Fifties (and Onward) Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. ––Proverbs 16:31 At the halfway point in life, I have observed that men tend to head in one of two directions: They succumb to the cynicism of life and become negative and judgmental; or, they experience spiritual […]
One God, One Story And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:27 (brackets mine) I admit it. I get sucked into my wife’s Hallmark movies. The ones with titles like Labradoodle Love Story or Rocky Mountain Romance. First I walk […]
Lambs, Sheep, and Shepherds Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s […]
Forties For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ––1 Corinthians 13:9-11 By our forties, […]
Tight Circle One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ––Proverbs 18:24 Here’s where a lot of us throw out the proverbial baby with the bath water: We get burned in a friendship once and decide we don’t need a lot of […]
At All Times Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive ourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 Here’s another killer quote that has been famously misattributed: “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” Supposedly St. Francis of Assisi said this some 800 years ago. However, there’s no evidence […]
Thirties Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. … My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. ––Psalm 51:10,17 I once had a pastor who believed that everyone is 33 years old in heaven, complete with their new imperishable […]
Burn the Boats And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ––Joshua […]
Jesus and the Three Trees To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7 “Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees.” Remember the Seinfeld episode where the rabbi says that to Elaine and she says, “Yeah, […]
The Small Things … Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ––Philippians 4:8 This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course […]
