The picture of Gethsemane is familiar. Jesus leaning on a rock. Hands folded. The moon shining. A halo effect over his head. A scene of serenity. The saintly Savior saying His prayers. Trusting in the Father. Safe in His hands. Ready to be offered.
Really?
The apostle Matthew was there. And he paints a different picture. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Throwback Thursday is a weekly theme by social media users to post past photos of themselves. In that spirit I’m posting a 1960 picture of the Everly Brothers. Phil is on the left and his brother Don is on the right. I hadn’t thought about them in a long time, until I recently learned that Phil passed away. Continue reading
Yesterday I had lunch with a friend of mine at P. F. Chang’s on the Plaza. The food was good. The Server was friendly. The conversation was enjoyable. The fellowship was encouraging. And at the end of the meal when I opened my Chinese fortune cookie….it was “spot on”! Continue reading
Filed under Persistence, Wisdom
Recent news headlines are pretty depressing.
“No Pants Subway Day” Yes, it is what it sounds like! In 60 cities across the world people rode the subway sans their pants. Acting as if everything was normal people waited, boarded and rode the subway in their boxers, briefs and panties. The twelfth annual event is said to have attracted over 4,000 participants in New York City.
As we shake our collective heads in utter disbelief and disgust, there is more…. Continue reading
Filed under America, Morality, Uncategorized
Several years ago, I heard a story that came out of the Special Olympics in Seattle. Nine contestants, all physically or mentally handicapped, assembled at the starting line to run the 100 yard dash.
The gun sounded. And off they went! Well, not exactly in a dash! But with a zest and enthusiasm to run the race. However, one little boy stumbled and fell. As he tumbled to the track, he began to cry. The other eight heard him. Stopped. And slowly returned. Continue reading
Filed under compassion, Word of the Week
“Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross” is one of the most popular hymns written by Fanny Crosby. Blinded in infancy by a Doctor’s negligence, Crosby was influenced by a godly grandmother and inspired by the famous poet William Cullen Bryant when she was a student at the New York Institute for the Blind. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Friedrich Schleiermacher was an 18th century German philosopher and theologian. He became famous for trying to reconcile the criticisms of The Enlightenment with “traditional Protestant Christianity.” He is often called “the Father of modern liberal theology.”
The story is told that one day as an old man he was sitting alone on a bench in a city park. A policeman saw him and thought he was a vagrant. So he came over, shook him and asked, “Who are you?” Schleiermacher sadly replied, “I wish I knew.” Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
Fifty years ago today, January 8, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson, in his state of the union address declared “an unconditional war on poverty in America.”
According to analysis by the Cato Institute our government at the federal and state level has spent in excess of $15 Trillion on anti-poverty programs in the past 50 years. And the result? Almost the same number of people are living below the poverty level as in 1964. Columnist Cal Thomas quipped, “The lack of government programs did not cause poverty, and spending vast sums of money has not eliminated it.” Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
During my self-imposed holiday hiatus ThePreachersWord missed out on the whole Duck Dynasty flap!
While I was away, Duck Commander, Phil Robertson, was put on suspension by the A & E network for his comments in GQ magazine regarding homosexuality. Every news show, talk show, cable TV host, call in radio show and about anyone involved in media opined on Robertson. Duck Dynasty. Free speech. Freedom of religion. And homosexuality. Continue reading
Do you remember when churches used to have kids come up front before worship began to sing and have a short devotional?
I heard about one preacher who was going to teach the children about industry and preparation by using squirrels as an object lesson. He began by saying, “I’m going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is. OK?” The children grinned. Nodded. And waited with anticipation. Continue reading
Filed under Jesus, Word of the Week
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