In a 2005 article published in Ministries Today magazine, Eddie L. Hyatt remarked, “Shortly after enrolling as a student at Christ for the Nations Institute in 1973, Kenneth Copeland taught there for one week. During that week he made the emphatic statement, “I will never be sick.” About twenty years later, however, I heard Copeland speak to a small group of faculty and students at Oral Roberts University School of Theology and Missions. He shared honestly about a time of sickness he went through during which he thought he might die.”

Copeland’s experience is common among the word-faith movement. Richard Roberts once talked about a famous word-faith televangelist who checked himself into a Christian Hospital under an assumed name because he was afraid his illness may harm the faith of viewers. That’s hypocrisy! In an attempt to claim the promises of God for healing, they took upon themselves the responsibility for the healing rather than trusting in God. And God loves each of us enough to teach us the truth over time.

What are you learning about faith?

Tags: Copeland, faith, healing

Back in the middle 1960s I was part of an Explorer Post (a branch of the Boy Scouts for older boys). We made a summer trip to Region 7 Canoe Base in the backwoods of Wisconsin. We were doing a 50-mile canoe trip through the wilderness and had to carry all our provisions for the week with us. At one camp where we overnighted, we were camped at the top of a hill overlooking a pretty good sized fresh-water lake. The lake was pristine and refreshing because we had just struggled through about three miles of shallow marsh loaded with blood suckers. Everything was black by the time we got to the lake.

After cleaning up, we made camp. Believe it or not, there was an outhouse seat (yes, just a wooden box with a hole) sitting on the side of the open hill overlooking the lake. Of course, there were no other people on that remote lake, so we had privacy without having privacy. But I felt a little insecure sitting there.

Did you know it is normal to feel insecure while you know you are secure? That’s called walking by faith. My circumstances may be scarey, but faith tells me my position is in Christ and its going to be alright. How secure are you?

Tags: adventure, faith, security

A young Catholic girl was dating a boy who was not the least bit interested in church. Her mother was very alarmed so she demanded that her daughter do everything possible to win the fellow over to the faith.

After the first date, the mom said, “How did it go?”

“Very well,” said the daughter. “I persuaded him to go to mass all next month.”

After the next date the mother persisted, “How is it going?” The daughter said, “Better, I convinced him to join the catechism class.”

Several days later and the mother knew that wedding bells were about to ring. But she insisted that the young man first join the church and be baptized. To her surprise he consented.

Then the day of the wedding arrived and the daughter rushed out of the bridal room in tears. The mother said, “Dear, what’s the matter?” She replied, “I think we oversold him on the church. He decided to become a priest!”

What do you think, is it possible to take one’s faith too far?

Tags: Catholic, dating, faith, Romance

The story is told of a high-wire artist who was to perform in a small city. When he arrived, he secured the help of two young men. They set up the platforms and strung the wire tightly across the street – 100 feet high and with no net.

As people gathered, the high-wire artist began his act. First, he carried a long pole across the wire. He then exchanged it for a chair. He went back out to the center of the wire, placed the chair on it, and sat down. Then he got up and went across the wire and exchanged the chair for a wheelbarrow, taking it back across the wire. When he got to the platform he asked one of his young assistants, “Do you believe I can take this wheelbarrow across that wire without falling?”

The young fellow answered, “Of course. I just saw you do it.”"OK,” the man said, “get in.”

It is one thing to say we believe something and another thing to have faith that acts on our belief. We can believe mentally without believing with our faith.

Our final challenge in this Trials of Our Faith series is to Get In.

Tags: belief, faith, humor, trust

A letter written in a childish scrawl came to the post office addressed to “God”. A postal employee, not knowing exactly what to do with the letter, opened it and read: “Dear God, My name is Jimmy. I am six years old. My father is dead and my mother is having a hard time raising me and my sister. Would you please send us $500?”

The postal employee was touched. He showed the letter to his fellow workers and all decided to kick in a few dollars each and send it to the family. They were able to raise $300.

A couple of weeks later, they received a second letter. The boy thanked God, but ended with this request: “Next time would you please deliver the money directly to our home? If you send it through the post office, they deduct $200.”

Rather than chuckling over the boy’s misunderstanding, let’s admire his faith. Would we have responded in confidence like that boy?

Tags: Caring, faith, prayer

The Apostle Paul said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). But what does it mean to “believe”?

Suppose you got really sick and go to see the doctor. After a thorough examination, he says you’ve contracted a fatal disease, but medical science has discovered a cure. You may be convinced that he is the best physician available, that his diagnosis is accurate, and that the medication he prescribes is your only hope. But you do not take it. Does your “belief” save you? No.

You must take the medicine. If you just lie there believing and refuse to take the remedy, you will die! So it is with God’s offer of salvation. Let’s get up and be healed! “Faith without works in dead” (James 2:20).

Tags: faith, works