Month: September 2014
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The Trap of Imagined Perfection
The call was a reminder of a moment in time when I was less than godly! I felt the weight of failure settle on me. Regret and remorse came to visit me as well. “Why did you make that choice?” I asked myself. I refuse to live in shame, however. Our sins are fully forgiven […]
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Nobody, from Nowhere, with Nothing
Do you ever read about people making a difference in the world and wonder if your life counts for much? When you are challenged to ‘reach the world for Christ’ do you feel inspiration and guilt in about equal measures? I know that response! Billy Graham preached to millions and brought the Gospel to hundreds […]
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Everyday Wisdom, Take it!
Proverbs, read from it lately? This book in the Holy Bible is not the same kind of spiritual nourishment as Ephesians but to ignore it is to miss out on God’s rich resource of wisdom. Proverbs does not unfold rich doctrines of grace, for example, but every line is full of pithy, practical truth for […]
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“Lord, help him to understand he is an idiot.”
Ever had a “difference of opinion” with someone? There are plenty of things to differ over – some that really matter. Often the real issue is just ‘what I think.’ A statement as benign as “I think avocados taste like dirt” will bring on a challenge. (Really, I do not care for avocados, but if […]
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Words for River Crossings
Words for River Crossings Here we go, again. There are problems waiting to be solved, people who want counsel, letters to write, messages to prepare, decisions to be made … and it’s only 6 AM on Monday! Does your week look like that, too? Does a river of responsibilities flood the way in front of […]
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Heaven and Home and Hope!
“You’re pre-occupied, honey, aren’t you?” Bev noted last night. And, so I was. I’ll be ministering to a family of a young woman today and my mind was thinking about their loss. Driving through our town yesterday I realized anew that Christ’s church has much to do in leading others to know Him. Our troubled […]
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Jesus-style Leadership
People have opportunities to lead – in their family, at their church, in civic organizations, at work, and in government. Not all leaders are generals or Presidents! No army could function without its sergeants (a word that comes from a Latin word meaning ‘one who serves’). Don’t make the error of believing that only those […]
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Help Wanted!
Imagine a person thinking that being the President of the United States was only about getting a big limousine in a motorcade, having a band play “Hail to the Chief” when he entered the room, and traveling in the luxury of Air Force One! There are perks that go with the office, but the cost […]
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Think you’re “Mr. Wonderful”?
Hubris is the point of vulnerability in us all! What’s hubris? It is “excessive pride or self-confidence, arrogance.” We want to believe the wonderful things about ourselves that others say. A great compliment is encouraging. Caution is in order, however. None of us has life completely mastered nor has any of us conquered every sin. Young or […]
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Follow the leader
Rodney Atkins released a song a few years ago, “Watching You.” It’s about his little boy copying the things he sees his Dad doing, saying the words he hears his Dad saying. “He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands Spoke to God like he was talkin’ to a friend And I said, “Son, […]