Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.18.11 in Devotional, Theology
My good friend Phil Newton has been preaching through 2 Timothy. This week he came to one of the best-known verses in the book: “I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12). He applied the truth to the issue of believers dou…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.16.11 in Devotional
“Did you know that Christ hates religion? Religion is orthodoxy gone dry and stale. Religion is worship turned into entertainment. Religion is being busy but going through the motions. Religion is when you believe all the right stuff on the surface, but you’re really leading a double life. You’ve got your life at church and then y…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.14.11 in Devotional
“We need a bigger miracle."That’s what a friend said regarding a bad situation that had suddenly turned worse. It’s tough enough when you need a miracle in the first place, but what do you do when you need a bigger miracle?Ask for one. By definition a miracle is something you can’t do yourself. You were already a…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.11.11 in Devotional, Questions
From the question box:If a believer continues to struggle with any sin after confessing it to God and asking for deliverance, does that mean he was never saved?The answer is no. Struggle with sin is the common experience of Christians everywhere. James 3:2 says, “We all stumble in many ways.” Romans 7:23 speaks of a “war&rdq…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 9.21.11 in Devotional
After the service last night several of us went out to eat. During the meal Pastor H. B. Charles, Jr. shared the story about a man named John Kavanaugh who went to India to spend some time serving in Calcutta with Mother Teresa. The trip came at a turning point in his life when he was seeking God’s direction for the future. It seems that when…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 9.17.11 in Current Events, Devotional, Marriage and the Family, Personal
Recently Pat Robertson made news when he declared that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s is justifiable because it is “a kind of death.” The simplest thing I can say is that he didn’t get that teaching from the Bible. The very concept of Christian marriage rests upon a vow to be faithful “in sickness and in health.&r…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 9.5.11 in An Anchor for the Soul, Chicago, Churches, Devotional, Evangelism, Keep Believing Ministries, Personal
“I stole soap from Walgreen’s so I could wash myself at a fire hydrant.""I lived in my car near Humboldt Park until I was arrested.""I don’t remember much about my 20s because I was on drugs the whole time."When the police arrested him, he was put in jail for 30 days. Sometime during that period he fo…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 9.4.11 in Devotional
I received a note that read something like this: When I am facing a big decision, should I: A) Step out in faith,B) Wait for God to open the door,C) Use the wisdom God has given me to make a good decision?The answer of course is yes!Sometimes we must be like Abraham, who left Ur of the Chaldees not knowing where he was goin…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 8.31.11 in Devotional
I talked with a man who was fired from his job in a public and painful way. This is what he said he learned from it.1. The only answer to bitterness is forgiveness. Not surprisingly, the man felt like the firing had not been handled well. I say “not surprisingly” because firings are rarely handled well, especially from the standpoint of…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 8.21.11 in Church Trends, Devotional, Pastors, Word of Life
“May the past be a rudder, not an anchor."That’s what Joe Jordan said to Don Lough, Jr. as Don became the new Executive Director of Word of Life last Friday night.It was an apt metaphor.Leaders in every organization struggle to find the right balance between holding on to the past while moving into the future.Not long ago I heard …
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