Billy Sunday once said in a sermon that there are 256 names given for Jesus in the Bible. Then he added, “I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.”
This is significant because the Bible pays particular attention to names. Names speak to one’s character. Identity. Personality. And purpose in life.
The many names of Jesus remind of us His greatness. His majesty. His Deity. His ministry. His mission. And our relationship to Him. Continue reading
Filed under Jesus
S. M. Lockridge (1913-2000) was a prominent African-American preacher known for his dynamic, passionate, and fervent sermons. One of his fiery lessons was “It’s Friday. But Sunday’s coming!”
In the early days of our blogging we wrote a column with that title. For two years we looked at the narrative of Jesus’ crucifixion to see the drastic change in people’s lives and the world’s history from six hours that Friday to very early Sunday morning.
Friday was a metaphor for betrayal. Denial. Cowardice. Hate. Suffering. Despair. Defeat. And death. But Sunday symbolized victory. Help. Hope. Healing. Love. Joy. And eternal life. Continue reading
Filed under COVID-19, It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
How is your night vision?
It is common to hear older people say, “I don’t drive at night.” Why? Their night vision is not very good. So, they don’t want to take a chance of having an accident.
Even it your night vision is pretty good, have you ever spent the night in a strange place and woke up in the night and it’s pitch black. No light. Nothing to help you see a thing. It’s a strange and eerie feeling. Continue reading
Filed under Vision
“Jacob’s Ladder,” was a 1980’s hit written by Bruce Hornsby and performed by Huey Lewis and the News. Remember them?
The song was set in Birmingham, Alabama, and married the Biblical image of Jacob’s ladder with someone who rejects a proselytizing evangelist, preferring to struggle through life one day at the time. In part the lyrics go like this. Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
David Beckley, who spoke on Wednesday’s Florida College Lecture program, wrote in the lecture book, “Africa is known as the “Dark Continent,” and for a very good reason.” David ought to know he’s spent the past twelve years preaching in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
“The ignorance and fear of the spirits, nyanga (witch doctor) curses, ancestor worship, multiple wives and muti killings (killing for body parts to give supposed special powers) are just a few characteristics of the darkness that exists there,” writes David. Continue reading
The Old Testament Scripture told the Jews, “You must not plough with an ox and a donkey harnessed together” (Deut 22:10). The idea is that there are certain things that are totally incompatible with one another.
Most of us, at least in America, are not doing any plowing with animals, but we know some things just don’t go together.
Like Aluminum foil and microwaves.
Gourmet and “all-u-can-eat” Continue reading
Filed under Florida College Lectures, Light
This week Norma Jean and I are in Tampa, Florida, attending the Florida College Lectures. This year’s theme is: “Light Shall shine Out of Darkness: God’s Light in an Age of Darkness.”
In the forward to the lecture book, Florida College President Buddy Payne wrote, “Ever since the beginning of the world, God has proven Himself to be the Giver of Light in all its forms. He inhabits light. He is light. He made the light of this world, and He has sent His spiritual light to earth personably in Jesus, who Himself is the Light of the World. Everything God is and does is described as light.” Continue reading
Filed under Florida College Lectures, God
Picture this. The famous American artist Thomas Kinkade is painting a winter scene. Snow blankets the ground and the pine trees. Night is falling. The landscape is enveloped in semi-darkness. A cabin is shrouded in the shadows. The scene is one of gloom.
Then the artist adds some yellow, orange and brighter tints. He puts a cheerful glow on a lamp and lights the cabin windows. The golden ray reflects on the snow, The impression of the painting is completely transformed. In contrast to the cold darkness of the surrounding forest, the light creates a warm feeling of love and security. Continue reading
Filed under Florida College Lectures, Word of the Week
Lloyd Leavitt has lived all of his life in Barrow, Alaska. For 57 years he has endured the cold. The snow. The sub-zero freeze that blankets the little town on the farthest northern tip of the state. But he’ll tell you that what really gets to him are the weeks of continual darkness.
In Barrow the sun sets on November 18 and it doesn’t rise again until January 24th. For sixty-five days the sun doesn’t shine! “There comes a time,” Leavitt says, “when you don’t know if it’s morning or evening; you get confused.” Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!
Floyd Hammer and Kathy Hamilton were honored at the White House Monday afternoon by President Obama. Also in attendance at the ceremony former President George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara.
So who are Floyd and Kathy? What did they do? And why were they honored? Continue reading
Filed under Light
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