what's in a name
I watched an old movie on either the Turner or Classic movie channel this week and I noticed something strange. All the “really bad” swear words and “gd” profanity were blocked. However, here is the strange part, the names “Jesus” and “Christ” were not blocked. Instead they were frequently used in a God dishonoring way as if one were saying “shucks” or “for goodness sake”.
This world will someday come to grips about the precious name of Jesus Christ. Some will bow in confidence and be part of God’s Kingdom … others will bow in shame and …
politics and religion do mix afterall
I am so grateful I live in a country where our government leaders are not ashamed of facing a crisis through Biblical support … and do so publicly.
On my truck radio this morning I hear President Bush say … “Scripture tells us to turn from evil and do good ”
(which is from Psalms 37:27). A few seconds later I hear the voice of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine who said … “Jesus understood despair when he cried out from a hill on Calvary ‘My God my God why have you forsaken me?‘ (from Matthew 27:46)
No matter what … GOD …
the Monsignor vs. God's Word
During my lifetime several high profile, God – loving men have either fallen into sin, or made statements that simply do not line up with God’s inspired words. The list includes prominent leaders in both the protestant and catholic faiths. Please understand that I am not picking on one particular faith … but both heresy and hypocrisy are undermining God’s absolute truth. And the devil is pleased.
From the Chicago Tribune (March 29, 2007) in an article from “The God Squad”, here is a response by Monsignor Thomas Hartman when asked if Jesus is the only way to …
faith is more than a word spoken
A gunman kills more than 30 students in a shooting rampage on a college campus in Virginia. Young intelligent students trying to prepare for their future were denied life beyond April 16, 2007.
Why ? … What possible good could come from this ? God help me to understand your reasoning behind this tragedy. In my small and limited mind it makes absolutly no sense. None.
There was a week in Jerusalem when an innocent man with excellent character and sweetness experienced acts of injustice. He endured ruthless torture and a humilating slow death for crimes …
extreme hope … ultimate hope
We live in a world where the cry for new levels of competition and winning have become outrageous. Extreme sports … extreme make-over … the ultimate fighting machine … the ultimate survivor … and the list goes on.
Even with all this extra dose of adrenaline rush … our society seems to be full of depressed people. When excitement fades real life remains.
But God has given each of us an opportunity to experience something genuine and everlasting. Hope. Hope beyond anything we could ever possibly imagine. Eternal hope.
” … In his great mercy He has given …
the voice within vs. the voice of truth
Last week my day started with an early morning visit to the hospital emergency room. A friend of mine, Mike, has a 14 year old daughter, Shaina, and I was meeting him and his wife there after they had been given the news that the paramedics could not revive her. Shaina took her own life.
Standing next to a dead teenage girl and watching my friends come apart was beyond awful.
Satan is a powerful force … and when a person’s world is caving in … the devil becomes a small but convincing voice that speaks of a short …
My wife Stephanie was in Owatonna tonight doing a Tupperware party and her mom graciously offered to watch Andrew (7 months) so it was just Jacob (3), Isabelle (2.5) and I tonight. Here’s rundown of the night with Dad.
4 pm – Jog to the park
4:45 pm – Move on to the next park
5:30 pm – Head off to the Monticello Community Center to go swimming
6:30 pm – Dry off by playing in the MCC play land
7:00 pm – Hang out at the ‘coffee station’ (Caribou Coffee)
7:30 pm – Wander the toy isles of Target eating some bread samples we found …
a not so good friday
Most people think of Good Friday as a holiday rather than a holy day. But for Jesus the day was far from good. This was the day He was arrested, beaten, spat upon, mocked, punched, slapped, stripped, flogged, ripped with thorns, and then nailed to a tree. Even while dying a slow and painful death people ridiculed Him.
Seems everyone has an opinion about everything. But from a Biblical perspective … which is God’s perspective … the three most significant events in the history of mankind are:
#1. the birth of Jesus
#2. His death and resurrection
#3. His second …
Reflecting the Book
The Talking Donkey
[Numbers 22:28-30] Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said.
Funny I never heard/read this story until just a couple years ago. In …
Is life better than you thought it would be?
Some questions just get right to the core. But when they come from your 15 year old son, unexpectedly, they can really catch you off guard.
We’re driving home Sunday from church. Enjoying the beautiful countryside of Franklin, Tennessee.
Out of the blue, my son asks this question from the backseat, “Dad. You and Mom have been married for twenty years almost. Is life better or worse than you thought it would be twenty years ago?”
Wow. Great question!
