Ecclesiastes 12:10

    What direction do we want to go?  For some, the answer is none. They want things to stay the same and be the same. Success is measured in staying right where you are.  For some, the answer is back. To the ways things were. Like in the good old days. Things would be a lot better for them if they revert.  For others, it is right or left. The draw is to make everything into a political debate that has a definite side. So, everything needs to move to one of those sides.  For others, it is down. They might want it to go that way, but somehow take a perverse delight in telling you how bad everything is and just about everything is wrong. Any movement is a dip down. Everything is wrong, destined to fail.   Yet for the Christian, we must have a different direction. In Philippians 3:14, Paul tell us about the  “ upward call of God in Christ Jesus ”.  Colossians 3:1-2 says, “ Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking ...

    I noticed over the last few years people like to be shocked when worldly people behave worldly. Now don’t misunderstand me, some things happening in our modern world that make me shake my head. We have seen a decline in morality and basic decency in the public forum on a rapid level. A growing disdain for traditional values and established norms. Christians it seems are the only group acceptable to mock.  Yet I wonder if we should be so quick to gasp and decry.  Since the Bibles say we are not supposed to be so shocked. 1 st John 3:13   “ Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you .” 2 nd Timothy 3:12   “ Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted .” 1 st Peter 4:12   “ Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you ;” 1 st  Peter 4:4   “ In all this, they are surprised that you do ...

  People define themselves in a lot of curious ways. The car they drive, the team they pull for, the brand names they wear, the activities they participate in. We even define ourselves by others. I am a fan of this band and follow this person.   It is not a new phenomenon. In the first century, there were those in Corinth who were defining themselves by popular teachers. I am of Paul, I am of Apollos. Like so many today that name their churches after a person or a practice.   Yet it is clear in the scriptures that isn’t who or what should define us.  As we read in 1 st Corinthians 3:4-5,  “ For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one”.  Our identity should not rest in men but in Christ.  Who I am should be focused on the Great I AM.   There are great teachers I can learn fr...

   I recently read about an interview with a former Disney star about a peculiar practice of their shows. If you were a fan of the Disney channel back in the day you might notice how every so often the show would slightly change its name. For example, Hannah Montana became Hannah Montane Forever , The Suite Life of Zac and Cody became The Suite Life on Deck, Liv and Maddie became Liv and Maddie: Cali Style.    Same show just a new name. Why? Money.   The company had a deal that they would not have to pay full scale to the actors or crew for the first three seasons. When the time came to up the pay, they just changed the name so technically it was a new show and they could reset back to the lower pay.   New name but the same old thing.   But it isn’t just big business that does this. We do it as well. We take old sin call it something acceptable. We do away with old denomination names but keep the same old man-made traditions. We call ourselve...

    Abraham Lincoln once served as a character witness, although it is doubtful he did much good. When asked about the word of a man named Peter Lukins, Lincoln responded honestly, “Well, he is called Lyin’ Pete Lukins.       In the Scriptures, we get some insight into the nature of some biblical characters by the names they are given.   Jacob is called Israel or one who struggles with God. The Son of Encouragement, Barnabas, Simon Peter the Rock, The Sons of Thunder, James and John. Some of these names were imparted by Jesus himself.      So, what might Jesus give you as a nickname? He knows our hearts and our ways better than anyone.   Complainer? The Servant? Joy Killer? Learner? The Encourager? The Gossip?      What trait is the one that defines us in the eyes of others?   Is it one that is befitting of a Christian?     Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildo...

  I was once in a community where a lady told me that people there were either from ‘around here’ or from ‘off’. She said she had moved there 30 years before but people still said she was from ’off’.   It can be hard for an outsider to be accepted in a place. Sometimes that's because of the closed-off nature of the community and other times it's because the new person chooses to stay distant.   For the Christan, we are called to be ‘off’. In 1 st Peter 2:11-12 we read: “ Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation .”   Here we are called to be strangers to the world, not as unknown but as those that live differently. We are to be known enough that they see our behavior but separate enough that...

     When the American colonies forced the British to surrender at Yorktown, it might be tempting to think they were then a new nation, but that isn’t what happened.   While they might now be independent, it didn’t mean the troubles were over.   The colonies were not united, and debts were growing. Solider laid siege to Congress demanding back pay. George Washington would say at this time, “ It is yet to be decided whether the Revolution must untimely be considered a blessing or a curse “.   From these early difficulties, the new nation was formed. The early struggles help to show these people what would be needed to achieve the lofty standards that the Rebellion had proclaimed. Even 200 years later the United States is still working to be the nation they fought and died for it to be.   I think there is a parallel to our life as a Christian. When we obey the Gospel and arise from the water of baptism, we in essence have won the war over sin and ...

