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!
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!
W. A. Criswell tells a story about the Duke of Wellington once attending a small church in England. It was their custom to come to the front and kneel down to receive communion. The Duke, who had just been honored as a hero in the battle of Waterloo, came forward and knelt down.
About the same time a poor ragged old man came down from the other side of the building and knelt beside the Duke. Immediately a deacon came up behind the old man, gently placed a hand on his shoulder and quietly whispered for the man to move farther away from the Duke. Or to rise and wait until the Duke had taken communion. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Elizabeth Cecelia Clephane was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1830. Her parents died when she was a child. And she died at the young age of 39, having lived most of her life with illness.
Deeply religious and concerned about others, Elizabeth ministered to the downtrodden in the village of Melrose, where she lived most of her life. She was bright. Clever. And cheerful. People in the village called her “Sunbeam.” But Clephane didn’t see herself that way. She wrote these words: Continue reading
Filed under Cross, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
The Conscience Fund. It’s real. You can check it out. It’s used for voluntary contributions from people who have stolen from or defrauded the US Government. It was created in 1811 when a private citizen sent a check for $5.00 saying he had “misappropriated government funds while serving as a quartermaster in the Army.” He said he felt guilty.
“Suppose we call this a contribution to the conscience fund and get it announced in the newspapers,” suggested Treasury Secretary Francis Spinner. “Perhaps we will get some more.”
In the first twenty years the fund received $250,000. Here are some interesting contributions. Continue reading
Filed under Cross, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Rembrandt van Rijn was a Dutch artist who lived in the 17th century. One of his most famous paintings is the Raising of the Cross, which he completed for Prince Frederick Henry. The painting, now housed in a museum in Münich Germany, is a sobering portrayal of the cross being lifted up as Jesus hangs on it.
As the Roman soldiers are lifting up the cross, there is another figure helping. If you look closely, you will see a man at Jesus’ feet wearing a blue painter’s beret. He is obviously not a character from the first century. So who is it? Continue reading
Filed under Cross, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
I’ve never been to Rio de Janeiro. But I’ve seen the picture. You know the one. It’s the famous “Christ the Redeemer” statue that overlooks the city.
It’s 130 feet high. The wingspan is 63 feet. And the head is 9 feet tall! Those who’ve seen it in person marvel at its majesty. Author Max Lucado says the first time he saw the magnificent Cristo Redenter two things caught his eye through the telephoto lens of his camera. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
There’s an old story about a little girl who proudly wore a shiny cross on a chain around her neck. One day she was approached by a man who said to her,
“Little girl, don’t you know that the cross Jesus died on wasn’t beautiful like the one you’re wearing? It was an ugly, wooden thing.”
She was surprised by the stranger’s affront. But then quickly replied: Continue reading
Filed under Cross, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Many people in Jennie Hussey’s circumstances would have looked for a way out. A way of escape. A way of relief. But not this woman. Not Jennie Hussey.
When friends and neighbors came to visit and cheer up Jennie, they were received with her radiant smile and spirit of joy. No griping. No grumbling. No complaining. But an attitude of encouragement that both amazed and lifted her friends.
For most of her life, this 5th generation Quaker lived in the same New Hampshire farmhouse as her ancestors. For decades Jennie worked tirelessly as she cared for and attended to the needs of her helpless, invalid sister.
How did she do it? Why did she do it? What was Jennie Hussey’s secret? Continue reading
Filed under Cross, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
“A Mother’s immeasurable love for a child she couldn’t save.”
The headline jumped off the screen. The dateline was Dallas. May 11, 2013. The journalist Steve Hartman wrote:
“Beyond the biological mandate, there’s something about mothering that defies science and borders on the divine — something especially palpable in this mom from Keller, Texas, named Brenda Gorman.”
He tells about Brenda and her husband Gary who decided to adopt a four-year orphan girl, Zia, from the Congo. All was going well until the Agency called with the bad news that Zia had a rare and fatal heart defect. Then they asked Brenda, “Do you still want her?” Continue reading
Filed under Cross, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
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