I love Christmas! I love most of the trappings of Christmas–I even love fruitcake, but Christmas is not just about the trees, lights, presents, or even the family get-togethers. Beyond all these things, Christmas represents the great love of God for the world, manifested in the First Advent of His Son, Jesus Christ. The scripture says it so well, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV).
Continue reading “Manger in the Light of the Cross”Jesus — Born a Man for Men
The world lay in the sway of darkness, sin, and death. Man’s journey from the Garden was marked by a trail of death and tears. Each tomb was a reminder of every man’s fate. Death reigned in the world by a cruel master, Satan, whose very name meant “Adversary”. The Hebrew prophets of old had prophesied approximately seven centuries before of a coming Messiah who would save and deliver.
Continue reading “Jesus — Born a Man for Men”Considering Ourselves
I am a little skeptical when I hear someone say, “I don’t need the approval of others.” We all enjoy an “atta boy” every now and then. In my years when I had work supervisors, I would work harder for one who gave positive affirmations than for one who I could not satisfy. More than we realize, we use the words of others for a mirror.
Continue reading “Considering Ourselves”Journey Update: December 2020
Here in the United States, we celebrated our Thanksgiving Day the fourth Thursday of November. It is unofficially but a real beginning of our Christmas season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Continue reading “Journey Update: December 2020”Outa Sorts
You know the feeling! You’re not sick but you don’t really feel good. You’re not depressed but you’re not really in a happy place. Yep, you’re “outa sorts” (out of sorts) and you feel blah. Outa sorts is something akin to stale bread or constipation.
Continue reading “Outa Sorts”Having a Grateful Heart
It is funny how some things stick in our brains forever and others flee like a bird. I have never forgotten the statement of my good friend and Christian brother Kenny Gilbreath, who related the phrase his uncle always prayed in every prayer, “Lord, give me a grateful heart.” I have often thought about that phrase and the profound meaning of it.
Continue reading “Having a Grateful Heart”Perspective on Living
Over two years ago, I was lying on an emergency room bed and upon reading my EKG, the medical staff said, “You are having a heart attack right now!” They made short work of prepping me for a heart catherization and one stent and twenty-seven months later I am doing well. In that moment, I had a deep, profound sense of peace. Live or die, I was at peace with God.
Continue reading “Perspective on Living”Journey Update: November 2020
Can you believe it’s November? I’m ready for COVID-19, elections, and hot weather to be over with. Anyone with me on this? “I see that hand!!”
The deadline for our CareBox Project for our children in Haiti will be Tuesday, November 10th at noon. We will be shipping them out that afternoon making their long journey to our facilities outside of Leogane, Haiti. We greatly appreciate each individual and church that helps us with this project. It blesses a bunch of children. Thank you all so much.
Continue reading “Journey Update: November 2020”Certainty of God
The uncertainties of life would drive a sane person mad if they obsessed about it. We tend to tuck the doubts and fears in a back corner of our minds so we can have (as my Appalachian kindred would say) “walking around sense”.
Continue reading “Certainty of God”Smell the Smoke
My grandson and I went out a few nights ago and cooked up a little hot chocolate on a campfire. While sitting around the fire, the smoke seemed to chase us. We would move our camp chairs to escape the smoke and you know where the smoke went next, right? Yep, we were like smoke magnets. When we went back inside for the night, we smelled like we had been roasted.
In the world we live in, the smoke seems to be chasing us. It’s hard to get away from the clamor of the world.
Continue reading “Smell the Smoke”
