We are born crying, live complaining and die disappointed,” wrote Thomas Fuller in 1732. The writer, O’Henry penned, “Life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles, with sniffles predominating.” And Janis Joplin, a rock and blues singer of my teen years, once said, “Life is something you do while waiting to die.” Continue reading
Category Archives: Life
Are You Living Life at the Highest Level?
Birthday Reflections
Not long ago my wife, Norma Jean, had a surprise party for me on my 40th birthday. I thought we were going to Derby Dinner Playhouse with two other couples. Our friends Jim and Linda Broderson were going with us along with Jim and Lyn Engler. When we arrived at the Engler’s I was surprised when I was led downstairs and there was a crowd of people. The basement was set up to resemble a funeral service. And I was there to observe my own “funeral”! Jim Engler was in a homemade casket that looked like something out of Dracula. His hair fixed to look like me. Continue reading
Filed under Life
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
Some Random Thoughts on a Rainy Day
Today it’s raining here in Florida. I kinda like it. It’s not a rain storm. Or a hard, driving rain that makes you run for cover. It is a gentle rain. A relaxing rain. A soil nourishing rain. It’s not one of those cold winter rains like you have up North either. I have the french doors of my office open so I can hear the light cadence of its falling onto the lanai. Continue reading
Filed under Blessing, God, Life, Uncategorized
The Treadmill of Life
The other day I posted some reflections about life’s daily pleasures that were sparked by walking the dog through the neighborhood. Today finds me at the Temple Terrace Recreation Center on the treadmill.
Now, this is not one of those new state-of-the-art exercise centers. I’m a small room with concrete walls and a few narrow windows to see out. In front of me are two Middle Eastern men carrying on a conversation in a language I can’t understand. To the right, an elderly gentleman got on a treadmill carrying a book. I greeted him with a cheery, “Hello.” To which he uttered not a word. Not even a grunt. He promptly put the machine on a slow speed and began reading. To the left of me is a woman in a trance-like state, looking straight ahead. At least, I have a small TV where I can watch some fair and balanced news on Fox!
All of this got me thinking about how walking the treadmill is like life. Continue reading
Filed under Life
Enjoying Life’s Daily Pleasures
I needed a break. I’ve been working on some sermon series for my Spring meetings. And just need to relax my mind a bit. So, I brewed some coffee and decided to take the dog for a walk. During that 45 minutes I started thinking about the enjoyment of the little things in life. Things that, if we don’t slow down, we rush through and fail to savor. Continue reading
Filed under Life
What’s Your Purpose in Life?
Have you ever spent time walking through old cemeteries reading the epithets on the tombstones? They’re interesting.
I read of a man who came across an epithet that read: “Remember Friend, as you walk by, as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you must be; so prepare for death to follow me.” He felt something was missing so he added the words “To follow you I might consent, if I only knew which way you went!” Continue reading
Seeing Life Through A Different Lens
“It still wasn’t a bad day,” said Denver Quarterback Tim Tebow. “It still was a good day.” What day was he talking about? When he had a flat tire on his car? Or his cell phone died? Probably when he had an off game, but the team still won? Right?
ThePreachersWord 