Monthly Archives: January 2015

IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Who is Jesus to You?

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“As the centuries pass, the evidence is accumulating that, measured by His effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet.” — Historian Kenneth Scott Latourette

Jesus.

That name touches the lives and hearts of people. Some are made mad. Others glad. Some people become angry and vindictive. While others are humbled and grateful. Some are filled with resentment. Yet still others experience comfort, delight and pleasure. Continue reading

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Is Our Enthusiasm Misdirected?

Super Bowl Fans

For the past two weeks the news is filled with Super Bowl hoopla! “Deflate-gate.”   Marshawn Lynch’s refusal to say something coherent to the media.   And of course, anything relating to quarterback Tom Brady. His hair. His toboggan. And his wife, Gisele!

Advertisers are jockeying for position to get their ads seen in advance to create excitement. NBC announced they’ve sold all their Super Bowl ads. The average price for a 30 second spot during the big game is a record-setting $4.5 million!  Continue reading

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GREAT VERSES OF THE BIBLE: Romans 8:28

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There’s an ancient fable about an African King who had a close friend. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation in his life, positive or negative, and saying, “This is good! God knows best!”

One day the King and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the King. The friend made a mistake in preparing one of the guns, so when the King fired it, the gun exploded and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, “This is good! God knows best!” That made the King furious. “No, this is not good!” He then ordered the soldiers to put his friend in jail. Continue reading

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Are You Absolutely Sure?

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Sunday I heard New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, warn the residents of the impending storm. “This could be the biggest snowstorm in the history of this city. My message for New Yorkers is prepare for something worse than we have ever seen before.”

By last night meteorologists were scaling back their predictions. And this morning I awoke to learn that while the snow was significant, it wasn’t anywhere close to the dire predictions. At least in NYC.  (Boston?  Well, they’re getting hammered!)  Anyway, it reminded me of  this old story.
Continue reading

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Word of the Week: Share

Sharing

An elderly couple walked into McDonald’s holding hands and ordered one value meal with an extra cup.

A lady in the corner of the restaurant watched the sweet couple as took their meal and sat in a booth.  The old gentlemen gently cut the sandwich in half.  Counted out the fries in two separate but equal piles.  Then poured half the drink into the extra cup,

Thinking they were on a limited income and couldn’t afford two meals, the lady walked over and offered to buy them another meal.  Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! His Name Shall Be Called…

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“What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”.

This familiar quote is from Shakespeare’s  famous play Romeo and Juliet.  The reference is to Romeo’s family where Juliet is arguing that it doesn’t matter that he is from the rival house of Montague.  Regardless of his name, she loves him.

This line is often quoted out of context to imply “there is nothing in a name.” This is often used in religious discussions, to suggest one name is just as good as another name.  Of course, if you’re going to quote Shakespeare, remember the Bard of Avon also said this about a good name in his play Othello   Continue reading

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An Ignominious Anniversary

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Today is the 42th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. That epic decision has now left over 57 million babies dead. And many women scarred for life. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. And Spiritually.

I agree with Norma McCorvey “I don’t think there is a good reason for an abortion….“It’s not your body, it’s not your choice, because you got that from God. He gave it to you.”

“Who’s Norma McCorvey?”  you ask.  “And what right does she have to say that?” Continue reading

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GREAT VERSES OF THE BIBLE: John 14:6

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In his classic book, Mere Christianity, the great British writer, C. S. Lewis, makes this bold and challenging statement about Jesus.

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher; he’d either be a lunatic — on a level with a man who says he’s a poached egg — or else he’d be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse.”  Continue reading

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What’s the State of the Union in 2015?

Capitol.DC

Tonight President Obama will address the nation in the traditional State of the Union Address.  Already the pundits are predicting what he will say and how his proposals will impact the country.

Like all previous Presidents, Mr. Obama will highlight his successes and downplay or ignore his failures.  He will declare that his economic policies are working,  the economy is improving, and Americans are better off. Of course, he will say, “there is more work to do.”  Continue reading

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WORD OF THE WEEK: Character

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Although January 15 is the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, today is ML King day. In 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed into law the bill to make the 3rd Monday of January a National holiday to honor Dr. King, remember his legacy and celebrate his achievements.

When you think of Martin Luther King Jr, you remember his tireless work in the area of civil rights.  The peaceful marches.  The fiery speeches.  And unfortunately his untimely death.  But most of all, I think of the great “I Have a Dream speech, delivered in August of 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln memorial.  In that passionate speech Dr. King challenged us with these words.  Continue reading

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