Negativity Spreads

Others had impotent gods who were powerless to intervene. But these people had the only true and mighty God as their God. They had seen displays of His mighty power. When they were slaves in a foreign land He delivered them. When the Red Sea became an obstacle, their God simply cut a path through the waters so they could walk to the other side on dry ground. When they were thirsty, He caused water to flow in the most unlikely places. Their God made them into a nation and was taking them to a new land that would be their own.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Ever the Shepherd

Cruel, impatient, hostile, rough and careless are words you would not use to describe the qualities of a good shepherd. The word 'shepherd' conjures up images of affection, care, diligence, patience, gentleness, guidance, etc.

[Read the rest of this article...]

No Funeral Procession for Your Priest

She wasn't very pleased as she sat with her ailing husband in the doctor's office. She explained that her husband was getting very forgetful but she added: "At least, he's got a doctor." Her own doctor up and died three years ago and she hasn't been able to find a new doctor yet. She misses having a doctor who is familiar with her medical history. She finds it very unsettling going to a different doctor each time. She tries to explain her problem and how it might be associated with a symptom she had three years ago but she doesn't have much confidence that the doctor-of-the-day is seeing the complete picture.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Who is your Real Boss?

Maybe you are working today at the drive-thru of a popular fast food restaurant. Perhaps you are a carpenter's helper or an emergency response worker or a custodian or an accountant or a lifeguard at the civic swimming pool. Regardless of where you are working, you most likely have some kind of a boss.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Are You Enjoying Being a Priest?

No, you haven't even attended, let alone graduated from a seminary. You haven't done the eight years of study required after high school. You haven't studied philosophy nor have you taken courses in dogmatic, moral and pastoral theology. You may know very little about church history or canon law and even less about homiletics. You have never officiated at a church ceremony nor have you ever publicly stood and prayed to God. Some priest you are!

[Read the rest of this article...]

Who Did You Last Tell?

Let's say your friend is dying from a deadly illness. It just so happened that two years ago you received the same bleak and crushing news from your doctor. The same diagnosis in the same part of your body. Through your research you came across a cure in Sweden or Switzerland or Swaziland and it was no hoax. You were cured 100%. Today as you read this you are enjoying a clean bill of health. Now you have just heard the news about your friend.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Who's Rooting for You?

When someone tells me they are rooting for me, I assume they are interested in my well being and my success. It's a nice feeling to know that someone is rooting for you. I was athletically challenged so I never felt the rush of having a bunch of people screaming: "Rah! Rah! Rah! Go, boy, Go!"

The first organized, recorded yell at a sporting event was at a football game in the late 1880's on an American Campus and it went like this: "Ray, Ray, Ray! Tiger, Tiger, Sis, Sis, Sis! Boom, Boom, Boom! Aaaaah! PRINCETON, PRINCETON, PRINCETON!"

[Read the rest of this article...]

Prime Minister Baptised

Assuming this high ranking official was accompanied by his own staff of secret service personnel and assistants, they must have been amazed at what was happening right before their eyes. Their Prime Minister was preoccupied with something other than the affairs of his country and he had been for days.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Was I Dreaming or Is it Really Real?

Sometimes Christian experience can be dungeon-like. It's not all glamorous nor is it one continual high!  Some days our hearts can be heavy and we can be filled with doubts. If it happened to the best of them, it can happen to me.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Making the Serious Commitment

(See Special Announcement below regarding a new feature entitled: Monday Meditations)

"Look out the window, mom. The streets are filled with people. Where is everyone going? They're all dressed the same way. They're wearing stuff that looks like canvass only its rougher and courser looking. Almost looks like potato sacks. And they've got dirt or ashes all over their heads."

[Read the rest of this article...]

Cerebral Muscle Workout

Sometimes our minds are crammed full of scientific formulae or historical facts. Others seem to retain entire telephone books in their mind. I think there are some guys who know the profiles of every hockey player on the National Hockey League. Others can spew out tedious baseball stats or basketball scores. Some retain recipes. Others use their grey matter to store trivia about politics. Did you ever meet someone who specialized in cars - the makes, the models, the motors, the mileage and the money? Some flex their cerebral muscle on Hollywood stars - who's breaking up, who's flirting, who's starring in what movies, etc. 

[Read the rest of this article...]

The Stain Remover

Some stains come out easily but others are stubborn. Some stains won't budge even with the priciest brand name detergents or home remedies. You can read and re-read the instructions and follow them closely but the reality is - the stain is permanent. You have to throw the shirt out or set it aside for paintballing or doing yard work.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Tell the Truth and Take the Heat

Under pressure don't bend or collapse. If you know its right, stick with it. Take the heat. 

Micaiah, son of Imla, a contemporary of Elijah, shows up for one recorded Bible episode. Unlike Elijah who gets lots of ink, Micaiah only makes a brief debut in Scriptures but what an impressive performance in 1 Kings 22. The story is retold in 2 Chronicles 18. 

[Read the rest of this article...]

Self Mastery

“Ah, I don’t feel like it today. I think I’ll laze around and do not much of anything. I can’t be bothered. You may call me a slacker but really, I find it takes too much effort. It’s easier just to chill and do your own thing. Maybe I give-in to myself too much.”

Achievements and success rarely fall into your lap. When they do, they’re often undervalued and wasted. Easy come – easy go. Spiritual achievements are no different – they don’t just fall into your lap either. Successful Christians work hard and sweat it out at being a good Christian.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Can’t Fight this One Yourself

Do you have a major threat looming on the horizon of your experience? Are you filled with fear or despair? Have you ever felt totally inadequate over what was facing you? Are you in a tight corner?

[Read the rest of this article...]

Feeling the Wind is One Thing

How could you not feel it! The gale is so strong – it seems to be hurricane force. It’s taking every ounce of energy you have to keep on walking. In fact, it seems the sheer velocity of the wind is pushing you backwards as you try to step forward! It is exhausting.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Ah, what’s the Purpose?

Have you ever slipped into this mode of thinking? "What's the use? Why bother? What's the purpose? What good will it do anyway?"  Most of us have been there at one point or another. It’s not exactly a high time on our journey home to Heaven. You wouldn’t call them great days or bright ones either. Maybe you are there today.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Spikenard or Spittle?

There were a variety of perfumes and ointments on the shop shelves in elegant jars and flasks. We can only imagine how the purchase was made. Maybe it went something like this: “Sir, what’s the best ointment I can buy,” she asked the perfumer.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Glad to have a Christian Onboard

The people in the lunch room are annoyed with you because they want to tell a dirty joke and you’re sitting right there. Your presence makes them uncomfortable and awkward. On another occasion something happened to upset them. They wanted to scream out or as a minimum, mutter a string of swear words but you were close by and they tried to hold it in. And then there are times when they keep nothing in and hold nothing back when you are there. Your Christian testimony aggravates them. They poke and jab you with some stinging sarcasm. They may openly laugh at you for not doing this or going there or watching that.

[Read the rest of this article...]

Anything else for me to do?

When there’s something to be done are you standing in line waiting for the green light to start? Or do you make yourself scarce or unavailable? Do you show up when the bulk of the work is mostly done, hoping that people will assume you did your fair share of the work? Are you the last one to show up and the first one to leave?

[Read the rest of this article...]