I wonder if we have a problem between our opinion, free will and simple, clear facts? This is true whether we are thinking secular or religious. Conflicts have brought stress and divisions, have taken away from the building up of our nation and our own spiritual growth.
It seems we just can’t learn. God tells us that religion is man-made, but he says we need to learn from each one, for each is unique and has value. But, what do we do? Continue reading
I always wonder about that. Is it ever too late to follow a thought, an inspiration, a dream? How about those ideas that are thrust before your eyes from unexpected places, or those even expected, but surprising places? How about a fortune cookie? Ever take those seriously? I am addicted to Dove dark chocolate minis with the foil inspiration wrap. Here’s one: “Don’t talk about it, just be about it.” Here’s another: “Don’t stop until you are proud.” But this is the one that keeps me going, “You are never too old, and it is never too late.” Yeah!
It was inspiration that led me into biblical research that resulted in my first published book, A Life for Barabbas. It was in that story that my psychology background joined my faith in imagining a continuing life for Barabbas, touching historic facts in Christian history.
What about all that? This is how I would describe the process of writing my book, Middle of Nowhere: Continue reading
I awaken. It is still dark and very quiet. I look at the clock – 1:55 a.m. I, sigh, turn over, and snuggle down into the warmth of my bed, trying to return to sleep, but it evades me. My mind is at work, a left-over thought from yesterday, or a new one for today? I quiet my mind and try some tricks of relaxation… nothing. After a time, I roll over, look, again, at the clock — 2:12 a.m. I finally accept the fact that I am wide awake. To what purpose?
Somewhere in those 17 minutes of wakefulness my mind turns to Jesus in gratitude for just being Lord, or, perhaps, He can help me return to sleep. No, there is something else. I reach over, turn on the bed-side lamp — my day begins. Continue reading
The tornado struck Mayfield Kentucky late afternoon, December 10, 2021. At the time of this writing, we did not know what the final death toll would be, but the devastation was stunning. They called it an EF 4, and there have only been five that severe since they started keeping records. I’m not sure what EF stands for but it’s easy to see what it means.
Since then, Christian and non-Christian organizations, neighboring towns, governments, individuals, responded, digging deeply into their hearts and into their purses to help with the devastation. We can find multiple scripture passages that reflect what we should be doing. We hear Jesus telling us in no uncertain terms that we need to respond. That we need to go and do likewise. Since our youth we have been hearing “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and now we are called upon to do just that. Continue reading
Can you recall that moment when early in the morning you crept around the corner and, there before your eyes was an amazing sight, one you did not expect. Oh, yes, you knew the tree would be there, but, in your child’s mind, you simply could not process all the gifts beneath the tree.
I can recall that moment. I knew the tree was there. After all I had help decorate it. I had helped string colored popcorn into garlands, and craft paper strips into chains, and these constituted some of the tree decorations. I can still hear my older sister scold me, repeatedly, “don’t just throw tinsel at the tree, hang each on a limb”. But I was this little child and I wanted to get the decorating done and get on to the fun part. Continue reading
Over the years, a close friend and critic (my daughter), has given me several books on the creative process, books by interesting authors she has known, including a self-directed workshop book that promised to make an artist out of me. And all the while sending me messages or thought-o-grams that said “Dad, start writing!” Well, finally, I did!
One of her gifts to me is a book entitled The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. He’s the guy that wrote “The Legend of Bagger Vance”, my favorite golf tale. I have to admit that my first reaction to receiving Steve’s book was a deep sigh and a roll of my eyes. However, reviewers really like this book, calling it “powerful”, “cogent”, “smart”, “a vital gem”, and, to quote Esquire, “…a kick in the ass.” So, I began to read and started an interesting journey into what causes me to write or not! Continue reading
It was the middle of December, 1952, when my remarkable year of discovery came crashing to an end. So many things had happened since my high school graduation and my years in college. High school had been unhappy time for me and as I thought about going to college, my Youth Pastor, took me aside and shared some sage advice: “College is a new start, Stanley. What you may have thought of yourself up to this point, is behind you. What is through that new door is anything you want to make it. You can be who you want to be. Don’t take with you anything dark that you imagine you used to be. Be the one you want to be.” Continue reading
Remember that nursery rhyme? Five Little monkeys jumping on the bed one fell off and bumped his head. I didn’t realize how indelibly imprinted that rhyme was in my mind until one evening while watching a family movie, reference was made to monkeys jumping on the bed. And that was like turning on a slideshow of that time in my life when one of my daughters was singing that rhyme.
We all have triggers that opens up pieces of memory past, mostly pleasant memories, has been my experience. Sometimes memories are part of birthday celebrations, family reunions, or maybe just a special happening in the course of an ordinary day; A hummingbird, just outside your window, that seemed to hang in the air, looking at you, just showing off, or a mountain view, a sunset, a flower garden. Continue reading
Three teenagers in an old car, heading for the beaches of Florida. I was 17 and we had just graduated from high school. Two PKs, preacher kids, and one we called “the ringer” had slept in our car at a rest stop. We had grabbed breakfast at a Stuckey’s somewhere in Dodge County, Georgia. As we stood in the parking lot, we could hear singing coming from an old church nearby, and were reminded it was Sunday. We looked at one another, then crossed the road and walked in. Continue reading
Here is a children’s sermon message that illustrates a point: Pastor: “What has four legs, scampers around on tree limbs, and has a big bushy tail?” No answer from the children. A clue is offered, “It likes nuts!” Finally after a lengthy period of silence one small boy tentatively raises his hand and says: “I know the answer is Jesus Christ, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.” Continue reading
And Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life…” John 14:6
What is truth? Steve Brown tells us that truth, real truth, is a hard taskmaster. You know with truth, there is no wiggle room, no way to hedge the bet. No way to hide or duck it. Truth is true because it’s…true.”
If you speak the truth, the real truth, in all circumstances, do you wonder how people would react? One skeptic has said that “It’s a sure way to lose friends and irritate people.” Continue reading
For nearly 35 years I’ve been a member of a number of Bible study groups. Over those years, we have studied most of the New Testament and many of the Old Testament books. We have been fairly thorough, using multiple commentaries, digging deeply, trying to understand the vision and God’s message contained in each passage. It has been exciting and enlightening and, while we still continue on, there is a building sense of what God is saying to us. Continue reading
