I recently came across these inspirational words from an unknown poet. They identify two great qualities Christians need in dealing with life’s challenges and overcoming obstacles.
It takes strength to be firm.
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard. Continue reading
It’s actually been 12 days since Allied Van Lines arrived to unload all of our stuff at our new home in Corinth, Texas, 35 miles North of Dallas. It seemed like even more stuff than I remember packing! But I haven’t seen anything yet that wasn’t ours.
As you can imagine we have been busy unpacking. Moving furniture around. Finding the closest grocery store. Unpacking. Learning our way around Denton county. Unpacking. Pausing for much needed coffee breaks. Meeting new neighbors. Unpacking. Taking time for midweek Bible study. Attending graduation parties. Searching for the best burger in Denton county. Traversing the traffic and construction on I-35. Worshiping with the saints on Sunday. And delivering my first sermon as the new preacher at the West Main Church in Lewisville. And of course, unpacking!
As I reflect on the move, allow me use my blog today for some personal observations of the first few days. Continue reading
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While unpacking my office this quote fell out of a folder. There is no source named. Or author attributed. But it spoke to me in powerful way.
“Forgiveness is when you let go of resentment. We resent now. But when you carry resentment inside, it tears away at you. You become sick. You become a victim all over again. It can keep you from sleeping, eating, and thinking straight. It can keep you from going forward. One day we won’t resent anymore.” Continue reading
Filed under Forgiveness
My late friend and college room-mate David Lewis used to tell a story about the military conqueror Napoleon as his armies crossed the Alps. When they came into battle with the enemy many of his men got wounded and died. The great leader’s heart went out to them, so he turned to his bugler boy and said, “Son, sound the retreat.”
The boy did nothing.
Again Napoleon said, “Son, blow the retreat or our men will die.” Continue reading
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“How long does a person pay for their mistake?”
This question was recently raised in a New York Times interview with Paula Broadwell. Remember her? She’s a writer who worked as a biographer for General David Petraeus. In 2012 when he was then serving as CIA director, Broadwell’s life was turned upside down when it was revealed that they had engaged in an extramarital affair. Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
The story is told of a little child in an African village who got lost when he wandered off into the tall jungle grass. Family and tribe members stomped all day through the thick grass, frantically seeking the lost boy. The end of the day, however, he was not found.
The next day someone suggested every tribe member hold hands so they could comb through the grass without missing any area. Eventually they found the body of the child who had died during the cold night. Continue reading
Today is Memorial Day in the United States. It is a national holiday to honor the memory of fallen soldiers.
It is a day to remember those who have given their lives serving in defending our country. It is a day to reflect on the significance of their sacrifice, the courage of their convictions and their commitment to our country. It is a day to be reminded of the grand history of the USA. And it is a day to accord respect to those who have served with honor. Continue reading
We live in a world when it seems that everything we thought we knew is turned upside down.
Morals. Ethics. Religion. Marriage. Gender. Right and wrong. Good and Evil. And absolute truth have all become targets of subjectivism. We are constantly told, “there is no absolute truth.” That everything is relative. And that each of us have a right to our “own truth.” Continue reading
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As we arrived in North Texas Tuesday evening, one of the first greetings we heard was “welcome home” from Steven Estes, one of the Shepherds at the West Main Street Church in Lewisville.
Last night, bone weary, after a very long day of unloading our 20,000 pounds of stuff (and all I did was watch and direct traffic), we were in bed at 9:00 p.m. Norma Jean turned to me and said, “This feels like home.” Continue reading
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Jesus is the greatest of all teachers who’ve ever lived. Not just because of what he taught. But how he lived it.
In the profound Mountain Message, the Teacher said, “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy” (Matt 5:7
He did more than command mercy, He demonstrated it. The Holy Spirit reveals one such occasion in Luke 10. “Jesus, Master, Have Mercy on Us” cried 10 men who were lepers. They were outcasts. Untouchables. The pariahs of their day. Afflicted with the worse disease imaginable. Tim Zindale describes this way: Continue reading
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