Looking for an earlier Watchword?
- Tuesday, August 25 - The father stood on the high dive platform at the crowded public swimming pool. His young son sat on the edge of the pool, staring admiringly at his father. His eyes widened as his father waved, and then launched himself into what he hoped would be a wonderful dive to impress his son. Somewhere between the platform and the water all went wrong, and he hit the water with a mighty belly-flop that echoed across the pool. The crowd laughed and whistled at the show. The young boy clapped and squealed at what he considered to be a wonderful daredevil performance by his father. His father, overwhelmed with humiliation and struggling to regain his breath, made his way to the pool edge where his son sat. If you were watching you could almost imagine the young boy saying, “do it again daddy!” The daredevil would not be doing it again. Continue reading
- Monday, August 24 - A Journey with Jesus: Let me share with you an imperfect event/time line for Jesus during a month leading up to the Resurrection. As you consider this, imagine you are walking with Jesus, step by step, in sandals, over rough and hilly terrain, through the Jordan River, twice, and the Yarmuk. You have been in Bethsaida, where you witnessed the feeding of the 5,000. He is on a 125-mile journey of ministry through the ten cities of the Decapolis and on south to Jerusalem. As he journeyed, more and more people followed. As you walk along you watch Jesus. It seems that this is an almost casual walk; He pauses, with smiles and little touches, as He ministers, heals, and speaks plainly about love and compassion. You realize that He is showing you how to Love others. At some point, Jesus knows He is traveling to Jerusalem for Passover. And, of course, He knows what else awaits Him there. Continue reading
- Saturday, August 22 - Shirts vs. Skins? In the midst of a nonsensical, go nowhere, political “discussion” that took on more heat than light, the love of my life and I paused in our exchange, to return to our morning devotionals. In the middle of reading the above scripture in Our Daily Bread, we both broke into laughter! How bloody stupid we had been, much like the sillies in Corinth, choosing up sides, seeking a human idol to worship. In the light of this spiritual awareness, it seemed obvious that we were tasting unspiritual milk, and struggling with the solid food of the Word. Do we follow our Lord when it fits our “team”, or do we follow our Lord despite our “team” and what they may proclaim? Besides, who are these “teams” anyway? There is much in the political landscape to cause serious concerns for the believer, the follower of Christ. What is our position on this and that and the other thing? Maybe the better question is, why do we tend to take that malarkey so seriously? Continue reading
- Friday, August 21 Giant Slayer?* - iant Slayer? What are your giants? What causes you fear? Concern? Maybe it is something invisible, yet deadly? Like Covid? Maybe you are like our friends in quarantine, like being in jail, restricted to a room, a wing, a campus. It is a giant, one that has restricted freedoms, isolated us from our families, our loved ones, and yet kept us safe. Maybe your giant is something else. An estrangement from a loved one over something, now hard to recall, lost in grief remembered. Maybe hurt feelings, unintended at the time, yet replayed over and over again, and as the encores repeat, the hurt deepens. Maybe the giant was inherited, passed from one generation to the next, as in Biblical times when the conflict between the Samaritans and Judah persisted from before the Babylonian exile. Continue reading
- Thursday, August 20* - Ice Cream and Faith: When I was a child, it seemed that the only time we would have ice cream would be on birthdays. As I think back on those times, it was like a ritual. Father would leave on a ‘mystery errand’ to Isalys Ice Creamery, down the hill in Steubenville, OH. My two sisters and I always knew what was coming, but our parents treated it like it was a big surprise. And, in truth, it was, because as rarely as we had ice cream, that first taste was a surprise and a reward. Taste and see that the Lord is good happens to each us along this road of faith that we follow, in the footsteps of the Carpenter/Lord. Maybe that first amazing taste of radiant joy came when we first met Jesus the Christ in the midst of a born-again experience and realized that we were cleansed, and our sins forgiven. Maybe your first taste came during a Curisillo weekend, and you left those few days walking on air. Maybe your awareness of joy followed seamlessly, from childhood to adulthood, embracing the faith you saw in your parents. Continue reading
- Tuesday, August 18. - Are You Sin-Free? Have you stopped sinning? Really? In thought, word and deed? What you have done and what you haven’t done? Pure, pure as the driven snow? Really? Interesting. Let me check. Lust. Any lust there? No? How about, envy? Feeling envious of others, even in small ways? Why would I envy others? Judgmental? Do you judge others? Of course not! Anger? Do you bear any anger or hurt feelings toward others? No, they can’t hurt me! Wait a minute. I think I missed a big one. How about pride? Are you proud that you are sin-free? No, no, no. Not pride. I just know I am sin-free. Continue reading
- Monday, August 17 - Without getting too politically incorrect, I wonder who Isaiah the prophet is cautioning about in today’s world? With needs and desperate times growing throughout our country, with the pandemic still expanding in areas and the death toll rising, to whom do our citizens turn to, count on, for help? Where are our leaders? They are home, enjoying their families, or on the golf course or, simply, ignoring the growing need that is right there, before their eyes. Are we getting a taste of what we read about in the Holy Bible, the inflictions visited upon tribes and peoples, and the innocents? I wonder. Continue reading
