“To err is human; to forgive, divine” penned the British poet, Alexander Pope.
The apostle Peter probably thought he was being deeply divine when he asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Peter undoubtedly thought he was being excessively generous and magnanimous. After all the Rabbinic teaching as expressed by Rabbi Jose ben Hanina said, “He who begs forgiveness from his neighbor must not do so more than three times.” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas are 1500 miles apart, but over the weekend became one in shock and sorrow, as a nation was once again stunned by two mass murders.
At least 31 were left dead and dozens more were injured, leaving pundits, talking heads, and average American citizens with the same old haunting questions. Why? What were the motives of the two young gunmen? And what can be done so this never happens again? Continue reading
Filed under America
“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked Peter.
His response was immediate. Direct. Unequivocal. And divinely inspired. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:15-16)
It is a question still discussed, debated and deliberated today. Who was Jesus?
Many want to reduce Jesus to just a great Rabbi, a unique prophet, or moral reformer. In fact, it is not politically correct to say that Jesus was the Son of God or that He is the only way.” Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
“Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person,” wrote Joseph Stowell in Fan the Flame.
“It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity, the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will, and the center of a person. The place to which God turns.” Continue reading
Filed under Heart
This morning while reading Matthew 14, I was reminded of our recent trip to Israel and our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
We boarded and crossed on a beautiful morning. The sun was shining. The Sea was smooth. And the wind was calm. However, Matthew’s narrative describes a different scene.
Jesus sent the disciples ahead on a boat while he went to a mountain to pray. During the night in the middle of the Sea, the wind and waves began to beat upon the boat. Continue reading
Filed under Faith
You’ve probably never heard of Ryan Hrelgac from Kemptville, Ontario, Canada. But he’s an incredible young man.
When Ryan was only 6 years old, he learned in school of children in African villages who didn’t have access to clean drinking water. So, he began raising money to help by doing household chores. In a period of 4 months, he raised $70.
Encouraged by his attitude and actions, others began to join Ryan and during the next 12 months, he raised $2,000. Within two years Ryan had raised $61,000. Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
A wife woke up one morning and said, “Honey, I just had a dream that you bought me a new gold necklace. What do you think it means?”
“I don’t know, but Valentine’s Day is coming soon. Tuesday, you’ll know,” He replied.
A few nights later, she again woke up after having a dream, “This time, I dreamed you gave me a pearl necklace. What do you think it means?”
“You’ll know Tuesday,” He replied. Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
Norma Jean and I have enjoyed a rich and wonderful weekend with the brethren in South River, Ontario, Canada, where I presented my series on Home Improvement.
The thesis of the series is that just like our physical houses need attention, repair, maintenance and even renovation from time to time so do the relationships in our homes.
Clarence W. Barron, considered the founder of modern financial journalism once succinctly observed: “Everything can be improved.” Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
49 years ago in May 1970, Norma Jean and I moved to Hillsboro, Ohio, where I began preaching full time on a located basis. It was there we would meet and become life long friends with Dave and Nancy Wyckoff.
This past Wednesday we drove back to Hillsboro to be with Dave and share in his sorrow on Nancy’s passing, and join with him and the family to celebrate her life. On Thursday evening we gathered at the Northside Church of Christ where she has been a member almost all of her adult life for an incredible celebration. Continue reading
“Anybody can look at a pretty girl and see a pretty girl. An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl that she used to be” wrote American author Robert A. Heinlein. Continue reading
Filed under compassion, Vision
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