I wish that there were some wonderful place
Called the Land of Beginning Again
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches
And all of our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped, like a shabby old coat, at the door,
And never put on again. Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
In 1947 NYC bus driver William Cimillo became a “national hero” when he got in his bus one morning and kept on driving…all the way to Florida.
The 38-year-old Bronx native had been driving for almost 20 years and told a reporter later that “ I really got tired of it all, up and down every day, the same people, the same stops, nickels, dimes, transfers… Well I thought I’d try something different, a new route.” Continue reading
In the past week, I’ve read three stories about protests against the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A at three different locations. Toronto, Canada. Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. And the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
Jo Boileau, an openly homosexual student, and Purdue’s new student body president doesn’t want Chick-fil-A on campus. Boileau is joined by several professors opposing its opening in the Fall of 2020. The University, however, is sticking to their decision due to the overwhelming student support for Chick-fi-A. Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
Jim Valvano was one of the most colorful college basketball coaches in the 1980’s when he coached the North Carolina State Wolfpack. He may be most remembered for his ecstatic celebration after winning the national champion with their improbable victory against the heavy favored Houston Cougars.
While suffering from terminal spinal cancer at the age or 47, Valvano was interviewed by Sports Illustrated reporter, Gary Smith. He looked back on his life and told a story about himself as a 23-year-old coach of a small college team.
“Why is winning so important to you?” the players asked Valvano. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer:
My first friend came and expressed his shock by saying,
“I can’t believe that you have cancer.
I always thought you were so active and healthy.”
He left and I felt alienated and somehow very different. Continue reading
Filed under compassion
We’re back in Florida for three weeks visiting our kids and grandkids. And it’s hot. Really hot. Temperatures in the 90’s. Heat index over 100.
On days like these, an ice-cold glass of water and just a little breeze provides a needed respite and a refreshing break.
This morning in looking at today’s Bible reading, I am also reminded of the need for spiritual refreshment. Continue reading
Filed under Encouragement
Thomas Fuller once wrote, “We’re born crying, live complaining and die disappointed.”
The famous author O’Henry said that “life is made of sobs, sniffles, and smiles; with sniffles predominating.
Janis Joplin, the folk singer of my generation, once lamented, “Life is something you do while waiting to die.” Continue reading
Filed under Death
Karl Barth, the 20th-century Swiss Reformed theologian is often quoted as saying that one should preach with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.
Actually, he never said it exactly that way. “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both, Barth advised, “But interpret newspapers from your Bible.” Continue reading
Recently Norma Jean and I visited Gettysburg, PA, and toured the civil war battlefields where there were over 50,000 causalities in just three days. It was a sobering experience to reflect on this period in our history.
It was there that President Abraham Lincoln dedicated the National Military Cemetery on November 19, 1863. Ironically, politician and orator Edward Everett was slated to give what was called “The Gettysburg Address.” His oration was 13,607 words and lasted two hours. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
“The very word membership is of Christian origin, but it has been taken over by the world and emptied of all meaning,” wrote C. S. Lewis in one of his essays.
Lewis further opined, “I am afraid that when we describe a man as ‘a member of the Church’ we usually mean nothing Pauline” as he referred to Paul’s statement regarding “members of the Body” of Christ (1 Cor. 12:22). Continue reading
Filed under Church
ThePreachersWord 