major crisis and loss to expand my work. He used another setback to get me started in writing. That was more than four decades ago and I’m still writing!

When you are hurting, you can be sure that God has something to say to you too—something for your good. Ask him to help you hear what it is and to give you the courage to do what he is telling/leading you to do. Whatever it is, you can be certain it will enrich your life in one way or another.

Furthermore, whatever you do, don’t waste your pain. Invest it in your own growth and then in helping another fellow struggler along the way.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to see how you want to use all the trials that come my way to help me grow and change my life for the better. And please help me never to waste my pain but to invest it wisely in my own growth and in making me a more effective helper to other fellow strugglers. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. James 1:2-4 (TLB)(NLT).

SPECIAL NOTE for all Australian and New Zealand subscribers as we join with you in memory of April 25 being Anzac Day. This was originally a day to honor all members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It has now broadened to commemorate all Aussies and New Zealanders who died in military service in all wars.

“The year was 1920. The scene was the examining board for selecting missionaries. Standing before the board was a young man named Oswald J. Smith. One dream dominated his heart. He wanted to be a missionary. Over and over again, he prayed, ‘Lord, I want to go as a missionary for you. Open a door of service for me.’ Now, at last, his prayer would be answered.

“When the examination was over, the board turned Oswald Smith down. He did not meet their qualifications. He failed the test. Oswald Smith had set his direction, but now life gave him a detour. What would he do? As Oswald Smith prayed, God planted another idea in his heart. If he could not go as a missionary, he would build a church which could send out missionaries. And that is what he did. Oswald Smith was pastor of The People’s Church in Toronto, Canada, which sent out more missionaries than any other church at that time. Oswald Smith brought God into the situation, and God transformed his detour into a main thoroughfare of service.”²

Years later Oswald J. Smith had a dynamic impact on my own life that changed the course of my life and ministry. Forty years ago when I was the South Australian director of Youth for Christ, I helped organize a week of meetings with Oswald Smith in the city of Adelaide. In one service Smith preached on the power of the printed page. Now I’ve never heard God speak to me audibly, but that night I felt like I was hit with a big “wham” from God. I felt tremendously challenged about getting into literature (even though I never wanted to be a writer) and walked out of that meeting telling God that “some day I would do something about literature but right then I was too busy with my high school ministry!”

What a dumb thing to tell God! Two weeks later my high-school ministry collapsed. For something to do I wrote the gospel message I had been teaching in the classrooms, printed it, and mailed it to several hundred high school student leaders from some 50 high schools in the greater Adelaide area. Nobody was more amazed than I when I received numerous responses. I’ve been writing and publishing gospel literature ever since—for the first three decades in printed form and for the last decade via email and the web.

And what was that first message I wrote, printed, and mailed to those high-school students? It was, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian … without having to be religious.” More than three million copies of this message have been printed and distributed. Multiplied thousands more have read it on the web and responded to it. It has also been translated into several languages. You can see a copy at: https://learning.actsweb.org/christian.

So, when God puts a detour in your path, you will never know what results it may produce. And I am only one person among thousands that were impacted by the ministry of Oswald J. Smith—and multiplied thousands more have been impacted by ACTS literature and our writing ministry.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that when I daily commit and trust my life to you, you do direct my paths and lead me in the way you want me to go. Please continue to do this for all the days of my life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Romans 8:28 (NIV).

2. Brian L. Harbour, Rising Above the Crowd. Cited on http://www.bible.org/

John Henry Fabre, the French naturalist, conducted an interesting experiment with some processionary caterpillars, which are called by this name because they blindly follow each other, one behind another.

Fabre placed caterpillar food in the center of a flower pot and placed caterpillars end to end so they formed a complete circle around the edge of the pot. Round and around they went for seven days and nights until they dropped dead of starvation and exhaustion. With all the food they needed only a few inches away, they starved themselves to death.

Sad to say some people are like these caterpillars that blindly follow a leader never questioning what he says or teaches. This is especially noticeable in false cults but it can be equally true in any church or religious group, especially where legalism still exists. It can also be true in secular leadership including the political realm. It is imperative to know what the leaders we are following stand for and where they are leading us.

Imagine questioning the Apostle Paul, the most powerful leader in the early church. But the Christians in Beroea did and made sure that what he was teaching was in line with God’s Word. And they were commended for it.

It is important that we, too, learn to study and know the Scriptures for ourselves and question everything we are taught to make sure it is what God’s Word, the Bible, teaches. In other words, while we need to respect our leaders, we need to make God’s Word our “final voice of authority” and not the word of man no matter how high his position is or how appealing his words.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be open to truth/s I have not yet seen or been aware of—and help me to make sure that all I am taught is in harmony with your Word. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Acts 17:11 (TLB)(NLT).

A reader writes, “Please help me to understand why my adult daughter has become a lesbian over the past couple of years. She was brought up in a Christian home, was married for several years but is now separated. She has two sons who ask questions that I don’t know how to answer. All I know is that God is against homosexual activities. Also, her father is a homosexual….”

