“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
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
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
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
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
“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
“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
It looked like an act of rebellion.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had helped their fellow Israelites conquer Canaan. When they returned to their homes east of the Jordan River, they built a large, imposing altar. Continue reading
Filed under Love More. Give More
Greetings from Beverly Hills, FL
The start of the fourth quarter reminds us how quickly time marches on. Of course, retailers help remind us by already stocking both Halloween and Christmas items in stores!
Indeed, the Psalmist spoke a truth relevant to every generation: “The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” (Ps. 90:10). So, rejoice in this, say God has given us. And make it count. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
Today’s Facebook Friday draws on a serious post from my friend and preaching colleague, Mark McCrary.
Mark’s observations concern the sexual assault allegations at Cornell University currently in the news. I will spare you the disturbing details, but this link provides background.
Whether you’re familiar with the case or not, his admonitions deserve our attention. Continue reading
Filed under facebook friday, Morality
