Nick’s Walk

I miss trials. In case you might mistake me for a crazy person or a super-spiritual type, I am talking about court trials. I have been a trial lawyer for over thirty years. Over that time I have accumulated a lot of great trial memories. I remember helping an adult woman prove her paternity. Pretty much everyone knew who her father was and his family didn’t deny it until oil was found on his property. I remember when a truck driver shot in the parking lot of a motel, tried to collect money from the motel owners. I remember telling the jury that the driver’s expert, Mr. Wright, was just plain “wrong.” The jury agreed. I remember being in federal court when the audience was filled with sign carrying supporters of the opposition. I remember defending a school board when a teacher put a kid in a box. I remember a case when the jury asked the judge for writing pads and calculators, not a good sign for the defendants. I remember when I had the opposing party on the stand and the man turned to the judge and asked if he could fire his lawyer and hire me. […]

 Today my thought are based on an article I read last week.  I also used the article as a basis for my teaching yesterday at Amana, but since most of you weren’t there I thought a summary might be helpful. Lot’s of error has crept into the Christian Church because of vague ideas about what Jesus died for. The article was helpful in pointing out some things He didn’t die for. The American Dream. We are promised riches in Glory, not here on earth. There are two many impoverished Christians whose walk shames our own to hold to this idea. Jesus does point out that our Father cares for us more than the birds and lilies, but we fail to distinguish between needs and wants. It’s a scandal that some teach that physical blessings are a sign of God’s favor. Do we forget that Jesus taught that the spiritual life is tougher, not easier for the rich? Sometimes keeping us in a payday-to-payday state is a gift from God. He gives us what we can handle, whether it be blessings or burdens. Jesus didn’t die for political purposes. Some of us seem to think that Jesus is a democrat or […]

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 The Bible was written over a 1600 year period by about 40 men from 1500 BC to AD 100. There are more than 168,000 Bibles either sold or given away per day in the United States. The Bible is the most sold book of all time and has been translated into more than 1,200 languages. There are more than 3,200 verses with prophecy fulfilled either within the Bible itself or since the Bible was written. But there are still more than 3,100 verses with yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecies. All that’s pretty impressive, pretty great, but it’s not why this is the greatest story every told. It’s the greatest love story every written. Jesus, its central character, is the greatest lover in history. All the verses in all the books of the Bible point to Him. There are lots of subplots, heroes and villains. There is lots of history, philosophy, theology and poetry. It’s still all about Jesus. If I had to give up all but one book up, (which I really wouldn’t want to do) the book […]

It’s hard to believe that school starts next week. Where did the summer go? I have to admit to being old school. I don’t think that school should start until after the Jerry Lewis Telethon. But what are you going to do. It is what it is. I always liked the beginning of school. Guess I was a nerd. I liked the smell of new books and school supplies. I liked the challenge of the empty note books. Usually I was pretty bored with summer and ready for something to do. I liked the fact that school starting signaled the beginning of my favorite season, Fall. I love the leaves, the cooler weather, football, gumbo and the new fall shows on TV. Regretfully, in south Louisiana the cooler weather and gumbo are still weeks away. I like this time of the year because it is a better time for new beginnings than New Years. It’s the time for making a plan for education for the coming year. I always do my annual Continuing Legal Education in the fall. At our church we have a Fall Semester. I look forward to starting up our Connect Group. I really missed it […]

I just knew I wasn’t getting enough. I am way under the usual quota. Of course I’m talking about hugs. I read an article yesterday that we need at least 8 hugs a day and that’s just for maintenance. For growth we probably need more like 12. I don’t know about you but I’m way short of that. Check out the article for ten reasons we need that many hugs. Here’s just a summary: Research shows that hugging is extremely effective at healing sickness, disease, loneliness, depression, anxiety and stress. A hug builds trust and a sense of safety. This helps with open and honest communication. Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, which heal feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger. Holding a hug for an extended time lifts one’s serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness. Hugs strengthen the immune system and boost self-esteem.  Hugging relaxes muscles.   Hugs teach us how to give and receive. Hugs educate us how love flows both ways. The energy exchange between the people hugging is an investment in the relationship. It encourages empathy and understanding. It feels real good. If I’m going to get 8 to 12 hugs a day, I’m going to […]

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be  loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Matthew 16 These verses are generally cited for the Peter and rock stuff. For 2000 years, what those references mean has been the source of vigorous debate. All this clouding the marvelous truth in the question, the answer and the source of the answer. Jesus asked his disciples the greatest question. “Who […]

I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand— from my own eyes and ears! I’m sorry— forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise! I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor. (Job 42: 5– 6 MSG) A few years ago Glenn Packiam wrote Secondhand Jesus in which he suggests  we have accepted a secondhand account of who Jesus is in exchange for a personal knowledge of Him. How often have you met someone whom you have heard much about in advance only to be shocked by how different that someone is in person? In our spectator Christianity, many have only a secondhand experience of Jesus. That would be bad enough, but many of us are relying on rumors of Jesus that are incomplete or, sometimes, false. I grew up with the idea that we could only know Jesus through an intermediary, the church or her representatives. I remember being confused with the term “personal savior.” It took a long time to learn that Christianity is a relationship and relationship can only be experienced first-hand. There is a danger with this. Each relationship is different. My wife is a […]

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7 These words of Jesus seem harsh, until you look around and see how Jesus is portrayed today. If you want to get a taste of society, check out Facebook. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a big fan of Facebook. This and all my  blog posts end up on Facebook. It’s a great way to share thoughts. I love to keep track of family and friends. Facebook is great. Let’s get a few things straight however. 1. You are not going to hell if you don’t “like” a Facebook post. 2. You are not going to get a “blessing” if you share a Facebook post. 3. Jesus didn’t come to make you rich. 4. Jesus didn’t come to make you healthy. 5. God is our “Provider” and […]