Erma Bombeck, the late American author, and humorist once related a scene she witnessed at church one Sunday. “I was intent on a small child who was turning around smiling at everyone. He wasn’t gurgling, spitting, humming, kicking, tearing the hymnals or rummaging through his mother’s handbag. He was just smiling.” Continue reading
Filed under Joy
February has long been identified as a month of romance, particularly because Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the 14th in the Western world.
The history of the day is shrouded in mystery around one of the early “saints” Valentinus who was imprisoned for performed weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. According to legend just prior to his execution, he wrote a letter to a woman he loved and signed it “Your Valentine” as a farewell. Continue reading
Filed under Love, Word of the Week
Yesterday in his lesson “What Happens When We Eat the Supper?” at the Florida College Lectures, David Deason related his experience in surveying some of his friends about their practices regarding Communion.
Some said their church takes the Lord’s supper monthly. Some quarterly. Others said they only attend to take communion once or twice a year. Continue reading
Filed under Florida College Lectures
Yesterday at the Florida College Lectures Alan Cornett presented a lecture entitled, “The Pervasive Influence of Reformation Thought” that challenged our thinking on several levels.
Alan suggested that those in our fellowship are theologically influenced much more by Reformation movement than we often care to admit. He traced the Protestant Reformation and its impact to those in America like Campbell and Stone who sought a return to Scriptural authority and to echo the cry “No book but the Bible, no creed but Christ.” Continue reading
Filed under Florida College Lectures
This week finds Norma Jean and me attending the Florida College Lectures, as well as sneaking in some time with our grandchildren. As I have reflected on the lecture theme, “Inquire of Past Generations: Lessons From Church History,” a central thread has emerged in all of the presentations. Continue reading
Last night Norma Jean and I attended the opening session of the Florida College Lectures and heard the keynote address by Dr. David Edwin Harrell, Jr on the subject “What Shall We Do With History?”
Ed, as he’s known by those in our fellowship, is a social historian with an impressive academic resume. He served as a professor at six universities including the University of Georgia, the University of Alabama in Birmingham and Auburn University. He has been published in professional journals, edited and authored several books, spoken at dozens of conferences, and is recognized as an expert on Religious history as evidenced by his many interviews on national news programs. Continue reading
Filed under Florida College Lectures
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience,” once wrote Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the philosopher and Jesuit priest who trained as a paleontologist and geologist.
While experience is something, as one sage expressed it, that we sometimes wish happened to someone else, it is a necessary part of life. Experience teaches us and provides personal knowledge that helps us acquire skills. Gain insight. Develop maturity. And grow in wisdom. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
My Bible reading this morning in Ephesians 3 reminds me of a story once told about the late, legendary golfer Arnold Palmer.
Palmer once played a series of exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia. The King was so impressed with Palmer both as an athlete and a person than he proposed to give him a gift. One of Palmer’s choosing. Continue reading
Filed under God
If Jesus were alive today with the availability of modern technology would He podcast the Sermon on the Mount?
According to Mercer Schuchardt, associate professor of communications at Wheaton College, the answer is “No.”
My friend and preaching colleague, Ralph Walker, recently shared with several preachers an article in Christianity Today by Schuchardt entitled, “How Podcasts Hurts Preaching. Continue reading
Filed under Worship
Charles Spurgeon once referred to R. C. Chapman, the British evangelist, as “the saintliest man I ever knew.”
One morning Chapman was asked how he was feeling. “I’m burdened this morning!” was his reply.
However, his happy countenance contradicted his words. So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, “Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?” Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
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