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As regular readers of this blog know, I am a football fan. I am looking forward to the start of the season in less than a month. I even watched part of the Hall of Fame game last night, Dallas and Miami, who cares right? I particularly enjoy watching in the early part of the season. Before the first regular season game, every team is undefeated and a championship is a possibility for everyone. As the season drags on, the play off teams and the also rans get separated and for some the tough job of finishing a season that really no longer matters emerges. We begin to see players going through the motions.  This should never happen to Christians. Our victory is already won. No matter how many “defeats” we seem to suffer, the end is already decided. There is never an excuse for just going through the motions. At our church there is a seating section on the side. When you sit there you can still see what’s happening up front, but you can also see most of the congregation. I sat in that section Sunday and was greatly encouraged. I didn’t see signs of folks “going […]

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3 Last night was sleep over at Mimi and Paw Paw’s. Those kids can really talk. They are smart and funny and articulate. It was entertaining and uplifting to listen to their every word. Oh, there were a couple of times when they got on each other; but mostly it was positive.  It’s amazing how powerful words are. It’s no accident that Jesus is called “The Word.” From the beginning of scripture we see the power of speech as God speaks and things are created. The problem may be that speech comes so easily. Words can flow from us, often without much thought. Once out, the words can’t be recaptured or redirected. They are out there and their impact has been made.  We need to be so much more careful about what we say. We need to spend twice as much time thinking about what we plan to say before we speak the words. Today, for example, Sunday, we have endless possibilities for the use of our words. […]

4He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 6Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.… Psalm 91 Many years ago a group from our church went to New Orleans to witness on Bourbon Street. My wife went. I had something going on with work at the time and couldn’t go.  I have to admit I was a bit relieved. I read this morning that the New Orleans City Council has just repealed an ordinance that forbid street preaching. I have to admit that I’m not packing my bags and heading out to Bourbon Street. Those who went on that trip, including my wife, talk about it to this day. God showed them and did many wonderful things. I wonder how many great opportunities in life I have missed because of fear. I know that the New Orleans trip is not the only one. Just about anything worth doing has an element of risk that will keep some from seeing the […]

I spent yesterday accompanying a friend to Slidell to sign a lease on some restaurant property he owns there. The tenant is a Chinese family that plans to open the restaurant as a Chinese restaurant. The dad, a chef from New York, an uncle and two daughters were all present at the signing and plan to participate in the business. It seems we don’t have family businesses like we use to. At one time most commercial streets consisted of two or three story buildings with a business on the ground floor up front and a residence taking up the rest of the building. Most farms used to be family business; but these are generally a thing of the past. I think we have lost something with the passing of family business. It must have been great for a family to spend most of their time working together. Family pride must have insured high quality, aided by years of combined experience. Each child growing up had the family business as, at least, a first choice for a life career. When you think of it, church life should really be run as a family business. Too often we think of evangelism […]

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, 

On Sunday mornings we are studying Offense – The Bait of Satan. Last week’s session dealt with offense in the church and it is well worth summarizing. We are very susceptible to offense in church, because we are most likely to be offended by those from whom we expect the most: those who are close to us for example or our leaders, pastors for example. The biblical response to offense is to go to the person giving offense and talk it out. Satan’s response is to go to others and look for similar offense. An offended person becomes obsessed with the offense and the offender. It’s all they can think or talk about and, almost certainly, they will find others similarly offended and the sense of offense grows. The offended person thinks and talks obsessively in the first person: I I I its all about me. He finds others and changes the “I” to “We.” God uses tough times to strengthen us. It’s when our root system should become stronger. When we feel drought, our roots should go deeper to find water. When offended, we should go deeper to find where our strength and foundation is. If we take […]

I knew it was 3:10 in the morning after fumbling for the light button on my watch. I turned over and realized that there actually was light in the room. It came from two led lamps over my wife’s bible. They looked like stadium lights over a football field in the very dark room.  I have no problem sleeping at night. My problem is I tend to fall asleep on movies and programs my wife finds for me to watch. Rosemary, on the other hand, struggles to sleep at night. But she doesn’t waste her sleepless evenings. She memorizes scripture, not just favorite verses but entire chapters. She is working on entire books. She can then sit down at the computer and type out the chapters she has memorized. She has a passion for scripture and a passion that others know scripture.  I love scripture, but not like she does. I am familiar with it, but not like Rose. Sunday our pastor preached from Jeremiah 13, A Linen Belt. It was a story I was not familiar with. I should have been it’s a great illustration. We all could know more of our Bibles. I think the problem is […]

If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15 I have been taking careful notes on sermons and teachings at church. I like to look back and I am really pleased with what I see. I read notes and recall words that made me uncomfortable with where I am, desirous of being in a better place, and some ideas on how to get there. If we are to follow His commands, we need to know very specifically what they are.  Recently a poll was conducted of youth atheists, including those who had been “church” kids, but had given it up. It was fascinating what these youth had to say: “These kids had attended church but “the mission and message of their churches was vague,” and manifested itself in offering “superficial answers to life’s difficult questions.” The ministers they respected were those “who took the Bible seriously,” not those who sought to entertain them or be their “buddy.“ Kids, and adults, have plenty to keep them, us, occupied. I would not want to calculate how much time I spend “playing games” online as opposed to serious work. Look around you and take notice of how much folks are “playing” with […]