The NU Blog Page

Handling a crisis is an inevitable part of life’s journey, one that tests the very fabric of our faith and resilience. The Bible does not guarantee a leisurely life with Jesus. However, it assures us that we have a source of strength, courage, hope, and peace to rely on in times of crisis. Scripture can…

Prayers Inspired by Scripture Biblical prayers come in a variety pack scattered across sixty-six compositions. They fit many occasions and express an assortment of emotions. But rarely do modern public prayers exhibit the passion or echo the comprehensive sentiments displayed in biblical scripture. Today’s public prayers tend to share general thoughts, consist of near-repetitive content,…

During times of crisis and disruption, we often find ourselves in anguish and asking, “Why me?” We don’t understand why God would allow such a calamity to take place in our lives. I can only imagine what the survivors and families of those crushed by the recent condominium collapse in Florida are going through. They…

As we approach the New Year, there has been a recurring thought in my mind that may seem simple, yet it is a powerful truth; “New Year, Same God!” That brief statement reminds me of the beautiful scripture in Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” In writing to the Church…

Sharing our beliefs with others is commanded in the Great Commission by Jesus. Why I Believe Why do we sometimes find it difficult to tell others why Jesus is our Lord and Savior? Or why do we believe God inspired the Bible? If the scriptures are on trial in the public arena, we are not…

No one knows the face of God but the Son, Jesus.  He knew the Father and was highly energized.  People saw that and followed him.  It took only three words, “Come, follow me,” for them to leave their prior lives and follow him.  It was an overpowering experience to realize that God loves the world…

Wisdom is one of the most important themes of the Bible. There are even books of the Old Testament that are referred to as “Wisdom Literature.” (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, etc.) In the gospels, Luke says that after being found at the temple, the child Jesus “…grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God…

Prayer For a Hurting World Lord, You have promised us your presence. So many around the world feel the need for that presence now – for comfort, for strength, for the provision of life-sustaining resources, for a new home. Their energy is sapped. Their routines are disrupted by the horrors of the past and the…

We are called to give generously, and our attitude when giving is important to God. The text says Jesus “watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.” Jesus watched the worshipers in the Temple as they gave their offerings. And he watches us today as we give our time and our treasure. Our…

Near my home in East Texas, I once attended a spiritual retreat where one of the participation exercises revolved around pots. We were encouraged to do a “contemplative walk” around the grounds, where we would observe clay pots at three locations. Actually, they were large clay urns. We were to stop at each location and…