Ecclesiastes 12:10

  Eastern Airlines flight 401 was flying to Miami. As they began the landing approach one of the pilots noticed the light indicator for the landing gear was not working. Unsure about the landing gear they asked the tower to put them in a holding pattern. They turn on the autopilot and then began to try to fix the problem. They pulled off the panel, fiddled with the controls, and even left the cockpit to work out what was going on. All this focus on a burned-out light bulb kept them from noticing the plane was little by little getting lower and lower. The autopilot had been inadvertently disconnected.  By the time they realized it, it was too late. The plane crashed into the Everglades killing 101 people.   Could this be happing to the church?   There are times we get so focused on one issue or one problem or one activity that we forget to look around and see if we are still on course. We go into autopilot mode and assume everything is being taken care of. In our...

  I've noticed gratefulness is often skewed by observation. We are thankful with what we have till we see what someone else has.  The workers in the vineyard loved their pay till they saw someone else getting get the same amount but for less time served. Then it wasn’t enough.  The older brother was happy living with his father until the prodigal came home to a party and then he felt as if he had been mistreated. He wanted his own party. It seems often we are happy with our portion till another gets more, then we grumble and complain.   In Galatians 6 4 we read, “ But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another .” This passage in its context is telling us to not judge our work by someone else’s. No matter how good or bad they do, it should not change our actions. I think this principle should also apply to our gratefulness.   Be thankful for what you have been given. ...

  When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image, the king decides to give them a second chance to change their ways. They however tell him they don’t need it. It wasn’t a mistake or oversight, they knew what they were doing and are ready to accept the consequences of their actions, no matter what they are (Daniel 3:12-18).  This sends the already upset king into a fury. He then orders the furnace to be heated up seven times hotter than usual.  This bit of overkill will burn them to ashes. It isn’t a good idea. The fire is so hot that it ends up costing him some of his best warriors that are sent to escort the trio to the flame.   So why was he so mad? Well, the easy answer is pride. He made the image as a way to give him homage. We know from the next chapter pride was an issue for Nebuchadnezzar. Someone that is deifying his creation is defiling him. How dare these men think they have a God that can deliver them from his ha...