John Gunter

Thoughts on Life and Living

7 reasons I need (and want) to read the Bible daily. . . PART 2

by

This post is the second part of 7 reasons I need and want to read the Bible daily.  If you have not read it, please CLICK HERE to do so.

Thoughts on reading the Bible. . .
My Bible. . .

Continuing on. . .

4 – Relational aspect of our faith

It’s been said many times, but I STILL need to remember and embrace this reality often.  Christianity is a relationship with a personal God.  It is not a religion to be adhered to.  The Bible really is God’s written communication to us His children.  We fellowship with Him through this written “love letter” to us, His beloved children.

When I neglect a regular, consistent, rich lifestyle of digging into the Bible, I really do [Read more…]

7 reasons I need (and want) to read the Bible daily

by

This article is a follow-up from “I was nearly crushed by a car today…and 2 life principles observed“.

At an orphanage three years ago. . . only in the Bible do we find hope for situations such as this.
At an orphanage three years ago. . . only in the Bible do we find hope for situations such as this.

‎I’ll be honest; I’ve been abnormally stressed the past few weeks. Not proud of this, but it is true.

For one, I always get uneasy living in Asia in the spring when people are inevitably leaving here. Another reason is there has been an unusual amount of activity in my life. Mostly good stuff (with the exception of Tracy’s sickness), but just lots and lots of stuff that I have needed to do, people I have hosted, meetings I have attended, classes I have taken. On top of this, I am moving to yet another apartment this week.

The accumulation of all of this “stuff” has left me tired, haggard, emotionally depleted, and a bit discouraged. I brought all of this to a local coffee house this morning.

[Read more…]

Praying for my friend, Tracey. . . as her journey continues

by

If you have not read my post, Let me tell you about my friend, Tracey. . . and her current journey, you might want to do so now.

Tracey and Craig Clarke taken this year from their home.
Tracey and Craig Clarke taken this year from their home.

I’m currently sitting in the corner chair of the Starbucks closest to my apartment. I have an appointment here in a few hours, but came early to have a place to simply sort out life and pray. I’m pensive and contemplative. Mostly, I am just hurting.

I awoke to a text from dear friend and brother in Christ and life, Craig Clarke. See the actual message on the right.

[Read more…]

Mothers, continuity, and the immutability of God

by

My entire family at Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary last summer
My entire family at Mom and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary last summer

This morning, I work up, got on my motorcycle and drove to McDonald’s for a McMuffin. This is actually what I do EVERY Sunday, at least the ones in which I am in town. I come here (I’m currently typing this in the corner of McDonald’s while beyond cheesy Chinese pop music plays in the background), read the Bible, journal some, catch up on the week’s news (mainly on ESPN.com), pray, blog, and generally just decompress. It really is one of the highlights of each week.

Continuity is a wonderful thing. For me while living in a country which is growing and changing at a breakneck speed, in a working environment where the people around me are constantly shifting, this little bit of continuity of Sundays being “me and God time” has kept me afloat.

It has looked different over the past ten years, as I have shifted cities and work situations several times. At times it has been open park benches and at others it has been tea houses. Since December here, it has been McDonald’s. However, every Sunday I try to get away and just do something similar to what I have just outlined.

As I think more about this subject of continuity, I see it all over the place.

In life, we all value continuity in relationships. [Read more…]

My two Asian earthquakes (and what I’ve learned)

by

Pics taken by a friend two days after the big earthquake.
Pics taken by a friend two days after the big earthquake.

“Get back in the car and drive off of the bridge!!!” These words broke the chaotic, rancorous silence as I anxiously shouted in the local language at our terrified cab driver. My world was in the process of crashing down. . . literally.

It was May 12, 2008 at 2:28pm. My good friend, Paul Quiros, was with me. I had been working with him all week in investigating the possibility of his law firm opening up a practice somewhere in this country. Our second leg of the journey landed us in the middle of a bridge, seemingly at the end of the world for most people in my life in America.

As we drove and talked and prepared for our next meeting, the bridge underneath us abruptly began moving. When I say moving, slamming back and forth is more like it. It was a packed road. There were buses and trucks and cars back to back as far as the eye could see.

EVERYONE panicked in abject fear, abandoned their vehicles, and ran. No one really knew where they were running, but frantically run they did. Paul had the presence of mind to yell that we had a better chance of survival by staying in the car and getting off the bridge than we did running.

I screamed at our driver to get back in the car and drive. His eyes were literally [Read more…]

Subscribe to Blog by Email

Follow Me