Dede LaRock

                Is the Christian life primarily a matter of faith or a matter of works?  Which is more important – what we believe or what we do?                 If a woman believing an attractive appearance is a necessary part of life, that being beautiful is essential to her social salvation, then she’ll work at it.  She will spend her money on clothes and cosmetics.  She will read articles that offer all sorts of beauty hints.  She will exercise to keep her body in shape.  She will sit in front of a mirror and […]

                A little boy once asked if God made the alligators.  The standard and predictable answer was given, “Yes, son, God made everything.”  Then the little boy responded with one more question.  “Why did He make them so mean?”                 Life is fraught with mystery.  Everywhere the question, “Why?” raises its head.  Why war?  Why poverty? Why disease? Why earthquakes? Why floods? Why human suffering and heartbreak manifested in a thousand ways?  All of these are questions to which we do not have an answer.                 We seem to live by the clock.  […]

                A few years ago, a magazine published by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes carried a story called, “The Ultimate Protest.”  It was a parable of people’s protest against God.  In the story, a throng of humanity was gathered on a vast field.  There they were divided into little, grumbling, complaining groups.  The air was heavy with hostility.  Some of them were saying, “It must be wonderful to live like a God, to be in heaven where there isn’t any darkness or sin or suffering.  Since He lives there, and we live here, […]

                For most of us, we are accustomed to think of Jesus as One who walked triumphantly through life, undaunted by anything the world put in His path.  And this, of course, is true.  He did overcome the world and, as the letter to the Hebrews says, “has taken His seat at the right of the throne of God.”  But the scriptures also bring us back to earth with the reminder that there were some things which our Lord had to simply endure.  There were days, even in His life, when it became […]

                Some time ago, I heard the story of a young woman; I thought it would be appropriate to share it with you today.  Her husband was a cancer victim, so weak that he was almost paralyzed and bedridden.  She had three small school-aged children and one in her arms.  She worked to support her family.  After work she rushed home to cook, wash, scrub and care for her husband and children.  Surprisingly, she had a faint smile on her face all the time.  When asked how she was doing, she said, “It’s […]