White Flag Surrender
August 17, 2024 by admin
Filed under Life Topics
In our world today surrender is rarely a sign of anything good. In a stormy economy homes are being surrendered, in the Middle East our troops avoid surrender, in dieting—dieters surrender chocolate, fried foods and cheese. Surrender. It's uncomfortable, unnatural, and sometimes personally challenging. Simply put: it's hard.
A Symphony of Praise
There was a commercial a while back that I just loved. It showed a dad getting breakfast for a toddler who was being occupied on the kitchen floor with the pots and pans. The Dad was getting annoyed with the child's attempts at music until he came up with a solution. He put on earphones and listened to great music composers as his child looked happily on at Dad, who was now enjoying his son's musical talent. I see God doing the same thing for us.
The American Dream versus the God Dream
August 13, 2024 by admin
Filed under Personal Growth
Lately, many of our church people have been beset by foreclosures and financial problems beyond what you’d expect in this recession, plus losing a key person, identity theft, legal problems, citizenship problems, a car catching on fire on the freeway, a stroke, cancer—I don’t want to add any more. And we’re a small church!
Devoted
The house was large enough—and the marriage cold enough—that the husband and wife could claim the same address but barely toss each other an occasional glance.
Both were devoted to their jobs, working long hours, doing more than expected. Both devoted themselves to their children. Interviewers captured sound bytes that repeated, “It’s all about the children. Everything I do is for the children.” The unspoken sound byte? “It’s none about the marriage. Nothing I do is for the marriage.”
Hallowed or Hollowed?
We arrived at our ladies’ Bible study at the same moment and, as good Christians do, fought over who would let the other go ahead into the room.
“No, you first.”
“No, you.”
“I insist.”
“Well, thank you.”
“Love your new tote bag.”
“Thanks. I had to get a new one. Carrying both my study guide and my Bible every week split the bottom seam on my old tote,” I told her as we both headed for the most comfortable chair and mutely decided neither of us would take it.
