In another lifetime ago, when I taught school, I liked to break the study of subjects with a little humor or thought-provoking intermission. One day, I had a half of a glass of water, and I was asking the proverbial question, “Is this glass half full or half empty?”
Continue reading “Half-a-Glass of Water”If Tombs Could Talk!
So I began as a large outcropping of bedrock, just outside of the ancient city of Jerusalem near the place called Golgotha. As a huge rock, I often wondered what I would eventually become. Maybe I would be hewn into stones for a great building. Perhaps, I would become a monument for a great king. I could be cut into pieces and used as a fortress wall. My mass may be chipped into pavement for a king’s highway or perhaps small stones for a fancy garden wall.
Continue reading “If Tombs Could Talk!”The Executioner’s Dream
A Story of the Executioner at Golgotha by Harry L. Whitt
After their scourging, we herded the three men through the jeering streets to Golgotha. The citizens of Jerusalem hate us only a bit less than we hate them. Being assigned to the occupation force of Judea is a good point for a possible promotion but today the city is set on edge. One of the three is a popular prophet to the common people but hated by the elites of their counsel.
Finally, we are out of the bustle of the city streets and bring the three miserable souls to the top of the hill, the place of the skull. The rock outcropping resembles a skull, and today it is the place of execution for all to see.
The schemer who devised the crucifixion is to be congratulated. Nothing puts the fear and dread in occupied people as the crucifixion. It is an agonizing death to endure and to witness. I have killed countless men in warfare with sword and spear, but this is the most gruesome of all.
Continue reading “The Executioner’s Dream”Simply Put
Simply Put
Put me in a family to love
Put me in a community to serve
Put me in Your Kingdom to sacrifice
Put Your Word in my ear to hear
Put Your Word in my heart to believe
Put Your Word in my mouth to speak
Put something in my hand to give
Put compassion in my heart to heal
Put bread in my hand to share
Put me in a place to trod
Put me in Your field to work
Put me in the world to shine
Put me in the line to stand
Put me in the battle to fight
Put me in the war to win
Put me in Your altar to pray
Put me in Your heart to worship
Put me in Your hand to die
—Harry L. Whitt
When You Have Had Enough!
When I was in the eighth or ninth grade, my Daddy bought me a horse. Her name was Sugar and at first, she was as sweet as her name. Then Sugar realized I was a greenhorn cowboy, and she started misbehaving like her name was Diablo. She would get to the edge of our yard, and she would “pitch a fit”. After about two go arounds of that, I was more afraid of her than she was of me.
Continue reading “When You Have Had Enough!”Old Men
I remember when I was a boy looking at old men in wonderment. They were either my grandfather or someone else’s grandfather. I knew my granddaddy was once a farmer and he still dabbled with farming. He helped my Daddy with a few things, had a garden, and sometimes had a little patch of corn. He got a few dollars every month from the plan put in place by FDR.
Continue reading “Old Men”Treasure in Earthen Vessels
When I was a young man, I felt like the future was an expanse of forever, laden with endless opportunities, and fueled by youthful endurance that was unstoppable. Too bad, I was also stupid! Some of my mistakes took me back three steps for the one I had made forward. Sound familiar?
Continue reading “Treasure in Earthen Vessels”Whatever a Man Sows…
Springtime is just around the corner and some of us with a need for dirt under our fingernails, plant a garden. Anyone who plants a few seeds revisits the ground in a few days to look for the seedlings bursting forth from the ground. The small green sprigs give a hint of a harvest to come.
Continue reading “Whatever a Man Sows…”Be Real
Our present world is one of symbols and images that are often removed from reality. Social media has photos that are filtered to project a prettier face. A short media post shows a perfect situation but a deeper look reveals a flawed reality.
We are swamped with available information at our fingertips. Much of the information is skewed to project a reality that does not exit. It is like the snake oil medicine of old, that promised to cure everything from cataracts to kidney stones but only gave a taste of medicine in the mouth.
Continue reading “Be Real”Sharing a Little Gold Dust
It is amazing how all the people we cross paths with in life leave a mark on us. As I get a little further in this journey, I am more conscious than ever to leave a little gold dust on others that I have scraped off the Throne of Grace.
Continue reading “Sharing a Little Gold Dust”
