In the 2005 movie adaptation of Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice (Directed by Joe Wright, Screenplay by Deborah Moggach) Mr. Bennet, played by Donald Sutherland, closes out his final scene saying, “If any young men come for Mary or Kitty . . . send them in. I’m quite at my leisure.” Then Mr. Bennet leans … Continue reading The Habit of Contentment
Christian living
Making a Habit of Discipleship
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after … Continue reading Making a Habit of Discipleship
Making a Habit of Purity
Galatians 5:19-26 Often when we talk about purity we are talking discussing sexuality. Being pure with your sexuality is important, but it is not the only aspect of purity. Purity, in the eyes of God, is to not allow the stain of any sin be in your life. (cf. James 1:27, “Religion that is pure … Continue reading Making a Habit of Purity
Good Church Leaders and Ministers
A few years ago I shared an adaptation of what education author Todd Whitaker writes in “What Great Teachers Do Differently” {2nd Edition (Larchmont, NY:Eye on Eye Education) 2012}, applying it to parents as their child’s first and primary teacher. Specifically chapter 11 where Whitaker discusses how good teachers repair relationships with students. I thought about that blog this morning and considered … Continue reading Good Church Leaders and Ministers
Focus
Gracious Heavenly Father, When I look to your people I see men and women who struggled with focus. I think of Adam and Eve losing focus and forgetting your care. That did not turn out well for them. I recall Cain with his offering of convenience not of sacrifice. His anger at your displeasure did not turn … Continue reading Focus
Be With Me Lord
Be With Me Lord Thomas O. Chisholm & Lloyd O. Sanderson, 1935 Gospel Advocate Co. Be With Me Lord is a prayer in the form of a song. This lyrical prayer expresses well the desire of a Christian to dwell in the presence of God. Be with me, Lord- I cannot live without Thee, I … Continue reading Be With Me Lord
Xenolith Christians
I recently learned (or remembered from high school geology) that a rock that has a different origin than the igneous rock in which it is embedded is a xenolith. The picture to the right of this text shows what a xenolith looks like. As magma flows, it collects other objects including rocks. When that magma … Continue reading Xenolith Christians
How to Help the Church
First let me emphatically say that this post is NOT about money! This post is about you and the church, specifically the congregation of God's people that you assemble with. Where you assemble to worship is probably similar to Central, where we attend and where I preach. We are a good group of people. We are … Continue reading How to Help the Church
An Umbrella for Two
The rain is falling in my corner of the world. The rain started Sunday and we are expecting rain through Friday. Six days of rain! Thirty-four more and we might face a flood of Biblical proportions. Even in the rain, there are rays of sunshine. Yes, the sun sneaks through the clouds. Yes, the rain … Continue reading An Umbrella for Two
Maturity
Growing up in the 1970's and 80's family vacations were events. We did not fly, we drove and drove. We would pile into the 1967 Chevrolet Biscayne, the 1968 Dodge Polara, or later the 1981 Buick Century and head to the Smokey Mountains, to Orlando, or to southern Ohio. Did I mention hours in the … Continue reading Maturity
Driving Thought 