I have been watching Fox News on and off all day reporting on the storms tearing across states from the Gulf Coast to Great Lakes. Over 74 storms have been reported. Powerful tornadoes have ripped roofs off of houses. Downed trees. Damaged businesses. Destroyed schools. The town of “Maryville(Indiana) is completely gone,” said Clark County Sheriff Department Maj. Chuck Adams. Wiped away by the fierce winds. Henryville, Indiana, suffered extensive damage. Continue reading
Category Archives: Discipleship
The Storms of Life
Filed under Christian Living, Discipleship
Know Who You Are and Where You’re Going
Wednesday Night Norma and I visited the Henderson Boulevard church here in Tampa. . I like the fellowship at Henderson and they were having a special series with Paul Sheehan. The singing was spirited. The fellowship was warm. And the worship was God centered. None of this was unexpected. Nor was the unique style with which Paul presents the Gospel. I liked his lesson. A lot. And want to share some of my thoughts from it. Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living, Discipleship
A Foolish Exchange
Do you ever read “news of the weird” that tells about those “stupid criminals” stories? Here’s a good one.
A man walked into a convenience store, put a $20 bill on the counter and asked for change. When the clerk opened the drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving his $20 bill on the counter. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Values
Make Today a Special Day
“I wish I had more time…” We’ve all heard that said. Right? Maybe we’ve even said it ourselves! About a project. A deadline. Bible reading. Family activities. Or the work day. Well, today, your wish comes true! You have an extra day! Because it’s leap year, there are 29 days in February. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Life, Service, TIme
Belonging To One Another
An Army Chaplain tells the story of sitting in the Officer’s Club one rainy day. In fact, it was more than rainy. It was a storm. The winds were blowing fiercely. The rains were descending in sheets. Nearby, two officer’s wives were watching the storm through the big picture window. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Fellowship
What it Means to Say “I’m Sorry”
Wendy Donahue, a staff writer for the Chicago Tribune, recently penned an article entitled “Give and take: The sport of apologizing.” Our local Tampa Bay Times (TBT) picked it up. While reading it, I was reminded of how difficult it is to simply say from the heart “I’m sorry.” It’s reminiscent of the 1976 hit by Elton John, when he crooned the mournful ballad “Sorry seems to be the hardest word.”
Filed under Apology, Discipleship
Five Traits of a Spiritual Champion
Last night several friends and I joined 117 million other people and watched The New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. The food was good. The companionship very enjoyable. And the game was exciting. As I watched I thought about how the qualities that make for success on the athletic field are similar to those we need to acquire in our Christian lives. In fact, the apostle Paul wrote it about using the imagery of the sports world.
Filed under Discipleship, Success
Repair and Maintenance
I’m sitting in Par Automotive in Tampa as I write my blog for today. I came because I noticed a couple of the tires on Norma’s car had a rather balding look to them. Turns out that I need a entire new set. When I pulled in I looked at the maintenance sticker, I was due for an oil change. Ok. No problem.
But I also need a front-end alignment. Well, I guess that comes with the territory. Now my friend, Tim Engle who owns Par, informs me, “You need new brakes!” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Improvement, Self-Examination
Surrender
Bruce Larson, in Believe and Belong, tells how he helped people struggling to surrender their lives to Christ:
For many years I worked in New York City and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with this yes-or-no decision. Often I would suggest they walk with me from my office down to the RCA Building (now the GE Building in Rockefeller Plaza) on Fifth Avenue. In the entrance of that building is a gigantic statue of Atlas, a beautifully proportioned man who, with all his muscles straining, is holding the world upon his shoulders. There he is, the most powerfully built man in the world, and he can barely stand up under this burden. ‘Now that’s one way to live,’ I would point out to my companion, ‘trying to carry the world on your shoulders. But now come across the street with me.’ Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Surrender
Worship Changes Worshipers
“Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped.”
This quote by Jack Hayford reminds me of Romans 8:29 where Paul wrote that Christians are to be “conformed to the image of His Son.” In other words we are to become like the One we worship. We are, as Peter put it, to become “partakers of the divine nature.” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Worship
ThePreachersWord 