There are over 200 titles, names and metaphors in the Bible that identify Jesus. Christ. Lord. King. Priest. Immanuel. And Son of God.
However, Jesus most often referred to himself as the Son of Man. Why? What does it mean? How did it originate? And how it is relevant today? Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
“March Madness” has arrived! No, I’m not talking about the NCAA Basketball Tournament. But the annual “rite of passage” for many college students called “Spring Break”
This hedonistic, decadent, not-stop party extends from Miami’s South Beach, to South Padre Island and from Las Vegas to New Orleans. Various web articles tout the following headlines: Continue reading
Bill Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time,” recently spouted “this is a stupid country” because 60% of Americans believe in the Biblical narrative of Noah.
Regarding the upcoming movie “Noah”, Maher ranted that the Bible story was false and “immoral.” “It’s about a psychotic mass murderer who gets away with it and his name is God,” declared the avowed atheist. Continue reading
March Madness is here!
For the non-sports fan, I’m not talking about the weather! The NCAA basketball tournament begins this week. If you’re a basketball fan, it’s a great three-week ride.
There will be upsets. Highs and lows. Ups and downs. Incredible plays. Smiles and tears. Success and failure. Predictably, there will be a game where a team has a lead, then becomes tentative. Quits making the plays that put them ahead. At that point, the color commentator will say, “They’re playing not to lose, instead of playing to win.” Continue reading
What words, thoughts or mental pictures come to your mind when you hear the word “meek”?
Weak? Wimpy? Wishy-washy?
In the minds of most people a meek man is a “Mr. Milquetoast” kind of character scared of his own shadow. A “yes man” always giving in to others. Or a fellow like Uriah Heep out of a Charles Dickens novel, wringing his hands and whimpering, “I’m so humble, you know, so very humble.” Actually, he was more creepy than meek! Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
S. M. Lockridge (1913-2000) was a prominent African-American preacher known for his dynamic, passionate, and fervent sermons. His most famous sermon was “He’s my King.” Several years ago author and speaker Tony Campolo was so impressed by Lockridge’s lesson on “It’s Friday. But Sunday’s Coming!” that he began to deliver the lesson himself and even wrote a book with that title.
Two years ago we began a Friday column under that heading. Since we have so many new readers I would like to share again a part of that famous sermon by Lockridge. But first a brief explanation. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Well, here it is again. My birthday! When you’re a kid they can’t come quickly enough. When you get to my, uh, well, a certain age, they seem to come too quickly!
Some of my favorite stories and quips come to mind this morning.
A census taker knocked on Marg Montgomery’s door. She answered all his questions except one. Her age. Marg was adamant. She wasn’t telling. Continue reading
Filed under Age
Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of a New York City murder that shocked the nation and awoke its collective conscience.
Kitty Genovese, a 28-year old bar manager, was returning to her home in a middle-class area of Queens at 3:00 am. According to the NY Times report, she parked her car and began to walk to her second floor apartment just 35 yards away. But a man grabbed her under the glare of a street light. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
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
Filed under Christian Living, God
Words change their meaning. Become euphuisms. Or are highjacked by pop culture to mean something totally different than intended.
There is a classic scene in 1986 movie, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” where the Principle, Mr. Ronney, is discussing with his secretary, Grace, the problem of a wise guy who’s been skipping school.
Ronney says, “I don’t trust this kid any further than I can throw him.” He worries that Ferris Bueller will be a bad influence on the student body and undermine his ability to govern the school Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
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