Monthly Archives: October 2023

What’s Your Worldview?

Recently the U.S. House of Representatives elected a new Speaker, Mike Johnson, from Louisiana.

Honestly, I had never heard of Johnson. Apparently this was true of many people, especially since the shocking news about his life and views mostly escaped the mainstream news until after his rise to Speaker. Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under Discipleship

Growing in Relationships

If you think your family has problems, consider the marriage mayhem created when 76-year-old Bill Baker of London wed Edna Harvey.

She happened to be his granddaughter’s husband’s mother. That’s where the confusion began, according to Baker’s granddaughter, Lynn. Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth

Weekly Recap: October 23-27

Greetings from The Great Smoky Mountains

We’ve been blessed with a wonderful week in the Smokies, enjoying the Fall foliage,  some special R & R, and some good ole Tennessee food.

We’ve also enjoyed our fellowship with the Cosby church, where I will be preaching again tomorrow at their 11:00 AM worship service.  If you’re vacationing in the Smoky Mountains, we recommend this church family as a wonderful place to worship.  It’s an easy, and scenic, 15-20 minute drive east of Gatlinburg on 321. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Weekly Recap

Changing Lives By Changing Hearts

My facebook friend and preaching colleague, Edwin Crozier, has apparently been reading a book by Dallas Willard this week entitled, “Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ,”

Edwin has posted several quotes from Willard to challenge our thinking about our Christian discipleship, the condition of our heart and our motives. I found them thought provoking. I hope you will too. Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under facebook friday

Overcoming Temptation Like Jesus

John Piper once wrote that sin (lust for example) “gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be more happy if I follow it. The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier.”

Piper’s observation reminds me of a true story that occurred several years ago. To protect the innocent, as well as the guilty, I will refer to the two married couples as Jason and Judy and Matt and Jen. Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Temptation

John 4:34-38

Once asked about her handicap of being born both blind and mute, Helen Keller replied, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”

This quote reminds me of an observation by author and minister E. Paul Hovey who said, “A blind man’s world is bounded by the limits of his touch; an ignorant man’s world by the limits of his knowledge: a great man’s world by the limits of his vision.” Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under Passage To Ponder

4 Questions to Ask Every Day

The Chinese philosopher, Confucius, is well known for his wise sayings and teaching regarding personal morality and social relationships.

One of his disciples was Zeng Shen, who is relatively unknown today, but earned high praise from the ancient sage.

Zeng Shen is said to have ended each day with 3 questions for personal introspection. Though he lived some 2400 years ago, they are good questions for us today and actually have a Biblical basis. Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under Discipleship

The Hope of the Gospel

In the Peanuts comic strip, we find Snoopy lying down, looking forlorn, and thinking to himself.

In the first frame he thinks, “Yesterday I was a dog. Today I’m a dog.”

In the second frame he thinks, Tomorrow I’ll probably still be a dog.

In the third frame, he walks away with a sigh. Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth

Weekly Recap: October 16-20

 

Greeting from Cobbly Nob, TN

After a wonderful and well received Gospel Meeting in Martinsville, VA, and a few days in the Bryson City area, we are concluding our trip North with a visit to our happy place–Cobbly Nob in the Smoky Mountains.

This year we’re staying at the Deer Ridge Mountain Resort between Gatlinburg and Cosby.  This place almost seems like home, since we got “stranded” here for 8 weeks in 2020 during COVID. I know, not a bad place to be “stranded.”  We love the view.  It’s away from the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but close enough to enjoy some of the restaurants and activities there. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Weekly Recap

Transgender News and Views

While social media in general and facebook in particular contain much that is negative and discouraging, some posts, however, are positive and encouraging.

Today’s facebook Friday offers some news and views recently posted concerning the latest woke craze regarding transgenderism. We begin with a positive story from a Vermont School. Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under facebook friday