Last night I ended a very enjoyable meeting with the brethren in Anderson, Indiana. They are served by three good men who Shepherd the flock, including Carl (Mac) McMurray who also ministers in the Word.
The attendance was good. The singing was inspiring. The fellowship was warm and friendly. And the brethren were very receptive to the Word. It was the kind of meeting that every preacher enjoys. I’m sure I received as much, if not more, encouragement than I gave. Continue reading
Filed under Growth
My favorite author, anonymous, tells the story about his grandfather who worked in a blacksmith shop when he was a boy. He would relate stories of how he had toughened himself up so he could stand the rigors of black smithing.
One story was how he had developed his arm and shoulder muscles. He said he would stand outside behind the house and, with a 5-pound potato sack in each hand, extend his arms straight out to his sides and hold them there as long as he could.
After a while he tried 10-pound potato sacks, then 50-pound potato sacks and finally he got to where he could lift a 100-pound potato sack in each hand and hold his arms straight out for more than a full minute! Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
Mt Olympus, in ancient Greece, was once regarded the abode of the Greek gods. The deities believed to have dwelt there were Zeus, the king of the gods; his wife Hera; his brothers Poseidon and Hades; his sisters Demeter and Hestia; and his children, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes and Hephaestus.
I am reminded, however, of a quip by D. L. Moody who once wrote, “You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them.” Continue reading
Filed under America
This week finds me in Anderson, Indiana, with my good friends Carl (Mac) and Lorna McMurray, where I am preaching in a meeting at the church where Mac ministers.
Our theme this week is “Spiritual Leadership: Every Believer’s Commitment to Growth.” In the business world we think of a leader as the CEO or president of the company. On a sports team the coach or manager is the leader. And in the church we consider our Elders or Shepherds as the spiritual leaders. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
We often hear the plea for preachers to make the Bible relevant to our modern culture. I think I know what is meant by that statement. However, we don’t have to “make the Bible relevant,” it is relevant. It is pertinent to the problems of our day.
There are answers to the issues we face today in the 21st century. The complex moral and ethical concerns with which learned men grapple can be solved by seeking God’s eternal Truth. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
I’m not in the habit of reading random obituaries, but this one dated August 7, 2012 grabbed my attention.
Virginia Dean Whalen Farless got the last laugh Tuesday evening
According to the obituary in the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal Mrs. Farless was the source of smiles, laughter, jokes and funny stories. It read in part.
“She chuckled in the face of death from the time she was born, the baby child of Thaddeus and Lottie Whalen in Harrison County, KY, on May 10, 1932. She had severe asthma and on many occasions, the doctor predicted to her older brother Gerald that she would not live through the night.”
“She not only lived, but laughed a lot, when she graduated from Oddville High School (perfect), as a funny pastor’s wife in SC, KY and Ashland City, TN, a Kentucky Colonel, and a nurse at Deberry Prison. “ Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Last week Jerry Brown, the Governor of California, signed into law The End of Life Option Act, which allows physicians to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients.
California now joins Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont where assisted suicide is now legal. In order to qualify, patients must be legal adults, be judged to be mentally competent and be expected to die of a terminal illness within six months, which is impossible for anyone to know of a certainty, even a doctor. Continue reading
A construction crew had been on the job site for about a week when one of their men was hurt and a new guy, named Jason, was hired. He was a broad-shouldered, powerful young man and a really good worker. But he was also very annoying.
Jason was always bragging that he was stronger than anyone else at the work site and he especially made fun of Ralph, one of the older workmen. Finally the old fella had enough. Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
“Alaska Renames Columbus Day Indigenous Peoples Day” read yesterday’s on-line Time headline.
Alaska has joined a growing number of states and local governments that are moving away from celebrating Columbus Day. Since less than half of the states celebrate the accomplishment of Columbus, most of you probably worked yesterday.
Columbus Day is losing ground to a continued social movement of political correctness. While fiction has always obscured some of the facts regarding the great explorer, it’s apparent that the average person knows little of his voyage and accomplishments. Continue reading
Filed under Persistence
Alan Smith tells a funny story about President Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said.
One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who came down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir.” Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
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