The late Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was one of the best players in professional basketball. His workout regimen was legendary and his dedication to the fundamentals of the sport was uncompromising.
The story is told that Nike sent Alan Stein, Jr to witness one of Bryant’s workouts. When he arrived at 4:00 am, Kobe was already dripping with sweat with a warmup before the workout. For the next 45 minutes Stein watch Bryant work on basic basketball drills. Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
My friend and preaching colleague, Steve Wolfgang, recently posted a 1974 article by the late Robert Turner from his Plain Talk paper. It’s definitely worthy of wide circulation.
Read. Profit. Apply. And share. Continue reading
Filed under Communication, facebook friday
The church is full of hypocrites.
White people are racists.
Black people hate white people.
Men are all afraid of commitment.
Poor people are lazy.
Rich people are greedy. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
President Trump has been criticized this week for his photo op when he walked from the White House to the historical St. John’s Church that had been set on fire by some protestors and was photographed waving a Bible.
There are conflicting news reports whether the President ordered peaceful protestors cleared from the area to walk to St John’s. Or if Attorney General William Barr had already ordered the protestors to be moved back a block for safety. Continue reading
Filed under Bible
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
These familiar words, often seen on plaques, were written by the American theologian, Richard Niebuhr, and is commonly known as “The Serenity Prayer.” They speak to challenges we all face in life. But the ability to properly deal with our ever changing and often unexpected circumstances hinges on wisdom. Continue reading
The 19th century American Humorist, Samuel Clemens a.k.a. Mark Twain was known as a critic of organized religion. He often poked fun at preachers and their preaching.
One Sunday Twain attended a Sunday service. Afterward, he met the preacher at the door and said he had a book at home with every word he preached that morning.
The minister assured him that the sermon was an original. Twain still held his position. So the preacher demanded to see this book. Twain said he would send it over to his office the next morning. Continue reading
Filed under Gospel
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I have seen the above snow scene with its accompanying advice posted on facebook several times lately. And most recently by my preaching colleague, John Maddocks, in Toronto, Canada. I suspect John will have many opportunities for joy this winter.
While this thought may elicit a chuckle, it speaks to a universal truth and a Biblical principle. Accept the inevitable. Learn to be content. And find joy in all circumstances.
The apostle Paul expressed it this way. Continue reading
Filed under Joy
This story may be apocryphal, but it is said that when Alexander the Great, who created an empire that stretched from his home in Macedonia to India, arrived in Persia in 334BC he ordered his ships burned.
As his few thousand troops were facing a few hundred thousand of the enemy, one of his commanders asked, “How will we get home?” Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
In his book, “God in My Corner,” former heavyweight boxing champion, George Foreman, shares this personal story about the Bible.
“In 1974, before I went to Africa to fight Muhammad Ali, a friend gave me a Bible to take along on my trip. He said, “George, keep this with you for good luck.”
“I believed the Bible was just a shepherd’s handbook, probably because the only verse I knew was “the Lord is my shepherd.” But I was always looking for luck, so I carried that Bible with me. I had lucky pennies and good luck charms, so now I added the “lucky” Bible to my collection of superstitious items.” Continue reading
Filed under Bible
The American Humorist, Mark Twain, told it, so it must be true! Supposedly he once overheard a prominent and wealthy businessman, known for his ruthless behavior, brag, “Before I die I’m making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Then I’m going to Mt.Sinai, climb to top and read the Ten Commandments.” Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
ThePreachersWord 