Howard Hendricks tells a great story when he was on an American Airline flight after a very long delay. A man who had too much to drink was being rude to the other passengers. Demanding with the flight attendants. And in a word just plain obnoxious!
Hendricks watched this flight attendant treat this unpleasant man with class, dignity and professionalism. She was unruffled. When he was rude, she was polite. When he was uncaring, she was kind. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
This is the fifth in a series on God’s attributes from A- Z that we have offered for your reflection the past few Sundays. Here are three more.
GOD IS…
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Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
I recently read a story about a painting called “Checkmate” painted by Friedrich August Moritz Retzsch that used to hang in the Louvre Art Museum in Paris.
The painting depicts a chess match between the devil and Goethe’s Dr. Faust, who had sold his soul to the devil. It appears as if the devil has won. Faust has only the king, the queen, and a weak pawn left. The look on Faust’s face is one of abject despair. From across the chessboard the devil leers at him in anticipation of his expected victory. Ready to say, Checkmate! Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Today is a special day in history for all Americans. On this day, September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed. It officially marked the end of The American Revolution.
Representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain and France met to sign this treaty which signified America’s status as a free nation. Britain agreed to formally recognize the independence of its 13 former American colonies. The boundaries of the new republic were agreed upon: Florida north to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic coast west to the Mississippi River. Continue reading
Filed under America
The second century theologian, Augustine, is generally regarded as the greatest of the early “church fathers.” His writings are classics. And he is often quoted.
However, Augustine, the future bishop, was not baptized until he was 32 years old. Prior to his conversion he engaged in a ten year illicit relationship. The story is told that one day following his conversion, he was approached by his former mistress. When Augustine saw her, he turned and quickly walked away.
The woman followed after him calling out, “Augustine! It’s me! It’s me!” Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.” It is called “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”
The Temple’s inspiration was supposedly based on the great love the Moguel emperor Shah Jahn had for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. When she died he was devastated. Grief stricken, he ordered this edifice erected as her final resting place. No expense would be spared in honoring his beloved. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
“The patients who came to my office never seem rested” wrote Dr. Richard Swenson in his book Margin. “Many people I meet look haggard and worn-out.”
“Often-used expressions of our society include active, busy, driven, fatigued, tired, exhausted, weary, burned out, anxious, over loaded, or stressed. But seldom do you hear our society described as “well rested,” observed Swenson. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
Philip Keller in A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 writes, “When all is said and done the welfare of any flock is entirely dependent upon the management afforded them by their owner.
“The tenant sheepman on the farm next to my first ranch was the most indifferent manager I had ever met. He was not concerned about the condition of his sheep. His land was neglected. He gave little or no time to his flock, letting them pretty well forage for themselves as best they could, both summer and winter.” Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Tomorrow’s post will be the final one. Well, at least for the next week. Two or three times a year we take a break from blogging.
This next week is one of those times. Norma Jean and I will be celebrating our 47th wedding anniversary on August 23rd. So it’s a good time to enjoy a little R & R.
Two years ago when we took our anniversary trip, she asked, “You’re not going to do your blog on this trip are you?” Continue reading
Filed under Blogs
Tony Campolo tells the true story of two men who were traveling together on a train in London. Twenty minutes into their journey, one of the men suffered a seizure, stiffening and falling to the floor.
When this happened his friend immediately took off his own jacket, rolled it up, and put it behind the stricken man’s head. When the seizure was over, his friend lifted him back into the seat and cared for him. Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
ThePreachersWord 