Recently, beloved entertainer Dick Van Dyke—who has just reached the remarkable milestone of 100 years on December 13th —was interviewed by People magazine.
During the interview, Van Dyke admitted he was nearing the end of his life.
When asked about death. His answer was candid and straightforward: “When you expire, you expire.” Continue reading
Filed under Death
In the Peanuts comic strip, we find Snoopy lying down, looking forlorn, and thinking to himself.
In the first frame he thinks, “Yesterday I was a dog. Today I’m a dog.”
In the second frame he thinks, Tomorrow I’ll probably still be a dog.
In the third frame, he walks away with a sigh. Continue reading
Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
Following yesterday’s post, 5 Things To Do During Troubling Times, here’s a succinct list, adapted from Master’s University professor Glenda Hotton, an author, counselor, and lecturer, on where to look when facing adversity, challenges, and problems.
If you’re a new reader of the ThePreachersWord, you can access the previous 11 Friday’s lists by clicking here. Continue reading
Filed under Friday's List to Life By
As we continue living through this new normal, which is so abnormal, our hearts are touched by the amount of sickness and death we are seeing and hearing reported by the media.
In fact, by now you may know someone who’s contracted COVID-19. We know a few folks personally who are suffering from it. And so far, thankfully winning the battle.
Yet, in the midst of this current crisis we continue to hear uplifting stories. Stories of heroism. Courage. And self-sacrifice. People helping people. Neighbors looking after one another. Shepherds employing innovative ways to watch for souls. Preachers learning and using new techniques to teach and preach the gospel. Continue reading
Filed under COVID-19, Encouragement
Investor and philanthropist Eugene Lang, who died in 2017 at the age of 98 gave away $150 million and assisted 16,000 students to attend college over the course of his lifetime.
Once Lang was speaking to a class of 59 sixth graders in East Harlem. He wanted to inspire these predominantly black and Puerto Rican kids to get a good education. But the children seem disconnected and disinterested Continue reading
Filed under 20/20 Vision Series, Hope
Last week while returning home alone from Lafayette, Louisiana (Yes, I left Norma Jean to enjoy our new granddaughter), I was listening to music, reading road signs and generally anything to stay mentally alert.
Somewhere along I-20, I noticed this billboard with a great message.
Filed under Bible
In the past month I have learned of several of my friends, family and brethren who are dealing with the dreaded disease of cancer. I have some idea how the families feel.
I have lost so many friends and family members to this ugly enemy called cancer. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. Grandparents. And my own mother. I have seen it ravage the bodies of the young and old alike. Continue reading
Filed under Hope
Joseph Bayly, in his book The View From A Hearse, tells of what he said to offer hope to a woman whose small son was dying.
“It’s good to know, isn’t it,” I spoke slowly, choosing my words with unusual care, “that even though the medical outlook is hopeless, we can have hope for our children in such a situation. We can be sure that after our child dies, he’ll be completely removed from sickness and suffering and everything like that, and be completely well and happy.” Continue reading
Filed under Hope
Paul Fritz calls them “the triad of Christian virtues.” R. Davies wrote, “These three graces form the essential elements of the Christian character. An unknown author referred to them as “the holy and beautiful sisterhood of Christians virtues.”
In fact, without these three virtues it’s impossible to make it to heaven.
What are they? Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
File this under “I didn’t know that.”
“Every second, the world conducts more than 40,000 Google searches, creates 5 new facebook profiles, and opens YouVersion’s Bible App 112 times.”
I learned this when, as one the 40,000, I Googled “most popular verses in the Bible.” Since I write on a special verse each Wednesday, I was curious what the average internet user considered an important passage. Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
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