Down and Out
Yesterday morning I googled the definition of the phrase “down and out”. It told me that someone who is down and out has “no job and nowhere to live, and they have no real hope of improving their situation.” AI suggested “a person is in a difficult…
Neighborhood Missionaries
On a recent podcast I heard a Christian apologist offer what I felt was an excellent response to those who try to enter into an argument with him regarding creation verses evolution. His suggestion: “I hear you asking me what I, as a Christian, believe…
Forgiveness Mythology
For many people, forgiveness is something they struggle with – in many ways (such as in giving and in receiving … horizontally and vertically). So, let’s start with a simple definition and go from there: “Forgiveness is the act of letting go.” Thus it…
A Fun Challenge … or Two
I was given a fun challenge last Sunday as I was asked to be the guest preacher at Bethany Lutheran, Detroit. I mistakenly thought that the biggest challenge was being asked to preach on a prescribed obscure text on the topic of “peacemakers”. However,…
Know What … So What
Ever since attending our Circuit Convocation I have been praying for God’s daily guidance in walking with Jesus on his mission. Greg Finke, the speaker, emphasized two little self-examination questions: Know what? So what? Or, put another way, how…
A Privileged Life
“Papa, why are your teeth yellow?” our granddaughter asked me as we sat upon the couch watching who-knows-what on the television. The question caught me off-guard, even though it was not the first time she had posed the question of me (The first time…
Responsibility with Joy
On Tuesday evening Monica and I entered into an interesting week – one that is filled with additional responsibility … and great joy. It started with us packing our suitcases and moving out of our condo, traveling about ten minutes to South Offshore…
Holy Week
The word “holy” means “set apart”. The Christian Church calls this week “Holy Week” because it is the one week in the year specifically “set apart” to focus upon the week in which our Lord’s earthly redemptive mission reaches its fulfillment. It starts…
Going with God’s Flow
We were having a delightful supper at Applebee’s. We had prayed for Rachel, our waitress, and her son Raemar. With the bottomless sides and bountiful sandwiches, we were more than content. It was then that Rachel returned – sat down with us and gave…
No Fooling Around
Tuesday morning I allowed myself to sleep in a little past 7:00 (those west coast baseball games are killers). Thinking I could have a pretty lazy morning, I proceeded to embark on my morning walk. Then suddenly, at about the ¾ point of my two-mile…