Cleland McAfee was a preacher and song writer from Parkville, Mo,. He lived in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. He was known for often writing his own songs that fit the theme of a sermon he was preaching. In 1903 he suffered the tragic loss of two infant nieces to diphtheria.
His daughter, in her book Near to the Heart of God, describes what happened. Continue reading
In the early days of our country’s founding Benjamin Franklin often spoke on the greatness of our newly formed Constitution.
Once at the conclusion of a stirring speech on the guarantees of the Constitution, a heckler shouted, “Aw, them words don’t mean nothin’ at all. Where’s all the happiness you say it guarantees us? Continue reading
Filed under Joy, Word of the Week
In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren writes, “The heart of worship is surrender.” He suggests that the idea of surrender is both unpopular as well as disliked. We are taught NOT to surrender. Never give up. Never give in. Fight to the bitter end. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss, became famous for writing children’s poems that were entertaining, easily understood, but contained a thoughtful moral. One insightful poem is “The Zoad In The Road.”
Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad?
Who came to a sign at the fork of the road?
He looked one way and the other way too –
The Zoad had to make up his mind what to do. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Several years ago I attended a seminar and heard a guy, Mike, tell the story about going to a movie. The movie began and the projector wasn’t correctly focused so that the images on the screen were distorted. After a minute or so and the problem was not corrected, a fellow stood up and turned back toward the projectionist and yelled FOCUS!” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Focus, Life
The soldiers of an infantry unit had been in the field for two weeks when the Sergeant announces, “I’ve got good news and bad news.”
“First the good news. Today we’re going to change our underwear.”
The troops start cheering wildly. Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
If you asked me, “Do you work-out?” I would say, “Yes. Usually on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”
However, in the past month, I’ve been away on two trips that’s affected my regular routine. Yesterday, I realized that it had been more than three weeks since I had worked-out. I had gotten out of the habit. And it was hard to get going again.
As I pushed myself to finish the Elliptical machine, I thought of the parallel spiritually and was reminded of Paul’s exhortation in I Timothy 4:7-8. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
“Proud of to an American” was a Fox News special hosted by Brian Kilmeade on July 4th. In addition to Fox commentators, they sent out camera crews to film both celebrities, and unknown Americans as they answered this question: “Why are you proud to be an American?”
The answers were varied. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
Communion is an important part of the Christian experience. It is fellowship. It is association. It is sharing or holding something in common with another. We have the privilege of communion with God. We enjoy communion with each other.
But there is a special sense in which we have communion. Paul used the word this way in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
I’m feeling a bit melancholy on this Saturday morning.
I probably shouldn’t feel this way, but I do. It’s a beautiful beginning to the day. It’s a very pleasant 60 degrees on my back porch. The sun is shining. Birds are chirping. Squirrels are scampering about the woods behind us. The deer are enjoying their morning “salt lick.” And the coffee is good.
Why don’t I feel in a celebratory mood? Continue reading
Filed under America
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