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FaithTalk Web Radio
 Insight for Living  -  Chuck Swindoll
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LISTEN TO TODAY'S BROADCAST
God's Light and Our Blight -- Part 3
Friday, November 20, 2009
Other biblical writings tell us a lot about what God does, but 1 John focuses on who God is. While others writers wrote of God's power, His work, His will, and His way. John went back again and again to who God is in His nature. In the opening sentence of this letter, John stated that God is life. God is the source of life, the One who originates life, who gives eternal life, and who made Himself known as "the Word of Life" (1 John 1:1). While exulting in the memory of having seen Jesus, heard Him, and touched Him, the aged apostle stated that it's this One whom "we proclaim to you" (1:3). All of that prompted John to announce the message he wanted his readers to know - that God is light. That descriptive term represents, vertically, the truth and the purity of God in heaven. And John also addressed a practical or horizontal dimension regarding God's light. It plays a crucial role in distinguishing genuine faith from counterfeit claims made by people on earth.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
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ARTICLE ARCHIVES
The Devil Made Me Do It?
In this age of entitlement, personal responsibility isn't often discussed. Neither is the concept of sin. But just how many of our wrong choices can we blame on outside forces and influences? In this hard-hitting, convicting article, we are reminded to humbly acknowledge our own sins so we can learn to resist them, while also experiencing the cleansing from them that we have received through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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Amazing Grace on Display
The word grace means many things to many people.

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Spiritual Leadership
Citing Moses's, Peter's, and David's ragtag followers as examples, Chuck Swindoll reminds us that the people God uses in significant ways don't always fit the world's mold of a natural-born leader. When a leader's heart belongs to God and he or she is allowing the Holy Spirit to work through him or her, personal eccentricities and weaknesses cease to matter; this leader will be able to accomplish the ministry God has set before him or her. That should be good news to all of us!

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A Sheltering Tree
There is a pattern found in Scripture of how God chooses to minister to His servants when they get beaten down by opposition. His method can be described in a word: friendship. Chuck Swindoll gives several accounts of how God provided human relationships to keep people from giving up at their lowest points. We all need to find that kind of support in our lives and be willing to provide it to close friends when they need a place of rest and acceptance.

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What to Do When A Leader Falls
This article addresses the sad, unfortunate situation when a Christian leader is willingly violating God's standards without a repentant heart. It outlines how, when, and why to discipline the offender and thus helps you to go beyond the conflicting emotions involved. The apostle Paul gave some specific directions on this topic so that the sacredness of God's ministry and His calling could be protected.

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Creating a Legacy of Forgiveness: Cancel the Debt
Chuck Swindoll clarifies in this article what true forgiveness must involve to be complete and in obedience to God's Word. We can't be expected to erase our memories of offenses against us, but we can and must make the willful choice not to hold a grievance over another's head and hold him or her captive to the debt owed us.

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Ragged-Edge Faith and Reckless Generosity
Chuck Swindoll reflects on the strong faith of his older brother, Orville, and on Orville's ability to trust in Jesus to meet the needs of his family. We live in a materialistic society, where our security seems to come from what we own and have stashed away. Chuck suggests that whether we have abundance or are seeing lean times, our security must come only from God and His promise to provide for all of our needs. Only then can we be truly generous.

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Tightwads
Using a rather extreme example, Chuck Swindoll illustrates the pointlessness of being stingy with our wealth and possessions in this life. He asserts that whoever is reluctant to part with some of his or her assets is also one who doesn't dare to dream big dreams or attempt great things for God. This article challenges us to evaluate our generosity and our vision of what God can accomplish through our faith.

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Everything Is Under Control
At the heart of life's major struggles is a theological issue.

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God Knows Your Ways
"God has the whole world in His hands." Remember the old gospel song?

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It's Not About You
Drawing from the apostle Paul's example of how he accepted his own weaknesses and hardships, Chuck Swindoll reminds us of what we often don't want to hear: our life on earth is for the purpose of making us more like Christ. Unfortunately, nothing does that better than the trials and pains we suffer. But if we, like Paul, can keep our eyes on the ultimate goal of letting God work through us, we'll learn to accept joyfully whatever God brings us and not seek the easy, pain-free life instead.