      Back in February, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to make a dramatic halftime change. It wasn’t their play that was the problem, it was their jerseys.     That night the Thunder were hosting the Atlanta Hawks. Now once upon a time the rule was home team wore white uniforms and the away team was the color but the NBA has for several years now, has allowed several alternate uniforms that teams can wear. This is great for jersey sales but it can create some mix-ups. So, the combinations have to get league approval before the game.   Somehow, they didn’t realize that Atlanta’s red "icon" uniforms and the Thunder orange "statement" jerseys were almost the same color. So, for the first half, both teams looked exactly alike. The players didn’t seem too affected but for the fans, especially those watching on TV it was a nightmare. The league made the call at halftime that somebody had to change and since the Hawks only had brought the one uniform, the Thu...

  In my imagination, He is setting in his cell considering his fate. The charges have stacked up against him. Robbery, Insurrection Murder. The soldiers have been preparing for the crucifixion. He’s watched as the wood been gathered to assembly the crosses. He heard that a hill outside of town has been selected. It’s only a matter of time now.   Suddenly soldiers appear and start unlocking the door. It’s sooner than he thought it would be. They drag him as he walks, his steps too slow for them.     But then who’s in a hurry to get to his own execution?     Then he notices something is wrong. They are not taking him down to the roadway but rather up to the Praetorium. As they come out into the dawning sunlight, it blinds his eyes. He can’t see much but he does hear a crowd. His trial is over, his guilt is set, what more could they be doing with him?   That’s when he hears the voice of the governor. He’s talking about how he is oblige...

    Wars often lead to lawlessness and the American Revolution was no different.   So as the conflict spread south in Virginia, Charles was dismayed at the effect it had on his home in Bedford County. The courts had ceased to function. Guerrilla bands and militias on both sides roamed the countryside, and hooligans often ruled the streets. So Charles decided to take matters into his own hands.    So he set up his own unofficial court. He appointed officers and issued arrests of lawbreakers. Since they had no money to jail prisoners, he doled out punishments in fines or whippings.   Charles tried to judge with compassion and reason, but still, his actions created a great deal of animosity towards him.   Charles only had to enlist the death penalty once in his court. A plot by some Tories to destroy a lead mine vital to the war effort was discovered. The conspirators were found guilty and hanged. The friends and family of the men were upset...

  Thomas Edison was a pioneer in electricity with his perfection of the light bulb but by 1887, his company that was attempting to light cites everywhere was struggling. The problem was in how the electricity was delivered. The truth was his direct current (DC) was not near as cost-effective as his bitter rival George Westinghouse’s alternate current (AC). Edison felt his current was the safer choice even if it wasn’t as cheap.   So when the state of New York came calling with a desire to buy up a generator, you might be shocked when Edison recommended his rival’s technology. He even recommended the new use be called “Westinhoused”   Why?   Because the new use was to kill. The generator was for the first electric chair.  Edison believed that DC current was dangerous and what better what to show that to the world than having it kill a man. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome med...

  Everyone thinks their Mom’s cooking is the best, but chances are it is not [1] . It has more to do with the fact her cooking is the one that you started eating. It is what you expect food to taste like. If she made her potatoes lumpy, then that is how you like them because that is what you think they are supposed to be. It is not until you broaden your palate, that you may begin to see that maybe there is something better than that.  You’ll sometimes hear the remark; this will ruin all other <whatever> for you. Some cooking will reset your taste buds once you have had it. It becomes the standard. If we only ever had crummy versions of something, we really don’t know what it really tastes like. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew...

 One the most spectacular events in the life of Jesus is the transfiguration. Jesus shown in his radiant glory. An appearance by two long passed heroes of the Jews. A voice from heaven. Of course, the disciples slept thru it. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. Luke 9:32   When they finally come to, Peter in a very Peter-like way speaks up. Let’s build three shelter or tabernacles for the three dignitaries. And why not? These are major figures of faith. Moses was the great lawgiver. One of whom it is said, “ no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses ”. Elijah. The hero of Mt. Carmel that stood up to the prophets of Baal. A man whose name was synonymous as a spokesman of God.  These would be people you would respect, men you would listen to.  But then the Voice from Heaven cries out. Jesus is my Son, Listen to him! Peter wanted to put the thre...

 Robert E. Lee had his choice of his command in the Civil War.  The commanding general of the Union Army, Winfield Scott, told Lincoln he wanted Lee for a top command. With the Civil War looming, both sides wanted this top general to lead their forces.   So why did Lee make the wrong choice?   It wasn’t because he was on board with the Confederacy.  Lee was against the idea of succession seeing it as rebellion and betraying the work for the founding fathers.  He even recognized the issue for the war, slavery, “ as an evil institution’ , that was a cancer harming ‘ not only to the black population but to the white as well  ’ and believe the institution would eventually come to an end.   If he didn’t believe in the act and wasn’t set on the cause why did he betray his country?   In his own words, Lee said " I look upon secession as anarchy. If I owned the four millions of slaves in the South I would sacrifice them all...

