April 3, 2021 · 4:03 am

Weekly Recap: March 28-April 2

Good morning from chilly Citrus County, Florida

This has been an exciting week in terms of getting settled.  My office furniture arrived, so I was able to unpack my books and start working from my new office instead of the dining room table.

Two realizations soon hit me.  (1) I didn’t give away enough books.  (2) If you’re moving from having both a church office and a home office into just one home office, realize that it’s not all going to fit. So, we’re storing out, repacking some stuff, and storing Continue reading →

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April 2, 2021 · 5:43 am

Friday’s List To Live By #33

While unpacking my books this week, I came across a paperback book I bought 50 years ago by Dale Carnegie, How To Win Friends And Influence People.

As I chuckled at the worn, dated-looking cover, I started to thumb through it and it fell open to the end of a chapter on how to make people like you. The six summary points from this classic best-seller are today’s list and still valid in the 21st century. Continue reading →

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April 1, 2021 · 7:14 am

A Serious Thought on A Light-Hearted Day

On occasion, we reference an obscure holiday or a historical event that happened on this day in history. Accordingly, here are four unusual events that reportedly happened on this day.

In 1957 the BBC reported that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record spaghetti crop and showed footage of people harvesting noodles from trees.

In 1985, Sports Illustrated reported about a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw a fastball over 168 miles per hour. Continue reading →

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March 31, 2021 · 6:47 am

A Passage To Ponder: Joshua 4:6-7

Guidelines devotional blogger, Darlene Sala, tells a story about a family who was involved in a serious automobile accident.

The severity of the wreck completely totaled the car. It was amazing there were no fatalities. In fact, not one family member suffered any long terms injuries or effects from the accident. What they did next was unusual, but ingenious. Continue reading →

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March 30, 2021 · 6:38 am

Repent or Perish

Eugene Peterson, in his book, Run with the Horses, shared a humorous story that vividly illustrates the meaning of repentance.

A few years ago I was in my backyard with my lawnmower tipped on its side. I was trying to get the blade off so I could sharpen it. I had my biggest wrench attached to the nut but couldn’t budge it. I got a four-foot length of pipe and slipped it over the wrench handle to give me leverage, and I leaned on that—still unsuccessfully.

Continue reading →

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March 29, 2021 · 7:40 am

Word of the Week: Command

David Owens, a New York preacher, relates an interesting story when Israeli commandos made a daring raid at an airport in Uganda in July of 1976.

In less than 15 minutes 103 Jewish hostages were freed and all 7 of the kidnappers were killed. As successful as the rescue was, however, three of the hostages were killed during the raid.

When the Israeli commandos entered the terminal, they shouted in Hebrew, “Get Down! Crawl!” The Jewish hostages understood, and laid down on the floor, while the terrorist kidnappers, who did not speak Hebrew, were left standing. Continue reading →

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March 28, 2021 · 3:28 am

Sunday Seed Thoughts: God Is.

On Friday my friend, preaching colleague, and fellow blogger, Roger Shouse posted a piece reflecting on the 1966 Time Magazine cover question “IS GOD DEAD?” I recommend you read it.

We survived the turbulence of the 1960’s unrest. In the ensuing years, we’ve experienced many more periods of civil, social, and political confusion, controversy, and crisis.

As Roger noted, during the past 55 years many people and sadly most modern churches have given up on God’s Way. Deviated from God’s work. And abandoned God’s work Continue reading →

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March 27, 2021 · 3:27 am

Weekly Recap: March 21-26

Good morning from Beverly  Hills FL

One of my Northern friends asked the other say, “Are you enjoying Florida?”

“It’s great,” I replied.

Especially this time of year.  Weather-wise the lows are in the upper 50’s or lower 60’s.  Then it warms up to around 80 during the day. Continue reading →

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March 26, 2021 · 3:26 am

Friday’s List To Live By #32

The book of Proverbs contains a great deal of practical wisdom regarding relationships and the proper use of the tongue.

Today’s list addresses times when it’s wise to keep silent. This list will keep you out of a lot of trouble. You can also apply this to your posts on social media.

7 Times Not To Speak Continue reading →

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March 25, 2021 · 7:17 am

A Reason To Rejoice

“Man is made for joy and joy is for man,” wrote the 16th-century Catholic bishop Francis de Sales.

“I think joy is not joy at all unless it is in man’s possession,” de Sales continued. “The human heart is so dependant upon joy that, without joy, it cannot find rest. Joy is true joy only in so far as it is possessed in the heart of man.” Continue reading →

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