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God Is Faithful
Why did God propel the young girl named Esther to the position where she alone could influence the fate of the Jewish people? Chuck Swindoll suggests that it's because God knew Esther had a teachable heart and a humble and obedient spirit. He knew she would not be swayed by the trappings and all the temptations of kingdom life but would remain grounded in the teachings and faith that Mordecai had modeled to her. How would you do today if God tested you? Would you have a teachable spirit as Esther did?

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The Problem With Prayer
Most of us have struggled at times with our prayer life and with understanding how and when God answers prayer. This article gives a unique and valuable perspective to keep in mind when we aren't seeing the results we'd like from our times of prayer. The three suggestions made here may help you pinpoint any errors you may have in your own thinking when it comes to prayer.

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Songless Saints
I was on a scriptural safari. Prowling through the Ephesian letter, I was tracking an elusive, totally unrelated verse when God's sharp sword flashed, suddenly slicing me to the core.

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Despite Your Circumstances
Few people in the first century had a deeper understanding of God's grace than the apostle Paul.

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Marital Grace
Through confessing an area of weakness in his own life and marriage, Chuck explains the necessity of allowing grace into your marriage relationship by trusting your spouse and setting him or her free. Jealous, controlling thoughts and behavior that merely reflect one's own fears and insecurities will smother and stifle your spouse and, therefore, your marriage.

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Unique Techniques: A Lesson From the Life of David
Just as in David's day, we tend to evaluate people based too much on the external characteristics we can see: appearance, stature, poise, demeanor. Chuck Swindoll reminds us that it's the size and quality of our faith that makes us great in God's eyes. When we remember this, we don't have to try to fit into others' molds or define ourselves by their expectations.

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Anniversaries
This is a reflective article Chuck wrote after celebrating his fiftieth anniversary with his wife, Cynthia. He reminisces on the many shared experiences over the years, the joys and the hardships they both endured, and the transitions they faced as they both learned and developed as people and as Christians.

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Unquenchable Hope
Throughout his more than forty years as a pastor, Chuck Swindoll has seen many believers who have started out strong in their faith but who have been beaten down over time through difficult circumstances and life events that didn't turn out as expected. Using Scripture, he reminds us of how the promises in the Bible are not just for the future but of great benefit to us right here in the present.

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Creativity and Tenacity
On May 24, 1965, a thirteen-and-a-half-foot boat slipped quietly out of the marina at Falmouth, Massachusetts. Its destination? England.

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It Takes Courage
Deep within, we imagine ourselves as a mixture of Patrick Henry, Davy Crockett, John Wayne, and the prophet Daniel!

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The Joys of Generosity
In this article, Chuck Swindoll makes a strong correlation between godly contentment and joyful generosity. He describes four benefits that will result for a person who can remember that God is the author of divine resources and gives generous gifts to His children.

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Christmas All Year Long
Have you ever thought about giving something away every day of the year leading up to Christmas?

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Peace That Exceeds Understanding
Is it possible to have peace and calmness when the events all around you are telling you that you can't? Chuck Swindoll states that the way to this peace - shalom - is through a simple but complete trust in God's promises of support. That's why the world cannot understand this kind of inexplicable peace. It can't be manufactured apart from a willingness to release our cares into God's loving care.

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Commence Prayer
This actually happened years ago.

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Jesus Has A Question for You
Chuck Swindoll recalls the scene in Scripture where Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" After reporting to Him what other people around them were saying, it was their turn to state just who they believed Him to be. Peter passed the test with flying colors by recognizing Jesus as the Son of God. Who do you say that He is? Your answer will change your life and define your future.

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Think Theologically, Not Logically
Sometimes life hits us so hard that we begin to doubt all we've learned about God and the Bible. Our circumstances loom large and crowd out our view of anything else. At those times, this is a very practical and helpful article to read. Chuck Swindoll encourages us to remain hopeful by relying on our all-powerful, loving, and never-changing God.

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The Biblical Basis for Encouragement
Chuck Swindoll centers on some much-quoted verses in Scripture that are, nevertheless, often too infrequently applied. He says that the need for Christians to fellowship together in an atmosphere of acceptance and empowerment has never been greater. The times we live in are growing more and more hostile to those who wish to stand firm for holiness. So we need to be careful not to add to that environment but to counter it with love and grace.

