Why Does God Allow Tragedy and Suffering?
With the latest tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas come many questions, some our own and some from our friends. Â I ran across this helpful article by pastor and author Lee Strobel that may be of help to you or to those you are engaging who are trying to make sense out of such great sorrow in our world alongside the presence of a good God. Be steadfast. Â We are right to trust in the greater goodness of God even when the world seems to have gone mad all around us. Why Does God Allow Tragedy Ps. 23.4 Larry
Loving God and Neighbor on Tragic Days
I still remember where I was and what I was doing on that morning 16 years ago today. As my co-workers and I gathered around a television to see what was going on, we watched with a mix of confusion and horror as the second tower of the World Trade Center crumbled to the ground. The moments after that were a fog of bewilderment as we tried to make sense of what we were seeing. May we not forget that there are many today still trying to make sense of the events surrounding 9/11. No matter the tragedy, trying to
Hurricane Harvey – How to Help
We have just witnessed what might become the worst natural disaster in American history in Hurricane Harvey's devastation of parts of Texas and surrounding states. Rescue efforts continue as flooding has destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes and displaced the families that live in them. We live in an era where we can learn so much about the far away disaster and yet feel so helpless to offer relief. Here are a few ways to support those who are hurting and those who are helping. Give Southern Baptist relief was on its way before Hurricane Harvey made landfall. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) has
Work, Calling, Coffee and Strategic Weirdness …
This blog post is about our own Kyle Ramage, who often runs sound at NW during the morning services, and who also won the national barista competition this year! The interviewer is Nathaniel Williams, a former NWer, who is the pastor of Cedar Rock Baptist Church near Louisburg and who also manages the SEBTS blog, the intersect project, about faith, work and culture. Intersect: Where Faith Meets Culture Read Kyle's story and  be encouraged about your work and calling! Make People Wonder Why You're Weird Larry
Summer Lovinâ: Basics of Daily Devotions for Teens (and others!)
I L-O-V-E summer. Even though I am not in school anymore, summer still smells like freedom to me! Summer meant replacing my school books with the pool, the ocean, the rivers, and the woods of South Georgia! (We didnât have any of that âyear round schoolâ stuff back in the day!) My birthday is right in the middle of summer. (Watermelon and homemade ice cream anyone?!) During college, summers meant that my long-distance lady-friend (now wife) and I lived in the same town for a few weeks. Years later, we were married in summer⊠and our first child was born
Elder Update From Gene Woodall
The blog this week is from one of our elders, Gene Woodall.  Gene has been serving as an elder for several years now and is going to take a respite from actively serving as an elder for a season.  His encouraging, thoughtful, prayerful presence will be greatly missed by our team.  Your prayers for him and for all our elders are so greatly needed and appreciated! Thankful, Larry Dear North Wakers, Over the last several months, I have been praying about whether or not to stay active as an elder at NW. After a season of prayer, I feel led
Just the Facts Christianity
There is a catchphrase from 1950âs television that I have always related toâŠâJust the facts, maâam.â This was the phrase regularly uttered by Sgt. Joe Friday while conducting interviews during police investigations on the show Dragnet. As an ex-accountant whose left-brain is regularly in charge, I default to logic, analysis, structure and organization. So I can connect with a guy who helps people get straight to the facts. Just tell me the important information that I need to know so that I can be as productive as possible. After all, this is efficient and does not waste anyoneâs time. Well,
The Valley of Vision
Have you ever sat down to your devotional time with the Lord and wondered what to pray, or just started praying the same things, like, âDear God, thank you for today, thank you for my familyâŠâ You mean what you pray, but sometimes, your prayer time has become such a routine that you zone out, donât pay attention, and pray the same thing twice or even three times. The Valley of Vision is a book of puritan prayers that has become an amazing prompt for me. There are sections labeled things like âNeeds and Devotions,â âHoly Aspirations,â and âService and
Precious Remedies Against Satanâs Devices
Thomas Brooks wrote this really cool reference-devotional for people struggling with various plaguing thoughts and habits. In a way, it is a guide for self-counseling, which has been weird at times, but fun. When a dear friend gave it to me, I thought, âWhat a strange title,â but it has turned out to be one of the sweetest gifts ever. Some of the chapters are about âKeeping the soul from holy duties,â âKeeping the soul in a sad, doubting, uncomfortable state,â and âDrawing the soul to sin.â These chapters then include subsections like, âBy (Satanâs) causing [souls] to be still
Day-By-Day Readings to Walk with Jesus Leading Up to Easter
Here are some day-by-day readings to walk with Jesus each day this week leading up to Easter. The Final Days of Jesus Holy Week Daily Devotional: A daily devotional to lead you through the week leading up to Easter. For more resources, click HERE.
