Last week my friend and preaching colleague, Wilson Adams, shared a Facebook post that no doubt resonates with many people—including many Christians.
Consider Wilson’s words in light of Scripture and a few pertinent observations.
Sunday Scaries—or Sunday Peace?”
Have you ever experienced the “Sunday Scaries”?
No, it’s not the fear of the preacher preaching too long.
If you’ve never heard of the “Sunday Scaries,” you’re not alone. I just learned about it the other day on an in-depth segment on The Today Show. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Sunday
Psalm 147–The God Who Counts The Stars
Jeff Strite tells the story of a farmer in a country restaurant who bowed his head in prayer before eating his breakfast.
Two young fellas at the next table thought it was odd and quietly made fun of him as he prayed. When the farmer finished his prayer, they chided: “Hey, old man, does everybody out on the farm pray over their meals?” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder, Psalms
Religious Entitlement
“When you talk about what we deserve, that rings of entitlement. It’s a big ask, and I know we have nothing coming,” said inmate Jessie Milo, who’s serving three life sentences for attempted murder.
Christianity Today reported on Milo’s story, recorded on YouTube during a frank discussion between prisoners and correctional officers.
The group debated a difficult topic: Does everyone in prison deserve a second chance regardless of the crime they committed? Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
Love Always Hopes
In his Daily Study Bible series, William Barclay recounts a story about the Irish Bible commentator Adam Clarke.
As Barclay tells it, Clarke struggled in school as a boy. One day, a distinguished guest visited, and the teacher singled out Adam, saying, “That is the stupidest boy in the school.” Continue reading
Filed under Love More. Give More
Weekly Recap: October 5-9
Greetings from rainy Beverly Hills, FL
If you are following the weather, you know Florida experienced its first hurricane of the season, Isaias, which made landfall last night near Destin, FL, as a CAT 2 hurricane, around 8:30 p.m. While we’re thankful that all we’ve had this week on the Nature Coast is rain, we pray for the safety of our friends and fellow citizens in the Panhandle.
Also, some of our congregation members work for the power company and have been dispatched to help restore power in that area. We’re thinking of them and praying for their safety as they do this difficult work.
Filed under Weekly Recap
Examine Yourself
My Facebook friend and sister in Christ, Jackie Owens Bennett, recently shared a short post prompting some food for thought for today’s Facebook Friday.
Here’s the post, followed by some appropriate Bible passages and a few comments. Continue reading
Filed under facebook friday
Capital Punishment: A Biblical Perspective
Christa Pike, the Tennessee woman who survived a botched execution, has regained consciousness and is speaking, according to her attorneys. They have called her recovery “medically unprecedented.”
Pike was convicted in 1996 of luring a classmate into a wooded area near Knoxville in 1995 and then torturing and brutally murdering her. She was sentenced to death, but has been on death row for the past 30 years. Continue reading
Filed under Culture, Discipleship
1 Peter 1:13-16, Holiness Begins With What God Has Done
“People do not drift toward holiness,” wrote Canadian theologian D. A. Carson.
He continues, “Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord.”
Carson elaborates on this point, saying: Continue reading
Filed under Holiness, Passage To Ponder
Who’s in Control—You or Your Phone?
“The average American checks his or her cell phone 205 times a day,” said social scientist Arthur Brooks in an interview on the Today show last week.
Norma Jean and I listened with interest because we expected to hear Brooks in person at the Florida College Impact Gala two days later. Continue reading
Filed under Discipline, Discipleship, TIme
