Money, Money, Money

I can hear the music used for the theme song to the once hugely popular TV show “The Apprentice,” can’t you?  The part where the singers sing gleefully, “Money, money, mooooooneeey!” I can see the stereotypical old miser too, hunched over his desk, almost drooling over his little stacks of gold coins. I can see… Continue reading Money, Money, Money

Purity

Are you a Puritan? Even if your familiarity with this historic religious movement – Puritanism – is limited to images from popular culture – I suspect a picture pops into your head when you hear that question. It’s the image of a very stern looking fellow, perhaps with a white beard, clad from head to… Continue reading Purity

Encouragement

We all need it, some more than others, but we all need it – encouragement. How do you define it?  What lifts you up, sets you right, enables you to take that next step in achieving whatever you need, or simply want, to do?  Chuck Swindoll said encouragement is “the act of inspiring others with… Continue reading Encouragement

Involvement

“I don’t want to get involved…” “What does that involve?” “Whose involved with this?” These are the typical comments you may get – or make yourself – when the issue of commitment comes up. Most of us are so busy, so committed, so “involved” already – that one more request or consideration can put us… Continue reading Involvement

Priorities

“Every decade possesses a particular characteristic. It comes into focus without announcement or awareness as the years unfold. Not suddenly, but quietly. Almost imperceptibly.” Swindoll, Charles R.. Strengthening Your Grip (p. 7). Worthy Publishing. Kindle Edition. That’s how, years ago, Chuck Swindoll introduced his important and helpful study on how to “get a grip” on… Continue reading Priorities

Strengthening Our Grip

Do you ever feel like sometimes you are (to borrow a great line from a Paul Simon song) slip slidin’ away? The media bombards us with the latest screaming headlines regarding the latest horrific news… You find yourself in deep into the “same old argument” with your boss, your spouse, your child, the neighbor next… Continue reading Strengthening Our Grip

Out of the Storm

The Lord Speaks 38 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: 2 “Who is this that obscures my plans     with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man;     I will question you,     and you shall answer me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?     Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!… Continue reading Out of the Storm

Yes!

“He is risen!” “He is risen, indeed!”

The Darkest Days

Good Friday, and the next day, are the darkest days of the Christian calendar. It is a time of remembering the horrors of the betrayal and death of Jesus and a time of waiting. Easter joy has not yet come.  We can only wait in hushed anticipation. We are blessed in that our waiting, as… Continue reading The Darkest Days

A Simple Meal

Jesus, gathered with his closest friends, for an intimate meal. Sounds simple enough but it was anything but simple. It was more than just the celebration of Passover – though that is significant enough. It was more than just one more way for Jesus to model the love he had for them, and that he… Continue reading A Simple Meal