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Discovering the 'Missing Jewel' of the Church
Chuck Swindoll points out that the idea of worship has become too vaguely understood in the church today. Many liken worship to a particular style of music or teaching. Many think it has to do with a certain feeling. After recognizing these and other misconceptions, Chuck explains what worship really means and encourages us to focus on it more regularly.

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A Unique Spokesperson: A Lesson From the Life of Elijah
Chuck Swindoll sees the Old Testament character Elijah as an unlikely choice for the one to stand up to a king and speak out for biblical truth. But God chose him for his commitment and his heart for God in the face of evil. In the same way, God has an important calling today for anyone who is willing to stand alone for Him.

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Life Is Difficult: A Lesson From the Life of Job
Chuck Swindoll recalls all of the sudden losses Job experienced, within just a few days, through no fault of his own. Chuck challenges us to think of how we would respond after such unjust circumstances, when we then couldn't hear the voice of God through our turmoil.

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Buried Long Enough
Solomon once wrote: "He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out" (Proverbs 10:9).

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Back Door Blessing
I had lunch recently with a businessman who runs his own company. As we talked, the subject of wisdom kept popping up in our conversation. We were agreeing on the value of certain qualities that cannot be learned in school - things like intuition, diligence, integrity, perception, consistency, loyalty - when he, again, mentioned wisdom.

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For Dads
I don't often recommend a volume without reservation, but I think every man should read Temptations Men Face by Tom Eisenman. ...

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Endangered Species
Remember when men were men? Remember when you could tell by looking? Remember when men knew who they were, liked how they were, and didn't want to be anything but what they were?

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The Greatest Influence
Several years ago, someone interviewed the contemporary artist Marc Chagall for a PBS program. The young, arty interviewer started the session with a question about influences.

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Mother's Day
If there's one attitude families are guilty of more than any other when it comes to mothers, it's presumption . . . taking them for granted . . . being nearly blind on occasion to the load moms carry.

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The Final War
For the next few minutes, imagine this scene:

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An Invitation To Touch the Skin of Infinite God
Childbirth is something no man can completely appreciate.

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The Cemetery Evangelist
When I was growing up in Houston, our family lived across the street from a man and woman who had married later in life.

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Giving and Living the Gospel
One of the most effective evangelists I have ever known was a fellow who ran a service station on Arlington Avenue just outside Boston.

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Not Forgotten: A Lesson From the Life of Esther
God's presence is not as intriguing as His absence. His voice is not as eloquent as His silence.

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Becoming A Man Or A Woman After God's Own Heart
When God scans the earth for potential leaders, He is not on a search for angels in the flesh.

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Solitude: A Vital Factor In Growing Closer To God
I often smile when I read the Gospel of Mark. He loved the word "immediately." It appears again and again.

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How to Waste Your Time This Year
With the dawning of a new year comes a deluge of resolutions, reminders, and exhortations.

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The Gift For the Person Who Has Everything
In our pocket of society where pampered affluence is rampant, we are often at a loss to know what kind of gifts to buy our friends and loved ones on special occasions.

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A Reflection of Christ: A Lesson From the Life of Joseph
Joseph's life offers us a magnificent portrayal of the grace of God as He came to our rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus.

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Why We Have Confidence in the Bible
What is your final authority in life?

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Scriptural Support for Christ's Return
These facts from biblical prophecy about Christ's return may surprise you.

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A Battle For Integrity
I must tell you that I have been troubled regarding the face of things in our country and within the family of God. My major battle has had to do with one word, one concept. My battle has to do with integrity.

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At the Threshold Of An Open Door
When I was growing up, I never knew cursing, drinking, divorce, or what people commonly call "the wild life." And believe it or not, at the time I didn't know the rest of the world was any different.

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The Winsome Witness
I remember a fun 'n' games night around the supper table in our house. It was wild. First of all, one of the kids snickered during the prayer (which isn't that unusual) and that tipped the first domino.

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Discover A Friend Worth Following:
Know That Jesus is Your Friend Indeed

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Insight for Living
MINISTRY DETAILS
Insight for Living is the Bible-teaching radio ministry of author and pastor Charles R. Swindoll. Insight for Living is committed to excellence in communicating biblical truth and its application.

HOST BIOGRAPHY
Insight for Living's Bible teacher, Chuck Swindoll, has devoted his life to the clear, practical, application of God's Word and the communication of God's grace. A pastor at heart, Chuck...
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