Monthly Archives: December 2015

December 18, 2015 · 5:26 am

End of the Year Reflections

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Good Morning from Temple Terrace, Florida.

It’s 73 degrees here which is a welcome change from the 32 that I left yesterday in Kansas City. It’s still dark and a good time to share some reflections and personal thoughts with our readers around the world as I enjoy my first cup of coffee.

This is a time of year during the holiday season to enjoy family and friends. Share special times. Savor some good food. Indulge your “sweet tooth.” Relish the festive nature of the season. Sit by the fireplace and sip some hot chocolate, or in our case this year enjoy a morning walk by the Hillsborough River in shorts and a T-shirt. Continue reading →

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December 17, 2015 · 5:21 am

Am I a Builder or a Wrecker?

Builder. Wrecker

I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a sidewall fell.

I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled,
The men you’d hire if you had to build?” Continue reading →

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December 16, 2015 · 7:13 am

GREAT VERSES OF THE BIBLE: Mark 16:15-16

Mark 16.15

Yesterday’s post, Will a Loving God Send People to Hell?” elicited a great deal of response, especially on facebook.

Apparently some people don’t believe in the Bible doctrine of Hell. Others try to side step it. One person even responded with a sexually explicit picture. I guess that was their way of objecting to the post. However, a common response was “No. you send yourself to Hell by refusing to obey God.” Continue reading →

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December 15, 2015 · 6:38 am

Will a Loving God Send People to Hell?

Hell, Hades in the world

Every Saturday the Kansas City Star has a column entitled Voices of Faith. They pose a question and then ask two local religious leaders to address it. Often their answers consist of personal opinions, particular denominational doctrine, or concepts from pop culture.

Last Saturday’s question was “What’s the purpose of Hell?” Continue reading →

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December 14, 2015 · 6:11 am

Word of the Week: Behave

behave

I can still recall as a child my mother giving me a stern look and uttering those two words that stuck fear in my heart “Behave yourself.” I knew exactly what she meant.

“Behave yourself” meant that I wasn’t acting the way she had taught me. Either my words, rowdiness, or attitude was not in keeping with the way she expected me to be.

“Behave yourself” served as both a correction and warning. I understood. There needed to be a change. And quickly. If not, there would be some consequences. Continue reading →

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December 13, 2015 · 6:28 am

Jesus Focused

 

In his book Worship is a Verb, Robert Webber writes, “The focus of worship is not human experience, not a lecture, not entertainment, but Jesus Christ—his life, death and resurrection.”

Worship. It’s not about showcasing the talent of a gifted musician, or displaying a preacher’s knowledge of Greek verbs, or even a pleasant reunion of family and friends. It’s about Jesus. Continue reading →

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December 11, 2015 · 5:19 am

IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! An Exhortation From Gethsemane

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It was the beginning of 3 days that these 3 men would never forget. Never.

The hour was late. Much had happened. The last supper. Prideful posturing. Washing feet. Judas’ departure. And the ensuing walk across the Kedron valley with Jesus teaching. Encouraging. Comforting. Promising.

Peter, James, and John are invited to walk a little father, as Jesus entered into prayer to the Father.

Struggle. Sorrow. Supplication. These words describe Jesus’ emotions in Gethsemane’s garden as Thursday turned into Friday. Continue reading →

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December 10, 2015 · 5:53 am

For Goodness’ Sake or God’s Sake?

SKIP CHURCH. GOODNESS

American Atheists are at it again this Christmas season. As part of their annual tradition the past few years, the Atheists organization has raised eyebrows with their latest holiday-theme billboard.

Picturing a smiling Santa, promising not to tell on you, the message reads: “Go ahead and skip church! Just be good for goodness sake. Happy Holidays!” So far, these billboards have popped up in Colorado, Springs, CO and Raleigh, NC.

“We want people to know that going to church has absolutely nothing to do with being a good person,” said David Silverman, president of American Atheists, in a statement. “The things that are most important during the holiday season—spending time with loved ones, charity and being merry—have nothing to do with religion.” Continue reading →

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December 9, 2015 · 4:18 am

GREAT VERSES OF THE BIBLE: 1John 1:8-9

Open Bible

Jerry Shirley tells a story about a King who visited a slave ship.  There was a slave galley where they chained prisoners to the oars and made them row.

The King decided to go below the deck, and talk to those who were chained to the oars. And he asked one man, “Why are you here?”

“Oh,” he said, “Sire, I don’t know why I’m here. I was in a crowd when a crime was committed and when they arrested everybody, they got me, but I’m innocent!” Continue reading →

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December 8, 2015 · 6:21 am

Peace On Earth Begins With Me

Peace. World Wide 

In 1955 the husband and wife song writing team, Sy Miller and Jill Jackson, penned the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” about their dream to produce world-wide peace. Jill wrote the lyrics and Sy wrote the melody.

The song was first introduced to a selected group of teenagers in the summer of 1955 from different religious, racial and cultural backgrounds who attended a week-long retreat in California. They lived and worked together in a camp setting, engaging in discussion groups to develop friendship and create understanding. Continue reading →

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