Dear Friend, regarding your daughter “becoming” a lesbian, my guess is that she has probably had these tendencies or feelings from her youth but has only recently made the choice to act out these feelings.

The fact that her father is a homosexual can be a strong contributing factor as children need both a mother and a father during their developmental years. A daughter needs both parents to confirm her female sexual identity when she is a teen, just as a son needs both parents to confirm his masculine identity. If the father hasn’t resolved his own sexual identity, he isn’t able to confirm his children’s sexual identity. Homosexuality is a failure to complete the maturity of a child’s sexual development. Furthermore, it is out of harmony with God’s design for the individual and the family. Keep in mind, too, that all of God’s rules/laws are for our protection, well-being, and for the health of the individual, the family, and ultimately the nation. We defy these laws to our own peril—even if it is eventually.

As Bruce Kaercher put it: “Our culture’s embrace of homosexuality has ignored the cause in order to embrace the symptom.”

Some homosexuals claim that they were born that way. Others claim that homosexuality is in their genes. The fact is, however, that sin is in my and everybody else’s genes because we are born sinners,² but this does not justify acting out my sinful nature.

It is true that while God loves all sinners he hates all sin because all sin is destructive of those whom God loves—us! Keep in mind, too, that God not only condemns homosexuality. His Word says, “Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.”³

I realize it can be extremely difficult to change one’s sexual disposition but help is available for those who want it.* Unfortunately, unless your daughter genuinely wants to change, there isn’t much you can do except to pray for her and assure her of your love and acceptance, while lovingly informing her that you are opposed to her lifestyle. And constantly ask God to help you to be “as Jesus” to your daughter and to your grandchildren.

Unfortunately a Christian home doesn’t guarantee one’s emotional, physical, or sexual maturity. For these, a child needs two mature and healthy parents—or at least a mother and/or father substitute, where needed, as a role model with whom the child can identify. God’s plan and design for the family is to bring up children with a loving mother and a loving father and we simply cannot improve on God’s plan. Furthermore, when parents are living out of harmony with God’s will and plan, their children can and usually suffer the natural consequences of parent’s unresolved sins and issues. As God’s Word, the Bible, says, “The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.”⁴

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to know and understand your will and plan for marriage, for the family, and for the lives of my children. Please help me to live in harmony with your plan so that I will be able to model for my children the kind of persons you want them to be. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Romans 1:26-27 (NIV).

2. Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23.

3. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NLT).

4. Numbers 14:18 (NLT).

*For help for homosexuals…. See Exodus International at: http://exodusinternational.org/. See also Chuck Colson’s article, “When a Dog Says Moo” at: http://www.breakpoint.org/commentaries/2851-when-a-dog-says-moo.

Here Jesus is confirming that tithing is still as valid in New Testament times as it was in Old Testament days.

“For a number of years, The Barna Group (research specialists) has been following the practice of ‘tithing,’ which is donating at least ten percent of one’s income. While Christians dispute whether tithing refers to giving the entire ten percent to churches or whether that sum may include money donated to churches and other non-profit entities, the survey data reveal that no matter how it is defined, very few Americans tithed in 2004. Only 4% gave such an amount to churches alone; just 6% gave to either churches or to a combination of churches and para church ministries.”²

If every Christian tithed his or her income and “invested” it wisely in God’s work, all of God’s work on earth would be done. In addition to new churches being established, the starving would be fed, the cold would be dressed warmly, the oppressed would be cared for, the homeless would be sheltered, orphans would be nurtured, and every person on earth would be presented with the gospel. All of these things are a vital part of God’s will being “done on earth.”³

And how does God say (not suggest) his work on earth should be financed? By every Christian giving at least a tithe of his or her income and donating it for God’s work—for God’s work, that is, not for building religious empires or to churches or religious organizations that do not faithfully proclaim the whole counsel and/or Word of God.

Think of it. Only six out of every 100 Christians—American Christians that is—tithed their income to help with God’s work on earth. That’s only 60 out of every 1,000. Certainly many families are struggling, some people are out of work, and many single parents are scraping to get by, but not 940 out of every 1,000 Christians, and we are among the wealthiest people on earth. Unbelievable! Could this be one reason why we are experiencing such a moral decline and national decay?

Our pocketbook is an indicator of where our heart and priorities are,⁴ whether we are givers or takers, whether we acknowledge the fact that it is “God who gives the ability to produce wealth,”⁵ and whether we are grateful or otherwise for all that God has done for us, not the least of which being what Jesus did by coming to earth as a man to die on the cross in our place to give us a full and free pardon and a home in heaven for all eternity.

If you are not a tither, I urge you to become one today and start tithing with your very next paycheck. As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Also, what we give is a reflection of the depth of our gratitude for all the incredible blessings we receive and have received from God.

