Tag Archives: kindness

Free Will: Myth or Reality?

Posted on March 9, 2019 by Douglas Abbott

Sooner or later, every thinking Christian must attempt to reconcile the dilemma — a sovereign, omnipotent Creator who governs a universe filled with free creatures. If God maintains control over the affairs of men, are we truly free? It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arminianism, Calvinism, choice, choose, Christ, determinism, election, free will, gentleness, God, God's sovereignty, goodness, human freedom, Jesus, kindness, love, molinism, patience, relationship | 2 Comments

A Thanksgiving Tale

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Douglas Abbott

I once ate nothing but rice for three days. It wasn’t a diet or a fast; I was broke. I had managed my money poorly during the previous weeks, and work was scarce to begin with. Finally, I got up … Continue reading →

Posted in Giving, Uncategorized | Tagged charity, clothing, feed, food, generosity, giving, God, help, homeless, hungry, Jesus, kindness, love, mercy, ministry, Mother Lawrence, shelter, spiritual food | 2 Comments

Christians, Please Proceed With Caution

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Douglas Abbott

I have been feeling some misgivings lately about my sometimes aggressive discussion of cultural hot-button issues. This was actually pointed out to me by one of my most faithful readers. Am I grateful? Yes. But rather than ceasing to discuss … Continue reading →

Posted in Love | Tagged abortion, art, biblical, compassion, culture wars, debate, education, Evangelicalism, family, gentleness, homosexuality, humility, kindness, law, love, morality, political correctness, Progressive Christians, the Bible | 4 Comments

The Kindness of God

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Douglas Abbott

A close friend sent me an article that posed the question: Does our sin prevent the Holy Spirit from moving in our lives? The question is a difficult one. The answer is bound to lie somewhere between two cultural extremes.

Posted in Kindness | Tagged anger, anxiety, choices, fear, God, grace, happiness, Holy Spirit, Jesus, joy, kindness, legalism, license, love, lovingkindness, peace, repentance, rest, right, sin, tend, work, worry, wrong | 2 Comments

The Hotel McCutcheon

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Douglas Abbott

It has taken a long time for me to write this story. For many months, ever since my sister, Erica, died, I have made half a dozen false starts. More than once, I got several paragraphs down only to lose … Continue reading →

Posted in Kindness | Tagged bereavement, camaraderie, death, fellowship, food, friendship, fun, generosity, grace, Grief, hospice, hospitality, hotel, kindness, lodging, loss, mourning, passing, wake | 4 Comments

A Pointed Reminder

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Douglas Abbott

I just got corrected by God. It wasn’t a harsh correction. To the contrary, my own conscience supplied all the bite. A member of my family came forward to apologize for hurtful things he has done and said. I admit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith | Tagged anger, apology, blood promise, charity, commitment, contempt, contrition, faith, faithful, Father, forgiveness, gentleness, grace, grieve, Holy Spirit, hope, hostility, indifference, invalidation, kindness, love, patience, secure, tears | 2 Comments

Doomsday Gospel

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Douglas Abbott

“Westboro Baptist Church targets Taylor Swift,” the headline read. The article had a flavor of outrage, and rightly so. Fred Phelps, WBC’s leader and tireless purveyor of damnation, is at it again. This time, as chronicled by Pop Spy’s Jennifer O’Dell, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity in Politics | Tagged condemnation, damnation, debauchery, decadence, evil, forgiveness, fornication, Fred Phelps, God, Gospel, grace, heathen, immorality, Jesus, kindness, love, lust, mercy, patience, politics, press, promiscuity, sexual immorality, sin, Westboro Baptist Church | 2 Comments

Land of the Morning Calm

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Douglas Abbott

Peter joined the U.S. Army in 1981. He had studied Taekwondo extensively for years, so when the time came to discuss his deployment, he asked to be stationed in Korea where the discipline of Taekwondo had been developed during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, Giving, Kindness | Tagged benevolence, cold, culture, exhausted, famished, friendship, giving, hardship, hostility, hungry, kindness, love, mercy, misconceptions, prejudice, racism, soldiers, tired, war, wet | 4 Comments

Jesus Loves the Homeless

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Douglas Abbott

“I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are very wise and very beautiful, but I never read in either of them, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.” –St. Augustine I am truly blessed. … Continue reading →

Posted in Giving, Gratitude, Ministry | Tagged alcoholics, clothing, compassion, destitute, drug addicts, feed, food, generosity, giving, grace, homeless, impoverished, indigent, kindness, love, outreach, shelter, street people, vagrants | 8 Comments

Relational Power Tools

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Douglas Abbott

I love it when someone commits an offense against me. I’m not being facetious. I was pedaling my Gary Fisher in the rain this morning when it hit me: interpersonal offenses are opportune moments in a relationship.

Posted in Forgiveness, Friendship, Grace, Kindness, Love, Trust | Tagged altruism, connection, cynicism, distrust, forbearance, forgiveness, friends, friendship, goodwill, grace, human, humanity, kindness, love, mistrust, nobility, patience, relations, relationships, suspicion, trust | 2 Comments