James Pence

How God is Faithful Through Loss and Adversity

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Lessons from My Heart Attack: Every Day is a Gift

Lessons from My Heart Attack: Every Day is a Gift  “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands;” — Psalm 31:14-15a, NIV On January 27th at around 5:00 a.m. I suffered a massive near-fatal heart attack. I have no memory of the heart attack that almost took my life. Indeed, I can’t recall anything from the entire previous day or for the following week. I’m told that I came about as close to death as it’s possible to come without dying. Humanly speaking, I shouldn’t even be here. Best-case scenario, I …

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COVID-19: A New Normal?

So, when does this all end so we can get back to normal? That’s the question that’s been on many minds lately. The question has crossed my mind, too, but it’s usually followed by another, more unsettling, question.  What if we aren’t going to get back to “normal?” What if we are experiencing a sea change, a dramatic, irreversible transformation in society and the way life is lived? Personally, I think that’s what’s happening. Although some are still optimistic that the virus and COVID-19 will all magically go away this summer, a lot of people in the know believe otherwise. …

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Two Things I’m Asking God for During the Pandemic…

But I trust in you, Lord;   I say, “You are my God.”15 My times are in your hands;(Psalm 31:14-15a NIV) New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. When I was on prison ministry staff with First Baptist Dallas, I commuted from Greenville, Texas, into downtown Dallas–60 miles each way. Although this was from 2005-2008, the Dallas freeways were still a challenging drive. Let’s say the drive did wonders for my prayer life. I knew that in a fraction of a second, my life could end on Interstate 30. All …

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One Lesson I’ve ReLearned in the Pandemic

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matt. 6:34, NIV). New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. When our daughter Michelle died, we received a lot of good advice on how to manage our grief. One comment we heard most frequently from people who had walked the road before us was, “Take it one day at a time.” That advice served us well. When you are facing a loss and the grief associated …

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Is Coronavirus a Sign of Christ’s Return?

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8)  New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. So, is the pandemic a sign that Christ is coming back soon? What follows is obviously just my opinion. You may disagree with me on this, but here’s what I think. Do I believe Jesus is coming back? Yes. Do I believe that all that’s going on with coronavirus is an indication that he’s about …

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