  Ulysses Simpson Grant became known as unconditional surrender Grant for his refusal to accept any other terms of surrender. The nickname worked so well since it fit right in with his initials of U.S.  The only problem those were not his initials, at least not the one he was born with.   Grant was actually born Hiram Ulysses but when he applied for acceptance into West Point the congressman who supported the boy’s application submitted erroneously his name as Ulysses Simpson (his mother Hannah’s maiden name) Grant.  When Grant arrived he tried to correct the error, but he soon learned a humbling fact of a soldier; when the army calls you by a name it becomes your name whether it really is or not.   As Christians, I think we face a similar dilemma. The name Christian is one that should have a certain distinction, a name that makes us of Christ.  Yet over the years, that name has been hijacked by those of the world.  It’s been warped into ...

There is nothing as easy as denouncing ... It don’t take much to see that something is wrong but it does take some eyesight to see what will put it right again.” —Will Rogers   It’s in every news report.  It’s all over Facebook. It’s the topic of the chat at the water cooler. It’s the all the buzz at the shop.  It’s whatever happens to be wrong at the moment.     Everyone has a take on what is wrong. Hindsight is very clear on what should be, but what we rarely do we get how to make things better.   If Christians really want to make a difference in this world it starts right there.   Instead on joining the masses in pointing out what is wrong, let’s tell them about what is better.   Christ is better. Forgiveness is better. Love is better. Considering others is better. Serving is better.   The world knows what is wrong but it needs to know what is right.    We know what is right and good.   Are we ...

    You will often hear from some that baptism isn’t required for salvation since baptism is a work and we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).   Since the Bible does say that baptism saves us (1 st Peter 3:21, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:40-41), it must make us reconsider than line of logic.     So is baptism really a work?   Well, it is not a work of the law (Galatians 2:16) because 1 st Corinthians 6:11 tells us that our justification comes from the washing of baptism.  So it not that kind of work, what kind of work is it?  If anything we must do to be saved is “work” then we must not have to confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9) or repent (Luke 13:3). To follow that train of logic we don’t even need to have faith since Jesus called it a work (John 6:28-29).   Oh, course this doesn’t make much sense.  James clearly tells us that works must go alone with faith or faith doesn’t exist (James 2:24-26). So can we then come to a...

  An aquarium manufacturer was in the midst of a major business crisis.  Despite their best efforts, a large percentage of its custom made glass aquariums were arriving at their destinations broken, if not completely shattered.  Desperate to figure out a shipping solution that wouldn’t break the aquariums or the bank, they turned to Edward de Bono.  De Bono was no experts in aquariums or glass or even shipping methods, he was however known for being an expert in thinking.  He had literal coined the term “ lateral thinking” in his 1967 book.  His solution not only eliminated the company’s breakage problem, it also ended up saving them money in packaging as well!   What was the solution?  Instead of packaging the aquarium for shipment, he had them instead place the label on the aquarium itself.  That way the handlers could see for themselves they were dealing with glass and mishandling it would affect them personally.  Now the packa...

  My second ‘job’ is in sports broadcasting. OK that sound way more legitimate than it really is. For the last couple of years I have been lucky enough to get to broadcast the Hope Bobcat High school football games for the local radio station. It’s not really a job more like a hobby that someone else lets me do.       When I first got the gig, I was terrified about how bad I would be.  I tried to read up on any advice I could find about calling football and made it a point to listen to as many radio and TV broadcasts as I could to try and pick up anything to improve.  It is one thing to hear a broadcast it is another to try and do one!  After two seasons, I’m not sure if I have gotten any better but one strange thing I have noticed is I’m a lot more critical of the announcers of any game. Now I pick up more of the broadcast foibles, poor explanations, redundancy, errors those kinds of things. Even in those at the top of business, I hear things...

   In the late 1930’s as Europe moved closer to war, The United States was desperately attempting to remain neutral.  Between 1936 and 1937, Congress passed the Neutrality Acts measure design to keep America out of the upcoming forgiven wars.  These acts set restrictions such as, keeping Americans from sailing on ships flying the flag of a belligerent nation or trading arms with warring nations.  Such activities had played a role in American entrance into World War I, and the nation didn't want to be brought into another war.    As the Second World War broke out not only in Europe but in China and Japan, American still wanted to remain out of the war.  They began to involve themselves more with passing of the Lend Lease Act of 1941, which allowed the United States to sell and lend weapons to the Allied efforts. The President warned Americans, “… the Axis not merely admits but proclaims that there can be no ultimate peace between their philos...