What if you were told you only had six months to live? What would you do? What would you tell your wife? Your children? Your friends? What advice would you offer? If the elders gave you an opportunity to speak to the church, what would be your final words?
Randy Pausch, a terminally ill computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was given that opportunity. On Continue reading
How quickly things can change. We’ve all experienced it. That heart-rending phone call with a sobbing voice on the other end with tragic news. The results of a test and the Doctor’s unfavorable prognosis. The husband announces that he’s leaving to the shock of his wife and children. A close associate who betrays your trust. A once devoted friend who cowardly leaves when you need him the most. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!, Jesus, Life
For five years, Wolfgang Dircks had received little notes from annoyed neighbors at his apartment in Hamburg. One read, “You have again failed to sweep the staircase.”
17 families shared the same apartment complex. They knew little about Dircks, except that he was divorced, disabled, and challenging 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 doorbell and asking, “Why?”
Then one day, to their surprise, they discovered why. Continue reading
Filed under Relationships
If you have wondered how far our amoral culture could sink after promoting same-sex marriage, this gives you a glimpse.
Nick Cassavetes, director of the popular romance movie ‘The Notebook,” was at the Toronto Film Festival last week promoting a new film, “Yellow.” The lead character, Mary, visits her brother in prison and soon the two are engaged in an incestuous relationship. Continue reading
This week I’m in a meeting with a church in Butler County, Kentucky, called Christian Home. I’m not sure how it received that name, but it’s an old congregation. Some have said over 100 years old. My grandparents attended this church in the 1930’s. My Mother, Mattie, was baptized here in Welch’s Creek. Continue reading
Filed under Family, Fellowship
A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little one’s chest would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up with wonderment. But she never got a response to equal four-year old David’s. Gently he tucked the stethoscope in his ears and placed the disk over his heart. Continue reading
Filed under Jesus
Another day. Another Friday. Another early morning when the rooster crowed. Folks were awakened. There is work to be done. Business to take care of. People to see. Preparations to be made for Sabbath worship.
A neighbor mentioned some commotion going on in the night. Some criminals captured. A late night and early morning meeting of the Sanhedrin. Odd. But there a day’s business ahead. There is a crowd in town and a buzz about a crucifixion. Guess they found that criminal guilty. But there’s things to do and no time to worry about that. Continue reading
Filed under Cross, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
In a particular PEANUTS cartoon, the team “statistician” brings Charlie Brown, the manager, his report.
“I’ve compiled the statistics on our baseball team for last season,” Linus says. “In 12 games we ALMOST scored a run and in 9 games the other team ALMOST didn’t score before the first out. In right field, Lucy ALMOST caught 3 balls and once ALMOST made the right play.”
“We led the league,” he concludes, “in ‘ALMOSTS,’ Charlie Brown.” Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living, Discipleship
“God bless you.” “And God bless America.” How many times did we hear some version of “God bless” during the past two weeks of the Republican and Democratic National conventions? Almost every speaker invoked God’s blessing once or twice at the end of every speech.
But I was struck by the irony of asking for God to bless America all the while advocating moral positions that are contrary to the will of God. Abortion. Homosexuality. Same-Sex marriage. So as I thought about all the request for God to bless America, I wondered…..will He? Continue reading
Today is the anniversary of 911. It is this generation’s “day of infamy.” We all remember where we were. What we were doing. Who we were with. It’s been 11 years, but it seems like yesterday.
The attack of 911 was devastating on several levels. The tragic loss of innocent life. Destruction of the landmark twin towers. Harm to our economy. And the changes that have occurred impacting our way of life such as air travel. Continue reading
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