I love snow. I look forward to it every year, and as I mentioned in a previous post, my family celebrates the first day of snow as a very special day. Not everyone shares our opinion. In fact, every time one of us expresses our love of snow, some of our friends make a point of reminding us of the dangers and challenges snow […]
What happened to civility? I know we are overburdened and rushed for time. I understand that we are working to make ends meet and worried about the current economic forecast. I recognize that we have opinions and passions, but when did it become acceptable to subjugate the way we respect and treat others in order to make ourselves and our agenda the only thing that matters. […]
Have you ever pondered what it means to, “give thanks?” We frequently use that expression to refer to offering a prayer before we eat our meal. Numerous times, I’ve been asked to, “say grace,” or, “return thanks,” before we share in a meal. I imagine that this afternoon, as we gather with friends to enjoy the Thanksgiving meal, I may be called upon to offer […]
The church is full of people who want to experience the power of God’s presence in their lives. They love Him and they want to know Him more. Yet many of those people live with an awareness that something is still missing. The key to unlocking that deep relationship with their Savior seems to constantly elude them. “Just what does it take,” they ask, “to […]
Failure dreams of prominencein my vision of this life.It strives to deny meaccess to the truth.Memories wished forgottencry out over the still small Voice. Given just a moment’s thought,my heart would cease to hold its trustthat forgiveness embraces failure’s demiseand yearns to release new sight. Beyond the chiding veilthe promise waits, untouched.Preserved in all its splendorit unceasingly declares,“It is finished.”
Today, is the culmination of our congregation’s annual stewardship campaign. On this Consecration Sunday, we ask people to reaffirm their commitment to be stewards of all God gives them. Yes, this involves a financial pledge, but in includes so much more. Stewardship can be an unpopular topic. We like our privacy. We tire of the media voices inundating us with requests for money, and honestly, […]
Irving Berlin, who lived to the age of 101, was a Russian Jewish immigrant who wrote nearly 1,000 songs, including “God Bless America,” ”White Christmas,” and “Easter Parade.” Until the end, he never stopped making music. The aging composer once said, “The question is, ‘Are you going to be a crabby old man or are you going to write another song?’” We all know life […]
I confess, I am one of those people who loves logic puzzles. I think it goes back to my childhood when my father would use them to get me to go to sleep, or to be quiet in the car. He would say, “Charlie, I will give you 50 cents if you can answer this,” and then there would be some mental puzzle about two […]
“Attitude is everything!” You’ve heard it said, maybe even said it yourself, but have you grasped the power of its truth? Our attitudes shape our perception of the present and our feelings about the future. They will chart our destiny and have the potential to affect multitudes of people within our sphere of influence. Popular Christian author and speaker Chuck Swindoll, writing on attitude said, […]