Sleep Tonight

Each night when I put my kids to bed, we read a book, talk about their day and pray for their sleep and their futures.   Sometimes after the prayer, they want me to scratch their back.    On special occasions, they ask for “Sleep Tonight”.    “Sleep Tonight” is really the song MLK by U2 sung in my best Bono voice.   I know.  My wife has already said you can’t use a U2 song as a lullaby.   By the way, you can see/hear it here:   Sleep Tonight-MLK by U2 on YouTube    While I am singing …

an exploding and exsposing light

Another 4th of July has passed. As a kid, a teenager, a young adult, a father, and now a grandfather … I have seen more fire-works than I can count. There is one, however, that gets my attention every time. In the middle of the darkness, they light the fuse of a single rocket that goes almost silently straight up into the air … hesitates … and then suddenly explodes with such a brilliant light and powerful force that it vibrates the very ground I’m standing on. Instantly … but briefly … the darkness gives way to a revealing light …

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)   *** *** *** ***   Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –   Once upon a time my son came home from middle school and told me there’d been a Reward Day-type assembly, where they were giving away some really cool stuff.   At one point, a teacher put all the students’ names into a huge bucket in order to draw one name for the biggest prize of all!   “I know you’re only supposed to use special …

When the Bumper Sticker Doesn’t Match the Driver

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? James 2:14 (NIV)   *** *** *** ***   A recent Gallup Poll says there are fifty million people in America who say, “I am a Christian.” But truth be told, not all of those fifty million can back it up with the lifestyle they live. Just because a person claims it, doesn’t mean they have it.   Typically, we label people “believers” today if they vaguely sound Christian. At the end of a World Series, a player …

your title … your test

While eating lunch in a neighborhood restaurant this week, I listened to the conversation from a nearby table as people arrived and were being introduced to each other for the first time. Each person’s name was given followed immediately by their title … CEO, VP of Sales, Account Executive, Operations Manager and another title I cannot remember. From my seat it all seemed like a celebration of accomplishments and pride … and perhaps there is nothing wrong with that … if it designed around GOD for His glory. How would you define your identity ? The Bible clearly reveals that …

Faith the Facts!

When will you ever learn that “believing” is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith. James 2:20 (LB)   **** **** **** Is faith simply a frame of mind? A passive attribute of a Christian waiting to see what God has in store for you: a promotion, cancer, depression, betrayal, blessing, wealth, and injustice . . . some see it that way. They might say, “I’ll just wait to see what God is going to do for me and go with the flow.” That’s crazy talk.   …

living in captivity ?

In my line of work I often encounter parents and their kids who are held captive by the things of this world. TV, movies, the Internet, ipods, picture cell phones, and text messages … all seem to play a role in polluting and even conquering our minds. Children and teens have been removed from school and adults are being fired because they are a slave to degrading and vulgar stuff. They are in a prison … a prison of filth. This battle begins with our thoughts. And what we watch and listen to can and does effect our way of …

my-ology

I taught high school Biology for many years. Biology is the study of living things. Lately I have been studying another kind of “ology”. Driving in the Chicagoland recently I came up behind a huge Hummer … and the license plate read … “My Toy 1″. In addition, this huge Hummer was pulling a huge boat and the license plate on the boat’s trailer read … “My Toy 2″. Later I came across an account that Jesus gave in Luke chapter 12 about a man who had such a bumper crop that he didn’t know what to do with all …

Drop-In

Have you ever done something that you were sure would break your neck?   Today, I took my son, Noah, to the Grand Prairie Skatepark to practice what he had learned this week in skate camp.   I had taken him earlier in the week to show me what he could do, but this time was different.   Last time I was telling him how to do things and encouraging him to try new “stunts”.    He didn’t seem to like my “words of encouragement” when it came to doing a “drop-in” on the 3 ft. quarter pipe.   If you don’t know …

We Need Each Other: To Watch Out For

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 (NIV)   *** *** *** ***   Each one of us needs other people to watch out for us – to defend us, protect us, and help us stay on track. In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul tells us that we should look out for each other’s interests, not just our own. What a counterculture verse! In America today, it’s all about me – my needs, my interests, my wants, and my ambitions. But Paul teaches us to …