Matthew Rogers tells the story about a brother and sister singing “Silent Night” in their school chorus.
The little boy concluded the song with the words, “Sleep in heavenly beans.”
His sister elbowed him and said. “No, it’s not beans. It’s peas!”
I suppose for many people during the holiday season, the song might as well end with beans or peas. Because the stress of the season is anything but peace. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Life, Stress
Yesterday I preached a lesson addressing the issue of “Holiday Stress.” The message was not only well received, but several who saw the title advertised asked for the outline.
So, breaking with my normal weekly columns, this is the first of a five part series dealing with stress based on that lesson.
When I googled “holiday stress, I received 345,000,000 results in 0.46 seconds. Among the headlines were these articles. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Life, Stress
H. A. Ironside the Canadian born Bible Teacher, once told about going to a crowded cafeteria for a meal.
As he carried his tray looking for a table, every table was full, except for one with a single man sitting there. Ironside asked if he might join him. The man nodded and grunted something unintelligible.
When Ironside sat down, he bowed his head and silently gave thanks for his food. The other man asked, ““Well, is something wrong with your food?”
“No, it seems fine.”
“Well, do you have a headache?” the man persisted. “I saw you closing your eyes and putting your hands on your head.” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Thanksgiving
On this day 59 years ago I was a Sophomore at Clayton High School in Indiana.
It was during P.E. that our coach interrupted our activities, to line us up and announce that the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy had been shot. In my next class, Bookkeeping, we learned that he had died.
I’m sure all of you my age and older remember where you were and what you were doing on that fateful day.
What I didn’t know was another man would die on that same day. Clive Staples Lewis, arguably one the intellectual giants of the 20th century and one of the most influential writers of his day died of natural causes. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
This is the fifth post of a new column we began, facebook Friday, where we share positive, encouraging messages from facebook.
When I saved today’s post several weeks ago, I failed to document the author of this piece, or on whose page it was posted. My apologies.
It’s short. But good. You’ll like it. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, facebook friday
“I’m just living my truth,” is a phrase we frequently hear in today’s culture.
Sometimes we hear it on TV shows, during interviews, and on so-called reality shows. I’ve had conversions with young people who inform me regarding a religious or spiritual issue what is “their truth.”
They say, “That’s your truth. This is my truth.” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
Nancy Kennedy is a writer for our local Citrus County Chronicle. Every Saturday, she has a column in the religion section called Grace Notes.
I don’t know Nancy but I enjoy her columns. She seems sincere, devout and spiritually minded.
Last Saturday she addressed the topic of religious unity, inspired by her attendance at an ecumenical prayer breakfast where many denominations were represented.
“A common question people ask: If the Christian church is one body, why are there so many denominations?,” she wondered. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
In the spirit of “Throwback Thursday,” here is my first Thursday post ever on ThePreachersWord.
“The most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. It is the first lesson that ought to be learned and however early a person’s training begins, it is probably the last lesson a person learns thoroughly.” –Thomas L. Huxley
I know Huxley was right. My parents tried to teach me self-discipline, and I’m still learning it. Success requires self-discipline. The student, the athlete, and the business person must all cultivate the habit of self-discipline. It is true spiritually.
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Filed under Discipleship
On this day, November 1, 1512, the Sistine Chapel in Rome, was exhibited for the public to see the finished work of the Italian artist Michelangelo.
After years of demonstrating his mastery of sculpture, Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the chapel with a series of amazing frescoes. The project expanded from a simple depiction of the twelve apostles to include more than four hundred figures, and nine scenes from the book of Genesis, the most famous being the creation of Adam. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
“Feels like I’m going to be punished for the rest of my life,” lamented Dujuan “Zoe” Kennedy as he and four others stood outside the White House gate after being refused entrance.
Kennedy spent 14 years imprisoned for selling drugs and manslaughter. However, while incarcerated he diligently worked to educate himself and rehabilitate his life.
Following his release, Kennedy returned home to Detroit to mentor young people at risk in engaging in criminal behavior. It has become his passion and life mission to help those turn their lives around who are heading down a dangerous path. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
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