“Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross” is one of the most popular hymns written by Fanny Crosby. Blinded in infancy by a Doctor’s negligence, Crosby was influenced by a godly grandmother and inspired by the famous poet William Cullen Bryant when she was a student at the New York Institute for the Blind. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Friedrich Schleiermacher was an 18th century German philosopher and theologian. He became famous for trying to reconcile the criticisms of The Enlightenment with “traditional Protestant Christianity.” He is often called “the Father of modern liberal theology.”
The story is told that one day as an old man he was sitting alone on a bench in a city park. A policeman saw him and thought he was a vagrant. So he came over, shook him and asked, “Who are you?” Schleiermacher sadly replied, “I wish I knew.” Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
Fifty years ago today, January 8, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson, in his state of the union address declared “an unconditional war on poverty in America.”
According to analysis by the Cato Institute our government at the federal and state level has spent in excess of $15 Trillion on anti-poverty programs in the past 50 years. And the result? Almost the same number of people are living below the poverty level as in 1964. Columnist Cal Thomas quipped, “The lack of government programs did not cause poverty, and spending vast sums of money has not eliminated it.” Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
During my self-imposed holiday hiatus ThePreachersWord missed out on the whole Duck Dynasty flap!
While I was away, Duck Commander, Phil Robertson, was put on suspension by the A & E network for his comments in GQ magazine regarding homosexuality. Every news show, talk show, cable TV host, call in radio show and about anyone involved in media opined on Robertson. Duck Dynasty. Free speech. Freedom of religion. And homosexuality. Continue reading
Do you remember when churches used to have kids come up front before worship began to sing and have a short devotional?
I heard about one preacher who was going to teach the children about industry and preparation by using squirrels as an object lesson. He began by saying, “I’m going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is. OK?” The children grinned. Nodded. And waited with anticipation. Continue reading
Filed under Jesus, Word of the Week
The supper has ended. Jesus has washed the disciples feet. He identifies His betrayer. And Judas has left the gathering and gone out into the night.
As they walk from the upper room and journey toward the Gethsemane’s garden, the disciples minds are racing with questions. Their hearts are troubled. There seems to be a sense of foreboding. Jesus, of course, knows their perplexing thoughts. He says, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
What if you woke up this morning, January 2, 2014, and you were Jesus?
Oh, you still live in the same house and have the same family. You don’t look any different! You still have the same problems. Challenges. Health issues. You have the same job. Boss. And co-workers. You still attend the same church. The experience and circumstances of your life are exactly the same. Except for one thing! Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Last night our church family gathered for a New Year’s Eve Party. We ate. We sang. We laughed. We played games. We even had a balloon drop at midnight. And we hugged and wished each other a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Those words have a special ring to them. They are filled with joy. Excitement. Expectation. And well-wishes. They usher in the new year with a renewed hope. Optimism for better days ahead. The feeling of a fresh start. A clean slate. The opportunity to begin anew. Continue reading
(This post has received the most views of any post during 2013 and 2012)
Monday was a historical day. On MLK day our first black President was sworn into office for a second term. But there was something else. For the first time in an Inaugural speech, a President used the word “gay” to address sexual orientation and promote same-sex marriage.
President Obama also invoked “Stonewall” a gay bar in Greenwich, where in 1969 a police raid sparked riots. He placed it the same category as 1848 Women’s right convention in Seneca Falls, and the 1965 civil rights March in Selma, Alabama.
And what is my response?
View original post 599 more words
Filed under Uncategorized
(This post was the second most viewed by our readers in2013)
I’ve said it before. I hate death. I hate the sorrow it brings. I hate the emptiness it leaves. I hate the relationships it ruptures. I hate the burden it bears.
And Death ever lurks. Looking over our shoulder. Sneering. Leering. Waiting to strike. Leaving its hurt. And about the time we’ve had some healing, death invades our homes and hearts again.
It seems to be happening all too often lately. Last Sunday I received one of the calls. I knew by the voice. The tone. The words that said, “Have you heard…..” This time is was my friend Ted Brewer.
View original post 603 more words
Filed under Uncategorized
ThePreachersWord 