Committed or Complacent? – Part I

Committed or Complacent? – Part I

What does this matter of “committed” look like? How would I be able to recognize such a characteristic? Let’s look at the story of Agnes from about the year 304 A.D. By way of historical background, through a military overthrow, Diocletian became emperor of Rome in 284 and went about restoring the empire’s former glory and unity. Christianity was well established in 284 and, as a result, hindered the revival of the pagan religious practices. Caesar Galerius, Diocletian’s lieutenant, convinced…

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Our Father

Our Father

“Our Father who is in heaven…” Matthew 6:9 Have you ever taken the time to read carefully this first line of “The Lord’s Prayer”? Reflect on the verb tense……”who is…”! This is the present tense!! For the Christian, how glorious and marvelous is this? My Father is involved presently in my life and cares presently about all that is touching me, whether spiritually, emotionally, mentally or physically. But what individual, in reality, can refer to God as “our Father” or…

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Reflections On Psalm 1

Reflections On Psalm 1

Just some “thoughts of a business man”………… 1: Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. You know, from God’s point of view, it does matter with whom you “hang out”. Your friends and those who matter to you are an indication of how you look at life. They are an indication of your eternal values and your personal “world…

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A Birdie Told Me

A Birdie Told Me

“Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,  or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words,  and a bird on the wing may report what you say.” Ecclesiastes 10:20 In raising our four daughters, I often reminded the girls of this Bible verse. As the girls reached junior high and high school age, Corene and I many times emphasized the importance of honesty and integrity as character traits by which…

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SANCTUARY

SANCTUARY

“Suddenly, just as the executioner’s assistants were about to carry out their orders, [Quasimodo] climbed the balustrade of the gallery and clutched the rope with his hands, knees and feet. The crowd saw him slide down the façade like a raindrop on a windowpane, run over to the executioner’s assistants with the swiftness of a cat, fell them both with his enormous fists, take the gypsy girl in one arm as easily as a child picking up a doll and…

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God Forbid…….

God Forbid…….

Create in me a pure heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 I truly believe that God’s Word has answers for even the things we consider trivial. I believe His Word is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is the very Word of God. On that basis, the following paragraphs provide some thoughts on Galatians 6:14. To begin, lets review ;Romans 3:23, a very familiar passage. That verse says, “…for all have sinned and fall…

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So What About “The World”?

So What About “The World”?

Not long ago a friend of mine participated in a short term mission trip to Guatemala. He shared with me the key verses for the trip which were the focus and purpose for going. The verses are found at I John 2:15-17….”Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his…

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Do You Know Jesus?

Do You Know Jesus?

“Who do you say I am? ;;Matthew 16: 15   The key to living and experiencing an abundant life (John 10:10) is to “fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1).  Our Heavenly Father tells us through His Word, the Bible, that we “….can do everything through him (Jesus) who gives you strength” (Philippians 4:13) (explanation mine). Now the key issue is to think through critically what the word “everything” means and not just from the context of work, career, vocation,…

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My Two Friends Named Bob

My Two Friends Named Bob

Recently I have been through one of those weeks that taxes the emotions to the “max”. I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death and have experienced the mountaintop of a transformed life. Where do I begin? My first friend Bob is about 6’2’’ tall, 240 lbs. with a sprinkling of gray throughout his hair. Bob is the CEO of a major corporation inArkansas that operates nation-wide. Most travelers have seen the corporate logo on vehicles many…

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One Day Closer……..

One Day Closer……..

“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16 (NIV) Many people as they start a New Year take time to make new year’s resolutions. It is amusing that many such resolutions are couched with the phrase “I’ll try…..!!!”. That phrase is a recipe for failure. As soon as the pain or discomfort of the resolution sets in, many individuals simply give up. It is surprising how seldom you…

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