O Holy Night
Long lay the world in sin and error pining Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Hymn – O Holy Night
Nelson Mandela
I admired Nelson Mandela. He could have come out of prison embittered and ready to fan the flames of civil war and bloodshed. Instead, he sought to unite the citizens of South Africa and build a nation that would be a beacon to others. He didn’t go after retribution but reconciliation, and thus inspired hope …
Living in the time of Judges
Since my awakening that human trafficking is going on in our area and across our nation, I’ve become more sensitive to articles appearing in our newspaper. In the world section, I read a story on sex workers in France protesting a proposal to penalize clients caught in the act of soliciting a prostitute. The few …
Good Things
What are the “good things” Jesus talks about in Matthew 7:7-11? All good gifts come from the Father. For a long time, I thought that meant a husband, children, a nice home, a good car, savings, travel, things. As wonderful as all those blessings are, as much as we enjoyed them, there remains a yearning …
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a wonderful celebration for those of us who have family. It’s a time to get together and share a big dinner and much laughter. But it is something far different for those who have no home or family. It can become a time of deep depression, a time of pain or longing. Some …
Giving
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Teresa “Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” Ben Carson
Gearing up for Christmas
While I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving, the local stores yanked their Halloween decorations on November 1 and started putting up lights, Christmas trees, and wreaths. Santa is still in storage, but workers are busy unpacking him. Soon there will be a minature train in the mall with Santa waiting for children to sit on his …
St. Paul – in a letter to the Romans (8:38-39)
“I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Where Hope Is
I am learning day by day – My hope cannot rest in Congress or the Supreme Court, for they are filled with men and women with all the faults and foibles of regular folk. They have their biases and prejudices, and serve whatever they worship. My hope cannot rest in staying well-fed, exercised and healthy …
Idols
“An idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.” A.W. Tozer “Every one of us is, even from his mother’s womb, a master craftsman of idols.” John Calvin