- Saturday, August 15 - Christian Rules? Years ago, when I was living in Cincinnati, I had a physician friend and colleague who told me, much to my surprise, that she thought she might be an atheist. Nothing would have prepared me for that statement. We chatted about that for a while, and I shared a little of my Walk, then she said something like, “Good for you, Stan. But, you know, I don’t believe anyone can become a compassionate, practicing medical doctor without a conscience.” To which I replied, “You mean, like a Higher Power?” She just smiled. Seeds. What surprised me was that she lives her life dedicated to reaching out and helping the disadvantaged. She isn’t just a good person, she is an active good person who seeks ways where she can make a difference, and she does, volunteering in local clinics, visiting homeless and helping meet their needs for food or clothing. In addition, I believe, she makes significant donations to worthy and needy causes. This person, who claims she is not a Christian, is, nevertheless, acting out Christ’s love in a very real and substantive way. “They will know we are Christians by our love…,” right? Continue reading
- Friday, August 14 - Get in the Boat! Did you note the first phrase in the Matthew passage? “Immediately after this…” Immediately after what? Those faithless guys in the boat had, just that day, witnessed the feeding of the 5000+! It’s no wonder Jesus marveled at their lack of faith. Why did Jesus “insist” that they get back in the boat? Was it a set-up for a lesson they had to learn? That sentence continues with “…and cross to the other side of the lake.” Why cross? We aren’t told. Was this a lesson teaching them not to doubt the Master? Oh, ye of little faith. Then the thick-headed lugs in the boat finally got it. “You really are the Son of God!” Oh, it is you! Then that feeding of the 5,000 wasn’t a trick! Wow. That piece of fish was really good. How did you do that? And the bread so fresh! Continue reading
- Thursday, August 13 - TIME, by Graham Groombridge: Early last Saturday morning I was sitting at a picnic table on our porch at Webster Lake having a little quiet TIME. The sight of the tranquil waters of the lake had a noticeable, peaceful, and calming effect on my thoughts and emotions. With TIME on my hands, I decided to browse through Romano Guardini’s The Lord and settled on a chapter, “The Will of the Father”. It begins with 12-year-old Jesus after his first pilgrimage to Jerusalem when he remained behind in the Temple. Mary, after a long search, chides him. He quietly counter-questions, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know I must be about my Father’s business?” Luke 2:49-50 Continue reading
- Tuesday, August 11 - Faith Thoughts, Part 3: Faith and the Real World: Faith and the “real” world. How does that work? Many years ago, two of the Men’s Bible Study groups that I was part of were looking at Islam. In one, I was confronted with a sense of fear, a fear that for all intent and purpose prevented a clear and unfettered discussion of Islam. I failed to keep the conversation focused for there seemed to be such a closed mind, which surprised me. All my brothers seem to be able to concentrate on is violence and what they see as “Allah, the avenger”, out to kill all infidels (Christians, Jews, etc.). A very frustrating discussion. I may have fallen out of favor with them as I have argued that there is only one God, over all of us. Contrary to the thinking of some, Christianity is monotheistic, and the Christian belief is that the one God is “triune” in character: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a God that is personal, that walks with my walk, that is compassionate, merciful and, above all, forgiving. Continue reading
- Monday, August 10 - Faith Thoughts, Part 2: Resurrection: What about the Resurrection? Christianity without the Resurrection? I don’t believe so. Simply put, in my mind, without the Resurrection there is no Christianity! Early in my “mature” Christian walk, I realized that, if I could not believe in the Resurrection, then I could not be a Christian. That remains central to my faith. As I tried to recall the years of my youth, the hundreds of church services I attended (usually under duress), the hundreds of dad’s sermons heard, slept through, and also read, I did not grasp the importance of the Resurrection, which I feel is so key now. I do see Dad’s emphasis on the ministry of Christ, the power that belief brings to good works, the sense of being a “good” person, and the lessons that Christ’s life teaches us. But the Resurrection? Not so much. Continue reading
- Saturday, August 8 - Faith Thoughts, Part 1: Some years ago, my Christian education class at church went through four class sessions studying the book “Walk Across the Room” by Bill Hybels. This was a study to help us to understand and to organize all those elements of our faith journey so as to share our experience with others. During the course of these classes I found that I was understanding my own walk of faith in greater clarity. So, for this meditation, and the next two, let me share with you some ideas about faith that touched me, personally, and are probably the same ones that touched you. First, I am an “evangelical” Christian, in the broadest sense of that word. For many years, I resisted that word because of all the negative qualities that I associated with it. The word is a tough one because it has been so misused and distorted in the media, in politics and in society in general. Webster New World Dictionary defines an evangelical as: “(living) according to the Gospels or the teaching of the New Testament,” and “faith through belief in Christ.” That sums up pretty well who I try to be, and often fail, time after time. Continue reading
