This year has gone quickly. Now it is time to think about closing out the year and doing it well. As we move more closely into the holiday season we look at the statistics of how many people have challenges during this time of year and it reminds us that we must be “good soldiers” and keep our minds focused on the positive things of life, rather than the challenges we face. Our outlook is what is going to allow…
The alarm went off at 5AM this morning in 1977. I jumped in my car drove to Miami and loaded up my sister’s house to move her back to Jacksonville. The move itself went well, almost without a hitch despite the old 68 Chevy wagon’s excess mileage. At 1 AM the next morning I opened the door to our home to find Donna well into labor. One hour and 47 minutes later the doctor gave me the good news that…
In the previous weeks leading up to today, I talked a lot about war and oppression. It is a common theme in the Bible and whether we like to admit it or not, common to life itself. We like to imagine ourselves as a peace loving society. We like to demonstrate against war and always seem to have many who give verbal credence to their commitment against war and oppression. Yet it can be the same people who feel it…
As we wrap up our concepts on war and oppression, I think it is important to realize that Satan’s major thrust is to get us off course, distracted and in a mindset, that would keep us from “living the life” of prosperity and peace – especially within our families, churches and society. He tries to undermine Christian principles but then act like a jerk at home; and He tries to make us prioritize friendship with our children over parental leadership…
Most of us who did not stay up late watching the election returns probably felt like the people in 1948. I was just a year and a half old when Republican Thomas Dewey ran against Harry S. Truman. On page 1 of the Chicago Tribune’s early edition the banner stated: “Dewey Defeats Truman.” That was wrong, of course. However, late on Election Day this year, almost every poll and news network as well as a myriad of commentaries predicted Democrat Hillary…
Today I want to provide a few more bullet points of awareness about Satan’s methods. Tomorrow we want to take a one-day break to comment on the election. However, today is relevant because many people’s peace has been upended by this election in addition to normal daily stresses. It has divided believers and even families. Let’s consider how these aspects along with current events stress us: He pushes believers toward isolationism, into their private “world of spirituality,” and complete separation…