MSI Press Blog

  Excerpt from  God Speaks into Darkness PREFACE We learn so much about ourselves in times like these, do we not? How are you coping with the incredible tragedy of the coronavirus? Has it stretched your faith or weakened it or shattered it? Hopefully, you and your family are well. You’ve likely heard the adage, “These are the times that try men’s souls.”  I trust it has prompted you to dig down deeper into the bedrock of your faith and draw closer to God. Also, as believers, this is a rare opportunity reach out to befriend others and speak encouragement and hope into troubled hearts. Tragedy is opening many doors. For centuries, people have found wellsprings of encouragement in the Psalms . These brief meditations inspired by the Psalms also include some of the teachings of Jesus on the same topics. The scriptures used have been paraphrased into language more common to today’s readers. My prayer is that they will be a source of inspiration to you in these challengi...

  What is a  book jewel ? A sometimes-overlooked book with remarkable insight and potential significance. Each month, we share near-daily, or as often as possible, reviews of the monthly book jewel - short, succinct reviews that can be read in 1-2 minutes with links to the reviewer by reviewers whose words are worthy of being heard and whose opinions are worthy of being considered. Sometimes a couple of minutes contains more impressive thought than ten times that many. We will let you decide that. This month's book jewel is  Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra  by J. Bennett Easterling.  Description: A heaping slice of old-fashioned Southern storytelling, this book gives readers a taste of genuine American life that will keep them coming back for more. Join the journey as a preacher's kid survives his father's stern discipline, rattlesnakes, and harvesting okra. The deep-fried characters are unforgettable, and the furry and feathered folks will steal the heart of ani...

Excerpt from God Speaks into Darkness   Your Tears Matter in Heaven Inspired by Psalm 126 My wife Dot keeps in her Bible a gold-embossed bookmark with these words, “ All the beauty in the world is in your smile. ” As we do our daily devotions, I like to pull that little reminder out and show it to her. It always brings the response I’m looking for—her wonderful warm and loving smile. The only thing that moves me more is her tears. It breaks my heart to see her cry—all the more so if I have caused it by some thoughtless word. Can you relate to this? Those you love are the very ones who can wound you the deepest—and you can do the same to them. In a word, tears of those we love matter. Likewise, we break God’s tender heart when we ignore or reject him: “High on the windswept mountains, I hear voices crying, crying. It is my children who have turned their backs on me. They have wandered far away and become lost. They are disoriented and destitute. O my rebellious children, c...