Rick Stacy, a Michigan preacher, tells a neat story about a man named Ken Bailey.
Ken was a laborer on the Alaska Pipeline back in the mid 1970’s. He worked a year and came back with $30,000. That was a lot of money 30 years ago! He blew it all in a month.
He went back and in six months made another $18,000. He came home again and this time he decided to visit the church where Rick preached. Continue reading
Filed under Repentance, Word of the Week
Florence Chadwick was an American swimmer who was the first woman to swim the English channel both ways.
In 1952 Chadwick decided to swim the 26 miles from Catalina Island to the California coastline. The day she stepped in the waters of the Pacific Ocean the weather was foggy and chilly. She was flanked by small boats, but could hardly see them. Continue reading
Filed under Christ, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Kansas City, Missouri, is the home of Hallmark. The company is over 100 years old. And is an iconic presence in the metro area. One of the members of our church family works there. And by all indications Hallmark is a responsible corporate citizen in our community.
You’ve seen their touching commercials. Received their wonderful cards. And probably visited their unique stores. You know they have a special product. But the prolific author anonymous has composed a list of “Cards You’ll Never See at Hallmark.” Continue reading
Filed under Encouragement
“The windmilling fists and stomping feet rain down blows on the 13-year-old boy,” reports CNN.
“Trapped on the floor between the bus seats, he cries out as he receives fierce punch after vicious kick from the three bigger, older youths.”
The video just surfaced yesterday. It’s stunning. Shocking. And frightening. St Petersburg, Florida, bus driver, John Moody, called dispatcher and yelled, You gotta get somebody here quick, quick, quick, quick. They’re about to beat this boy to death over here.” Continue reading
Filed under Culture
Yesterday’s post about Norma Jean and I being in Tulsa for a marriage training workshop elicited varied reactions. Some were posted. Some were personal to me. Others were on facebook. I think it touched a nerve.
I appreciate all the responses. Especially the encouraging and kind words. I liked the funny ones as well that were posted on facebook.
“I didn’t know the FBI did training.” That was FDI, Mark! As in Family Dynamics Institute.
“Thanks Ken, this may help some of my “friends” here on FB better understand us oddball Christians.” Well, Harold, sadly, I guess promoting God-ordained marriage seems “oddball” to many people.
But my favorite was from Alyee. Continue reading
Filed under Marriage
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.
Sixteen months 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!
Even if you’re not a baseball fan, it would be difficult to miss the big news of the latest scandal involving performance enhancing drugs.
Ryan Braun is already serving a negotiated 65 game suspension. It’s rumored as many as 20 others may be found guilty including New York Yankee superstar Alex Rodriguez. While many are continuing to work with MLB, negotiating shorter suspensions, A-Rod has vowed to fight it. Continue reading
The aftermath of the George Zimmerman murder trial in the death of 17-year-old Travyon Martin, has sparked renewed conversations regarding race relations in America.
Politicians, social activists and news commentators have all weighed in. And with varying viewpoints. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson’s opinions are markedly different from other well-known black men like Dr. Ben Carson and Juan Williams. President Obama has shared some of his personal experiences. And recently Bill O’Reilly has spoken passionately on this issue, calling out those he believes are “race-hustlers.” Continue reading
Filed under character
Larry’s boyhood dream was to fly. After graduating from high school he joined the air force. But poor eyesight disqualified him from flying. When he was discharged, he had to be content just to watch the Jets fly over his Long Beach CA neighborhood. Then one day the 33-year-old truck driver got a “bright idea!” Continue reading
Filed under Life
Do you remember Tracy Lippard, the tall, beautiful, blond, beauty queen from West Virginia? She was dubbed by the media “the psycho-Barbie doll gone bad.”
After crowning her successor, she drove 275 miles seeking revenge against her boy friend who had jilted her for another woman, Melissa Weikle. She took with her a 9-mm semi-automatic pistol. A butcher knife. Rubber gloves. A bottle of lighter fluid. And a hammer. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
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