November 27, 2020 - The imagery that David presents for us in Psalm 23 is one of abundance. In writing of the gracious provisions of God as our Shepherd, he writes, “my cup runneth over”. Have you ever done that? Have you ever filled a cup to overflowing where it ran over the sides of the cup into the saucer or on to the table? Can you actually picture a more adequate description of the abundant blessings that we enjoy as the children of God?
November 19, 2020 - One of the great inventions of the 20th century was the washing machine. It totally changed the back-breaking way that laundry had to be done.
November 12, 2020 - I can remember as a boy, watching the potter at work at the wheel at the old Marshall Pottery. I would stand mesmerized by the skill with which he would throw a lump of clay on the wheel and mold it into a work of art. They made many beautiful pieces of pottery in those days. They made pitchers, butter churns, strawberry pots, pickling crocks among other items. But they also made just plain, red clay flower pots.
November 5, 2020 - It was only a couple of months ago that Hurricane Laura blew into our world. Trees were blown down around us, we were without power, some for several days, and life was generally disrupted. I remember that morning when the power went off. I immediately went to the cabinet for a flashlight, and the very first one I picked up had no light. The batteries were dead.
October 29, 2020 - Words are wonderful things. They have a beauty all their own. They have associations in our minds that give them reputation. Some are bores and some shine brilliantly.
Yet, there is an eloquence without words. “Silence is golden” someone has said. Silence can be eloquent also. Jesus was a master at using the eloquence of silence. He used it many times.
October 22, 2020 - It was in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:9 that Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” For more than 20 centuries this great word has been knocking at the closed door of the hearts of men and women, largely in vain. We have said yes with our lips. Yet, in our hearts, we have said, “blessed are the sowers of discord.” Blessed are the war makers and blessed are the fomenters of strife. We see it every day in our land.
October 15, 2020 - Once upon a time, I thought I might like to take up the game of golf. I played a little for a few years, and then realized, golf was not my game. The men I played with (my grandfather and some of his friends) were guys that believed strongly in the Mulligan. Truth be told, none of them was ever going to join the PGA.
October 8, 2020 - We are all familiar with a number of old sayings. One of these is “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” It is in fact a phrase I have used on many occasions. Usually it was used to try and get a head start on eating something.
There is a passage of scripture in Psalms 34:8 that speaks to this where David says, “O taste and see that the Lord is Good.” David, you see, invites us to taste and see that the Lord is Good.
October 1, 2020 - All of us are aware of the “Golden Rule”. It was announced by Jesus in Matthew 7:12 when he said, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”. Of course, we are more familiar hearing it as “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”.
September 24, 2020 - Unexpected dinner guests. Have you ever had that happen? That is what happens to Jesus and the disciples in Mark chapter 6. John the Baptist had just been killed and Jesus and the disciples were trying to get to a secluded place. They were tired from the teaching and healing being done. They were leading busy lives and needed a little R&R.