I got this by email from a cousin of mine. He and I do not see eye-to-eye on many things, but we are very close on the things that are really important. One of which is your attitude toward the tough times in life. How you handle adversities and obstacles. Here’s the parable he sent me:
Read moreThe main focus of John 3:16 is God’s love for people. He loves ALL the people, all over the world, in all eras, ages, ethnic groups, and countries. So God loves everyone, EVERYONE? No matter when they lived, where they lived, what skin color or creed? Even, those _______ (you fill in that blank with someone that you just KNOW God can’t possibly love)? If, as some religions say, all of us are God’s children, which religion is the “right one”? Or is there a “right one”? Most zealots of many major religions would answer that question with a resounding “Yes, MY religion is the right one!” Well …
Read moreSome things are not as they seem, and if we judge something quickly, we may miss something very special about it. Several songs are that way. If you don’t know the background, or as Paul Harvey so often said, “The Rest of the Story” then you deprive yourself of beauty and warmth. One such example is the story behind this song. You may wonder how “The Twelve Days of Christmas” still fits into the 2020s. It is not simply an archaic design by the songwriter, it is much, much more!
Read moreThere is a proverb in the book of Proverbs, that is of such stature that it is found in two separate places, both as Proverbs 14:12, and Proverbs 16:25. In the Hebrew style, most such repetition occurs immediately, for the sake of emphasis. So to have a phrase found in two completely unrelated places is very different, in fact, unique. I want to analyze this twice-stated proverb, and try to see what it really means to us today.
Read moreIn my time in the Navy, I was taught that problems needed to be named in such a way that the name pointed toward the solution. For example, when someone did not know how to do their job, it was called a “training” problem. If they did not have the tools or parts they needed to fix something, it was a “supply” problem. When we did not have enough people to do the job, it was a “personnel” problem. If someone misbehaved, it was a “discipline” problem. Yes, when morale was down, it was a “leadership” problem.
So, when we say that something is “addictive”, we are blaming the substance and not looking at the real solution to the problem.
Read moreI am sad that so many Christians “dis” non-Christians. It’s also sad that non-Christians “dis” others. It’s like we forget what we were, and think that we somehow “fixed” ourselves. Yes, I have personally met Jesus, so I have no choice but to believe He exists and did what is claimed. But why should I look down on someone that has not yet met Jesus? How do you truly KNOW that someone exists unless you meet them in person? That these posts appear on my blog only proves that this blog has an author, but not that it’s me! I want to share the attitude Jesus has towards people!
Read moreMany people don’t like using “old” words from previous generations. Who uses “groovy” anymore? We are more comfortable using words that are contemporary, or at least with their “current” meaning. “Gay” once meant happy, joyous and having a positive attitude. That’s not what it means here in the 21st century. Despite this, the church holds tightly to words that no longer have meaning in today’s world, or are even used outside the church. “Faith” is one such word, and I am convinced it is misunderstood and misused.
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