My friend and preaching colleague, Wilson Adams called it “Symptomatology.” I thought he made it up. But it’s a real word. A medical word. But Wilson defined it as “treating symptoms instead of the real problem.”
“Truth is,” Wilson wrote in a recent facebook post, “we are becoming quite numb to school, church, and public killings. Immersed in a culture of violence, we are witnessing a lost generation without conscience moorings.”
“Why?” He asks. Continue reading
Filed under Sin
Yesterday we enjoyed driving around The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although it was a little cool, we stopped for some short walks on trails. It was a very pleasant and relaxing day.
One thing you soon notice in the park is the various warning signs. There are trail advisories. Warnings against feeding the bears. The danger of biking down steep grades. The probation of climbing rocks in certain areas. There was even a caution to watch for possible snow and ice. Continue reading
Filed under Sin
“You think you’re going to be safe in church,” said Mike McPherson, as he waited at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Sunday for updates on his friend Joey Spann.
Spann is the minister at Burnette Chapel church of Christ, where a gunman, identified by police as 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson, entered the building at the conclusion of worship last Sunday and began “indiscriminately shooting at people,” police said, wounding six people. Continue reading
Filed under Evil, Sin, Uncategorized
Today is the 100th anniversary of the United States entry into World War I. It is an event that history says “changed America, and the world forever.”
Although the war erupted in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson pursued a policy of neutrality which the vast majority of Americans favored. However, Germany’s imperialistic vision would not leave America alone. Our ships were attacked as we aided Great Britain and our other Allies. Continue reading
On November 23rd a fire started in the Chimney Tops area of the Smoky Mountians and spread throughout the area into Sevier county and Gatlinburg. As a result 14 people have died. 145 were injured. 1753 homes and buildings were destroyed. And over 17,000 acres of forest were burned.
On Wednesday, authorities announced the arrest of two juveniles that will be charged with aggravated arson, but more charges could come later. According to various news sources they are currently being held at the Sevier County Juvenile Detention Center. Continue reading
Filed under Sin, Uncategorized
This quarter where I preach at the West Main Church in Lewisville we are studying the Old Testament period of the Judges. It was a time described this way. “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
Following the death of Joshua “another generation arose who did not know the Lord nor the work which he had done for Israel.” Soon they sinned, falling prey to the idol worship of their heathen neighbors. To punish them for their disobedience, God sent a foreign foe to oppress Israel. Finally, they would cry for deliverance. Then God would raise up a Judge to deliver them from their oppressor. This cycle is repeated again. And again. And again. Continue reading
Pope Francis is coming to America. He will arrive this afternoon at Joint Base Andrews. Wednesday there will be a welcoming ceremony at the White House where he will meet with President Obama. Thursday he will speak to a joint session of Congress. And Friday he will address the United Nations general assembly in New York.
There is much speculation on what issues the Pope will address. Stephen Moore, a Catholic Consultant to the Conservative Freedom Works Organization offers these suggestions. Continue reading
