“I feel like a failure,” lamented the voice on the other end of the line.
I could hear the hurt. I could feel the frustration. I could envision the embarrassment. I understood. I have heard it all through the years. Moral failures. Marriage failures. Parenting failures. Financial failures. Continue reading
Filed under Failure
Gene Robinson, the Episcopal bishop whose open and brazenly homosexual lifestyle ripped apart his denomination, announced that he is divorcing his male partner of 25 years.
Robinson made national news when he was elected as the first openly homosexual bishop of the Episcopal church in 2003. In protest, Conservative Episcopalians quit the church and formed the Anglican church in North America. Continue reading
Filed under Homosexuality
For five years Wolfgang Dircks had received little notes from annoyed neighbors at his little Hamburg apartment. One read, “You have again failed to sweep the staircase.”
There were 17 families who shared the same apartment complex. They knew little about Dircks, except he was divorced, disabled, and difficult to get along with. Left crippled after a hip surgery, he was a bitter, lonely man. Yet the neighbors would put his name on the rotation for chores and he always missed his turn. They simply dismissed it as the inconsiderate and stubborn man he was. No one thought about ringing his door bell and asking, “Why?” Continue reading
Filed under Relationships
Teddy Roosevelt, our 26th President, was quite a colorful character. He was an author, naturalist, historian and explorer. When the Spanish-American war broke out in 1898, he helped form the famous “Rough Riders.” And for a period of time he operated a ranch in the Dakotas. His reputation was one of honor. Honesty. And integrity. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
During the Communion service, to help fix my mind on Jesus, I like to read the accounts of Christ’s crucifixion.
One Sunday I was reading John’s account and came upon a verse I hadn’t noticed before. I was stunned. Shocked. Startled. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Many years ago Norma Jean gave me a little gift book entitled, “As A Man Thinketh,” by James Allen.
It speaks to the power of thought. The importance of putting into our minds good, wholesome and positive thoughts. And how our thoughts form our character. Allen says, “thought and character are one.” Continue reading
Filed under Attitude
In a recent “Thought For The Day,” Alan Smith shared this great story!
There once was an older man who went out jogging. He was running around a track that circled the high school football field while the team was conducting their practice. When the football players began running their sprints up and down the field, the man said to himself, “I’ll just keep running until they quit.” So they ran. And he ran. And they kept on running. So he kept on running. Continue reading
Filed under Anger
What do you believe is our greatest human weakness?
Is it pride that refuses to admit mistakes, sins and errors of judgment?
Is it greed that is absorbed in the accumulation of money and material possessions?
Is it lust that is in mad pursuit of pleasure and sensual excitement?
Maybe you’re thinking it’s anger. Envy. Or deceit.
Let me suggest that is it none of the above. The greatest human weakness is….. Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living, Uncategorized
This story is “as old as dirt” but I still like it!
A man visited a church one Sunday that was a more formal and liturgical church than he was used to attending. The church was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. That made it all the more obvious when this fellow got excited during the preacher’s sermon and shouted out “Praise the Lord!” Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Surrender is a bad word today.
Surrender means losing. Quitting. Failing. It evokes images of a soldier “raising the white flag.” Of a boxer” throwing in the towel.” Or a wrestler “Tapping out.”
Surrender is negative. It is yielding to an opponent. Admitting defeat. Or forfeiting the contest. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
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