Monthly Archives: September 2012

September 14, 2012 · 7:05 am

IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Just Another Day. Or is it?

Another day.  Another Friday.  Another early morning when the rooster crowed.  Folks were awakened.    There is work to be done.  Business to take care of.  People to see.  Preparations to be made for Sabbath worship.

A neighbor mentioned some commotion going on in the night.  Some criminals captured.  A late night and early morning meeting of the Sanhedrin.  Odd.  But there a day’s business ahead.  There is a crowd in town and a buzz about a crucifixion.  Guess they found that criminal guilty.  But there’s things to do and no time to worry about that. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Cross, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!

Tagged as , ,

September 13, 2012 · 5:59 am

Are You Living in the “Almost”?

In a particular  PEANUTS cartoon, the team “statistician” brings Charlie Brown, the manager, his report.

“I’ve compiled the statistics on our baseball team for last season,” Linus says. “In 12 games we ALMOST scored a run and in 9 games the other team ALMOST didn’t score before the first out. In right field, Lucy ALMOST caught 3 balls and once ALMOST made the right play.”

“We led the league,” he concludes, “in ‘ALMOSTS,’ Charlie Brown.” Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Christian Living, Discipleship

Tagged as ,

September 12, 2012 · 6:09 am

Will God Bless America?

“God bless you.”  “And God bless America.”  How many times did we hear some version of “God bless” during the past two weeks of the Republican and Democratic National conventions?  Almost every speaker invoked God’s blessing once or twice at the end of every speech.

But I was struck by the irony of asking for God to bless America all the while advocating moral positions that are contrary to the will of God.  Abortion. Homosexuality.  Same-Sex marriage. So as I thought about all the request for God to bless America, I wondered…..will He? Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under America, Culture

Tagged as

September 11, 2012 · 6:31 am

Create Your Own “I WILL”

Today is the anniversary of 911.  It is this generation’s “day of infamy.” We all remember where we were.  What we were doing.  Who we were with.  It’s been 11 years, but it seems like yesterday.

The attack of 911 was devastating on several levels. The tragic loss of innocent life. Destruction of the landmark twin towers. Harm to our economy. And the changes that have occurred impacting our way of life such as air travel. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Ministry, Service

Tagged as , ,

September 10, 2012 · 7:37 am

People Matter

In his book “A Gentle Thunder” Max Lucado tells the story of Karen Hill who is an Administrate Assistant in Austin, Texas.  Karen underwent surgery in a local hospital and when she  awoke in the recovery room, she could hear the moaning of a fellow patient.  She could hear a sympathetic nurse trying to comfort him.

“Settle down, Tom,” she said.” But still he moaned.  “It’s all right, Tom.  Just go with the pain.”

The man was quiet for a few moments, but began groaning again. “It’s okay, Tom. You’ll be fine.”  Finally the patient spoke.  Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Relationships

Tagged as , , ,

September 7, 2012 · 6:55 am

IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Oh, What A Savior!

          Politicians weren’t the only ones seeking attention at the Republican and Democratic National conventions.  American Atheists were trying to arrest the attention of Mitt Romney, Barack Obama and their faithful followers.  Specially prepared billboards mocking Christianity by calling God “sadistic” and Jesus a “useless” Savior with the image of Jesus on toast, and hailing atheism as “Simply Reasonable” were to appear in both Tampa and Charlotte.  Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!, Jesus

Tagged as , ,

September 6, 2012 · 6:48 am

The SandCastles of Life

I’ve been feeling a bit melancholy lately.  Maybe reflective is a better word. Or meditative. Or Contemplative.   I don’t know if it’s the number of funerals that I’ve attended or preached lately that reminds me of my own mortality.  Maybe it’s been the process of sifting through all our ‘stuff’ during our move that has become a weariness of the flesh! Or perhaps it’s the moral mess our country is in that is dismaying. Continue reading →

14 Comments

Filed under Life

Tagged as ,

September 5, 2012 · 6:10 am

An Intentional Act of Kindness

“If you want to look for a needle in haystack, go ahead.”  said Gary Gaddist’s co-workers at the New York City’s Parks Department.  Fortunately for Danielle Hatherly-Carroll the sanitation truck driver was up to the challenge.   So  Gary began digging through hundreds of garbage bags that were stored on Randalls Island and he found it!  What did he find?  Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Kindness

Tagged as , ,

September 4, 2012 · 6:13 am

Fight One More Round

It happened 120 years ago. On September 7, 1892, James J. Corbett won the first heavyweight championship prize-fight in which the contestants used boxing gloves. Corbett won the match against John L. Sullivan with a knockout in the twenty-first round.  That’s right the 21st round!  However three-year earlier Corbett had to go 27 rounds, boxing with bare knuckles, to defeat fellow hall-of-famer Joe Choynski.

James J. Corbett also had a way with words.  Knowing his background, we can appreciate them even better when he said: Continue reading →

9 Comments

Filed under Christian Living, Discipleship

Tagged as , ,

September 3, 2012 · 6:27 am

Why Are You Working?

           Sir Christopher Michael Wren was one of the most highly acclaimed architects in English history.  Following London’s great fire in 1666 he was given the responsibility for rebuilding 51 houses of worship.  His masterpiece was St. Paul’s Cathedral which was completed in 1710.

Legend has it that one day the famed architect visited the construction site of this magnificent edifice.  He was unrecognized by the workers so he walked around asking various men what they were doing. Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Work

Tagged as , ,