- Friday, August 7 - What the Heck is Going On? If we had a Time Machine and could return to Galilee and followed our Lord on his initial travels through the fields and farms and villages surrounding the sea of Galilee, what would we learn in our travels? Let’s say that In being transported to first Century Judea, we retained our present knowledge, understandings and biases, what would be find? You know, I think we would be completely lost. The dominant presence in the area, at that time, was Judaism, if there was a dominant presence at all. In that day and in that place, being a Christian would have hardly raised anyone’s eyebrows. In fact, if you wanted to make yourself completely separated from Judean society, become a Christian, although that term was not broadly used until after the Jerusalem Council of 50 AD. Continue reading
- Thursday, August 6 - Judging and Being Judgmental: Have you ever been trampled by a pig? What thoughts went through your mind when I asked that? Maybe the “pig” that attacked you was not an animal? Give that some thought, in light of judging and not being judgmental. Or maybe you had some really good ideas that you shared with people you thought you trusted and they took those really good ideas, those pearls of wisdom, and did what with them? Demeaned them? Oh, are we judging again? We all judge to some degree or another. Lord knows that I am judgmental when it comes to our government and those in highest positions, especially when I look at the destruction which this pandemic continues to bring on us. Continue reading
- Tuesday, August 4 - Blessed Research, Part 2: Inspiration: Morning? Evening? Or maybe, you find time in the middle of the day? I’m talking about those times when we read the Bible, devotionals, meditate and pray. In the midst of all that reading and praying, do we pause and listen? In our silence, with our minds in neutral, God speaks to us. He speaks to us through the Word, through those devotionals, and in our silence, answers our prayers. This meditation is about those times when God and our better angels speak. You know, that last point is true. God and my/your better angels do speak to us, if we would but listen. Oh, we might say it’s just a small voice within speaking to you and me, maybe we chalk it up to our conscience or perhaps it’s a recollection of comments by loved ones, long ago. Maybe it comes floating in your memory from something read a while back, or perhaps a bit a wisdom shared by a friend that has taken on new meaning because now you are in a different place. Continue reading
- Monday, August 3 - Blessed Research Part 1: This fall, my novel, A Life for Barabbas, will be released by TouchPoint Press (Date to be announced.). It has been an odyssey of blessed research into sacred and ancient writings and a recognition of God’s graces through inspiration. The research has taken me into the writings of scholarly theologians, and multiple commentaries. I was introduced to the Apocrypha, which, at the start, I couldn’t spell, let alone know what it was. In turn, it led me to Josephus, Jewish historian that wrote a century or so after the Resurrection. I met St. Jerome who translated the Greek Septuagint (another word I had to look up) that resulted in the Latin Vulgate (?). St. Jerome’s contribution was his in-depth translation and explanation of original Hebrew writings. Continue reading
- Saturday, August 1 - Truth and Grace: Okay, you and a friend are having this conversation about Heaven. Your friend thinks he will be surprised to see who is there. You reply, with a smile, that they may be more surprised to see you. That kind of the conversation is lighthearted and with much good humor. There is a degree of truth in that exchange. In the midst of that conversation someone might wonder, isn’t it strange that God would send people to hell. Oh, I have a couple of candidates to nominate for that trip. The better question might be, how could God send sinful people to Heaven? On matters of truth and grace, it occurs to me that we may not know the full definition of either one of those ideas. I have read essays that talk about what is truth, but when it comes to the matter of grace, I wonder if we fully understand. Continue reading
- Friday, July 31 - Ever consider yourself a power source? Well, you are. So am I. First thing in the morning, I reach over and turn on my lamp and there is light. I did not say, “Let there be light”, as my creator-God did. I start my Keurig and make coffee, and I don’t celebrate, “Hey, look what I did! See what I created!” No, not that kind of power. I’m talking about the power, or the energy for the Christian life and where that comes from. One of the most important commandments that Jesus left us with before he was taken up to heaven is contained in the first chapter of the book of acts. Continue reading
- Better Than We Deserve? - Recently I was reading something by Randy Alcorn, asking “Are we trying to atone for our own sins?” He went on to say that he believed that too many of us are trying to repeat the atonement, and we can’t. Only Jesus can and He already did. Our job is to accept it, to embrace God’s forgiveness, to relax, rejoice and enjoy His peace. You know as humans our tendency this to embrace God’s forgiveness and surrender our anxiety and worries to Him, then we turn around and take them all back, putting the on our shoulders, where it weighs us down. I think we tend to hoard God’s graces. Oh, we can talk about our blessings, and named them one by one, and maybe we even celebrate them, but I think too often we find it hard to pass it on. I don’t mean to brag about them, I mean to go and do likewise. Continue reading
