“When things are at their blackest,” wrote Robert Lynn Asprin, “I say to myself, ‘Cheer up, things could be worse.’ And sure enough, they get worse.”
Joyce Carol Oates, looked at life this way: “Keep a light, hopeful heart. But expect the worst.”
The writer, O’Henry penned, “Life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles, with sniffles predominating.”
“We are born crying, live complaining and die disappointed,” wrote Thomas Fuller in 1732. Continue reading
Several years ago “Reader’s Digest” told about a company who mailed out some special advertising cards with a mustard seed glued to it and the following caption:
“If you have faith as small as this mustard seed in (our particular product), you are guaranteed to get excellent results and be totally satisfied.”
A few months later one recipient of this promotional piece responded to the company with this note: Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
With the baseball just around the corner, I’m reminded of a story by Tommy Lasorda, the great Dodger manager, as he described his battle to overcome bad habits.
“I took a pack of cigarettes from my pocket, stared at it and said, “Who’s stronger, you or me?” The answer was me. I stopped smoking.
Then I took a vodka martini and said to it, “Who’s stronger, you or me?” Again the answer was me. I quit drinking.
Then I went on a diet. I looked at a big plate of linguine with clam sauce and said, “Who’s stronger, you or me?” Continue reading
Filed under Habit
When Norma Jean and I lived in Tennessee we had some wonderful neighbors, Phil and Fe Stack. They were retired Doctors. They were friendly, kind-hearted folks.
Phil’s background as a Psychiatrist coupled with his religious beliefs gave him a unique insight into human behavior. Phil and I had many “backyard visits” about world problems and the human condition
One day we were discussing problems in our public schools and Phil asked, “Do you know what would solve those problems?”
“What?” Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
Yesterday was an exciting beginning to the NCAA basketball tournament. There were upsets. Overtimes. Controversial calls. One point victories. And heart breaking losses.
The outcome of each game was important to their, players, coaches and fans. Yet in the midst of the adrenalin rush of these nail-biting contests, I am reminded of a statement by the late and legendary UCLA coach, John Wooden. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Do you have your bracket filled out? Now if you have no idea what the question means you are obviously not a basketball fan.
Today begins in earnest “The Road to the Final Four!” It’s the quest for the NCAA championship in men’s basketball. It’s called March Madness!
The tournament reminds me that the qualities for success in the sports world are so similar to those we need to acquire as Christians. The apostle Paul must have been a sports fan. Because he frequently used sports metaphors to make spiritual points. Consider these two passages. Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
I recently read about a congregation that decided to have four different worship services each Sunday to appeal to distinct groups of worshipers.
There was one service for those new to the faith. Another for those who liked traditional worship. The third service was for those who’d lost their faith and would like to get it back. And last service for those who had bad experiences with churches and were complaining about it.
They even identified each service with its own name. Guess what they called them? Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
Last week the national news was dominated by the release of a disgusting video from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Oklahoma.
Two fraternity members, Parker Rice and Levi Pettit, have been expelled for their role in leading the racist sing-a-long. The chant included racial slurs of African-Americans, boasting they would never be members of their fraternity. And even included the words “You can hang ‘em from a tree.” Continue reading
For 15 years the hit TV show, Survivor, has captivated viewers while becoming a legend in the world of reality TV.
Every year they mix it up with different cast members, novel twists and a new location. But the premise is pretty much unchanged. Every week they have a different contest to see who will win immunity and keep them from getting booted off the Island!
Survivor contestants try to gain support from one another. It’s a matter of trusting one another, but the reality is…no one trusts anyone else! Why? Because the last remaining survivor will win a million dollars! Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
Of all the names, titles and designations that describe and honor Jesus probably none is more unique than the one ascribed by John.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
Word. Jesus is the Word. How do we know? The context tells us.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
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