Captain Gustav Stearns was an army chaplain with the 127th Infantry of the U.S. Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. Wounded in battle, honored by General John Pershing for gallantry in action, in one day he buried 51 soldiers under shell-fire. He preached to over 4,000 wounded soldiers on one occasion, and was […]
“The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings” (Mal 4:2). How they’ll need that healing then! Obviously it’s valuable to read each psalm carefully before we consider what it means. As we peruse Psalm 80, we see a repeated chorus-prayer that shows the three main divisions. And like the rising sun, each time […]
CHRIST the RESCUER: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness…” (Col 1:13). C.I. Schofield, editor of the well-known reference Bible notes, was born into a God-fearing home, but his mother died while he was a baby. As a young man, he served during the U.S. Civil War, and then practiced law in St. […]
“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.…Lord, do not charge them with this sin’” (Acts 7:59-60). This statement of grace shown to Stephen’s persecutors may sound similar to what the Lord Jesus said at Calvary: “Father, forgive them…” But there is a clear difference. Christ’s […]
“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thess 2:4). In his book, Tales of Great Truths, G.A. Neilson tells of an incident when some unbelievers decided to send their best debater to argue […]
The preacher at her door had an amazing story to tell. Mere coincidence? Hardly. It was one chance in a kazillion. But there they were, face to tear-stained face, and he had a secret for her she had never even hoped could be true. But God loves happy endings. […]
“Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion…” (Ps 48:2). Not now, says Asaph! Where are you taking us now, Asaph? He is going directly to God. “O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; they have laid Jerusalem in heaps. The dead bodies of Your […]
CHRIST the REPRODUCER: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (Jn 12:24). As with Abram, the Lord blesses us that we may be the channel of His blessing to others (Gen 12:1-2). The Lord saves us and then enlists us […]
“Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted” (Ps 89:15-16). W.A. Cornaby writes: One sunny morning, after a spell of dismal weather, a little girl of six came running […]