Remember, too, that when tithing to further God’s work on earth, there is a promise of blessing from God. His Word says, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”⁶

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in gratitude for all you have done for me in giving your very life to save me for all eternity, I make a commitment today that as long as I am earning an income, I will tithe at least ten percent of all that I make—starting this week. Please direct me to place my tithe and offerings in ministry/ies that are truly doing your work on earth. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 23:23 (NIV).

2. The Barna Update, April 24, 2005. www.barna.org.

3. See James 1:27.

4. Matthew 6:20-21.

5. Deuteronomy 8:18.

6. Malachi 3:10 (NLT).

Old habits and old beliefs die hard. For centuries people believed Aristotle’s opinion that the heavier an object was, the faster it would fall to earth.

According to a report I read, in 1589 Galileo challenged Aristotle’s teaching. He invited learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Galileo went to the top of the tower and pushed off a ten-pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant, but the professors still wouldn’t believe what they saw. They insisted Aristotle was right.

Once again, here is another case of people believing what they want to believe. It’s like the old saying, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind’s made up.”

Some of us avoid facing facts because they’re too threatening. Others of us don’t face reality because it’s not in sync with our feelings. I’m a great believer in acknowledging feelings but I can’t always trust my interpretation of them. There are times I just need to face the facts, grit my teeth, and do what the Bible says I should or shouldn’t do regardless of my feelings. It is much wiser to trust God’s Word rather than my feelings.

How foolish it would be to be driving on a highway and disregard a major warning “danger ahead” sign because we don’t feel the sign is correct. Maturity recognizes one’s feelings, checks them out for reality, and doesn’t allow them to control him or her. When it comes to life, if our feelings don’t harmonize with God’s Word, we’d better follow God’s Word rather than make our feelings the voice of authority, which can be a very dangerous path to follow, especially when it comes to eternal life and eternal values.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to always be aware of my feelings, acknowledge and accept them, express them appropriately whenever necessary, but never allow them to control me blindly. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 (TLB)(NLT).

Cindy traveled across America and in Australia with the Youth Aflame Singers. In one home where she stayed there was a boy of about seven or eight. When Cindy saw him reading a Bible with large print and holding it close to his eyes, she asked, “Are you okay, Jamie?”

“I sure am,” Jamie replied confidentially even though he was going blind. “God says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.’ And even though I am losing my sight, I know that God will always direct my paths because I trust in him.”

Trusting God in the light where you can see where you are going is certainly easier than trusting God in the dark.

When in the dark I always pray, “God, I’m afraid. I can’t see what lies ahead, but I commit and trust my life and way to you. No matter how dark the night, I pray that I will also have child-like faith and trust in you.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, no matter what, I choose to always trust in you. Please help my feelings to catch up with my choice to trust in you so that my faith will always be much stronger than, and overcome, all of my fear/s. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 56:11 (NIV).

What could a tiny lizard possibly teach us? It teaches the rewards of persistence which “takes it to the top.”

Another has said, “The race is not always to the swift but to those who keep on running.” Among other things, fulfilling God’s will for our lives means reaching our total God-given human and spiritual potential. We don’t have to be geniuses to do this, but we do need to be persistent and keep on keeping on regardless of our circumstances.

The Apostle Paul experienced all sorts of trials and setbacks. He was shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, whipped and beaten, and thrown into prison for promoting Christianity. He knew firsthand what it was to experience loneliness, cold and hunger. The interesting thing about this is that Paul penned some of his great letters to the churches while in prison, as did John Bunyan as he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress when he was in prison.

I listened to a preacher some time ago, a preacher who had cerebral palsy and struggled with every word he spoke. I was deeply moved. God used this man to influence hundreds of lives for all eternity. If ever I saw persistence it was in this man. In spite of his debilitating handicap, he reached his top and was maximizing his full potential.

God has a plan and life-purpose for each of us, too. To achieve it, it won’t happen without dedication, commitment, hard work, and persistence. As Paul said, “It is God himself in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work … and so we never give up.”²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in the midst of setbacks and the disappointments of life, please give me the gift of persistence so that I will never give up the goal of becoming all that you want me to be, and to keep on doing what you want me to do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 30:28 (NIV).

2. 2 Corinthians 4:1 (TLB)(NLT).

In younger days I trained in Australia’s National Service in the Engineer Corps. When constructing bridges over rivers we would use large folding boats that were manned by six oarsmen and one helmsman. When the oarsmen pulled together in harmony we moved along very well. However, it took only one oarsman to be out of sync and our boat would get off course immediately. Until we learned to work in unison there were times we went in circles and a time or two we ran into another boat or into the river bank. With practice we eventually learned to pull together and work as a team. Only then did we get the job done.

Even if stronger people have to slow down a little (which can be difficult for some) to allow weaker ones to keep up, pulling together as a team at home, work and play makes life much more fulfilling and harmonious. It also gets you to where you want to go. Without this we spend lots of energy going in circles.

Working together in harmony and unity is a very valuable lesson we learn from locusts.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a team player at home, at work and at play, and especially in the work you have for me to do as a part of what you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 30:27 (NIV).