God made man from dirt. He did not make a mud pie; He made a man. He created a body from the soil. Before God breathed life into Adam, the body in essence was a corpse. A human body without life is a corpse. We rightly consider resurrection as a miracle from God. The first man was brought to life just as the Second Adam (Jesus the Messiah) was brought back to life through the lifegiving power of God. God raised Adam from the dirt.
Continue reading “Dirty Old Man”Our Little World
I usually sit toward the front of the church. For many decades I pastored local congregations and of course, I sat in the front. As a pastor, I preferred to sit on a front pew rather than on one of those “throne” chairs on stage. I rarely sat in the back.
This past Sunday, my wife and I sat in the back because we had to slip out quickly at the end of the service to attend a family function. I wasn’t used to looking at the back of people’s heads. It was a different perspective.
Continue reading “Our Little World”Once Upon a Time…
Many children’s stories opened up with the phrase, “Once upon a time…”. When I was a child, the old timers started many of their stories with, “When I was a boy…”. It was the men in Liberty overalls form of “Once upon a time…” Now, I am probably labeled an old timer by most even though I don’t wear overalls.
Continue reading “Once Upon a Time…”Root Causes
Philosophers, sociologists, theologians, and politicians have had their turn at explaining why we have problems and how to fix them. It is ironic that simultaneously some want to blame one problem on root causes while avoiding the root causes of others. Many problems have a beginning with some standard that was either twisted, ignored, or outright transgressed.
Continue reading “Root Causes”Hands of My Father
We were at a reunion gathering of our extended family when a distant cousin excitedly called his wife over to see my dad’s hands. He was amazed that Daddy’s hands looked like his deceased father’s hands. I looked at my hands and they looked like Dad’s. Two of my brother’s hands are also similar.
Continue reading “Hands of My Father”Simple Pleasures
Some folks just don’t know how to be happy! They chase a dream that is just beyond their grasp and are blind to the blessings in their hand.
Continue reading “Simple Pleasures”Generations of Mothers
Mother’s Day rolls around every year to give honor to our mothers. We shower our living mothers with presents, special meals, and recognition. Those who have gone from our midst, we shower with accolades of remembrance and honor.
This year I thought about the generational line of women in my life from my grandparents to my four granddaughters. The grandmothers to the mothers of the future.
Continue reading “Generations of Mothers”Treatment of our Families and Enemies are Revealing
I find myself repeating some phrases along my journey of life. One that I use from time to time is about representing Jesus to others by “Showing the life, love, and the light of Jesus to the world.”
Continue reading “Treatment of our Families and Enemies are Revealing”Journey Update: February 2021
About one year ago, Butch Suddath and I returned to the United States from a mission trip from Asia on January 21, 2020. The news reports were trickling in about a coronavirus from China before we left, but it was mostly a dot on most people’s radar screen. The day we returned to the Atlanta Airport, the first confirmed case in the United States was announced with an individual in Washington state. It progressively grew worse.
Continue reading “Journey Update: February 2021”KISS (Keep It Simple Saints)
Yeah, I Christianized the acrostic a little. Most of us have heard of the acrostic KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid), so my modified version is a little less offensive.
Human beings can complicate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sometimes we just need to get two pieces of white bread, smear some PB&J on it and go with it.
Continue reading “KISS (Keep It Simple Saints)”
