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God’s Protective Love (4/16/24)In How Firm a Foundation, Jennifer Benson Schuldt described a visit to her great-grandmother’s house when she was a little girl. The elderly relative lived by a farm, and to keep cattle from trespassing, her yard was surrounded by an electric fence. When she asked to play outside, her parents agreed but cautioned her, explaining that touching the fence would be painful...
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The Hope of Easter (4/11/24)Popular author, Jim Cymbala, became pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in 1971. He once wrote about a particularly busy Easter which left him both fulfilled and exhausted. At the end of multiple services, he sat down on the edge of the platform and loosened his tie before noticing a disheveled dirty homeless man on the third row who seemed eager to talk...
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Blind Faith vs. Genuine Faith (4/11/24)For more than 1,000 years, astronomers believed stars and planets revolved around the earth. They observed how stars moved smoothly in their orbits while planets did not. Planets’ orbits wobbled, their speed varied, and sometimes even seemed to reverse directions. To explain facts that seemed to defy logic, scientists developed increasingly complex theories...
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Love Is Kind (4/11/24)I recently listened to Carol Burnett read her autobiography, This Time Together. The star’s story is both entertaining and inspiring. Since I grew up in the 1960s and have watched many of her performances, I especially enjoyed the book. One story I found particularly humorous occurred in the summer of 1959 as Burnett was enjoying her first success on the New York stage in, Once Upon a Mattress. ...
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The Hope of Easter (4/4/24)Popular author, Jim Cymbala, became pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in 1971. He once wrote about a particularly busy Easter which left him both fulfilled and exhausted. At the end of multiple services, he sat down on the edge of the platform and loosened his tie before noticing a disheveled dirty homeless man on the third row who seemed eager to talk...
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Choices (3/20/24)Columnist Bill Crowder wrote in a recent Our Daily Bread devotional that according to the Daily Mirror, a British newspaper, the average person makes an astonishing 773,618 decisions over a lifetime. The Mirror suggests people eventually “regret 143,262 of them.” Crowder commented, “I have no idea how the paper arrived at these numbers, but it’s clear that we face countless decisions throughout our lifetime.”...
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Burgers To Blessings (3/14/24)Ray Kroc was an incredibly successful entrepreneur. The 52-year-old believed he had discovered a gold mine when he entered Richard and Maurice’s restaurant in 1955. He soon convinced the brothers to allow him to franchise their burger business. Kroc would turn the McDonald brothers’ restaurant into the world’s largest fast-food chain. ...
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Dangerous Up And Down (3/11/24)A few years ago, I read an Our Daily Bread devotional by Mike Wittmer, about a mountain climber who reached the summit of Mount Everest in 2019. He was treated to the unique perspective of sunrise from the 29,032-foot mountain peak. He must have felt elated at having reached this famous location. ...
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Has Stealing Become The New Norm? (3/6/24)If you are like me, you are getting used to using self-check-out lines when you shop. Stores which hire fewer cashiers force customers who want to finish their shopping quickly to use self-check registers. This move toward greater automation makes sense for retailers as it reduces the cost of doing business since they have fewer workers to pay...
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Better Together (3/2/24)Sometimes a single word can bring a thousand memories to mind, words like: “Mom,” “Dad” or “Sweetheart.” Some names from the Bible are like that. Adam and Eve make us think of Paradise Lost. Noah brings to mind the flood. David makes us think of Goliath, Bathsheba, his role as Israel’s king and the twenty-third Psalm...
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Hearing God’s Voice (2/14/24)My friend, Bob Johnston, was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Rolla for over 30 years. He recently retired, but since then has been writing a regular blog. I always find what he writes very thought provoking. This week’s column was inspired by something he penned last December...
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Incorrect Assumptions (1/30/24)“What in the world were you thinking, Kenneth Ray… The very idea! What are people going to think when they hear you singing about your mother leaving her family to run off to some bar… And how dare you write about me having four hungry kids?” These are the opening words of Kenny Rogers’ 2012 autobiography, Luck or Something Like It...
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Commitment To A Higher Purpose (1/24/24)Each Christmas someone in my family gives me a book they know I will use for future columns. This year my wife, Kelly, gave me Great American Trivia. Today’s column is based on it. Many Americans know the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776, but few know it was not signed then. On July 19th, the Continental Congress ordered the official copy to be prepared but it was not until August 2nd that the actual document was ready for signatures...
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God Can Bring Good From Bad (1/16/24)I recently finished, Before We Were Yours, a fascinating novel by Lisa Wingate. Her book tells the story of families severely traumatized by social worker, Georgia Tann. She was widely respected in Memphis until it eventually became obvious she was mistreating children. Tann was at the center of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society scandal of 1950. Though the specific families’ stories Wingate told are fictional they are representative of Tann’s victims...
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A Fresh Start (1/9/24)Those who read my last column may remember I wrote about Michael and Matthew Clark; two brothers with leukodystrophy, a fatal disease which reverses one’s mental and physical abilities. Today I share the story of Jill Price, a woman whose mental ability is the complete opposite. She was born with an amazing condition called hyperthymia which allows her to remember everything with extraordinary clarity...
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Fear Not! (1/2/24)According to Spotify, while 75 percent of people enjoy Christmas music, 17 percent of Americans do not. However, I suspect some of those who are not fans may like the song, from the Charlie Brown Christmas Album: Christmas Time Is Here. Wikipedia describes the album as “an unorthodox mix of traditional Christmas music and jazz.”...
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Achieving Maturity (12/31/23)Yahoo published a fascinating article in 2012 about two brothers living in England. In 2006, Michael and Matthew Clark were living normal lives. After serving in the Royal Air Force, Michael became a cabinet maker. Matthew worked in a factory and was busy raising his teenage daughter...
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Achieving Maturity (12/26/23)Yahoo published a fascinating article in 2012 about two brothers living in England. In 2006, Michael and Matthew Clark were living normal lives. After serving in the Royal Air Force, Michael became a cabinet maker. Matthew worked in a factory and was busy raising his teenage daughter...
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The Lord Is My Shepherd (12/5/23)The twenty-third Psalm is one of the most famous passages in the Bible. Part of what makes the ancient psalm so moving is that it was written by David, who had been a shepherd before he became a king. It beautifully pictures God caring for us like shepherds care for their sheep. Here is the psalm:...
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Gratitude (11/29/23)For the past 25 years I have used a marital survey designed and developed in 1977 by Prepare Enrich when I counsel couples. It helps people prepare for marriage and assists married couples who are struggling. I am far from alone; pastors and counselors have used this resource with more than 4 million couples...
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Loneliness (11/21/23)
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Well Done (11/7/23)Many years ago, I read best-selling author John Maxwell’s fascinating book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Maxwell told a dramatic story about businessman Roberto Goizueta, the former CEO of Coca-Cola. In 1997, only a few months before his death, Goizueta delivered a brilliant speech to the Executives’ Club of Chicago in which he shared the passion which motivated him to get up each day. ...
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God Can Use You (11/1/23)When a mother who had taken cocaine and oxycodone during her pregnancy gave birth in May 2001, her baby boy was born at just 26 weeks and weighed a mere one pound, 12 ounces. Christopher Duffley was so frail his chances of survival at first were very slim. During those critical evenings, his aunt prayed for God’s help...
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Second Chances (10/25/23)I once read about a man whose name was mistakenly included in the obituary column of his local newspaper. The notice that he had died frustrated him and made him angry. He did what most of us would have, he contacted the paper telling them he was still alive...
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The Surprising Power Of Kindness (10/11/23)Jimmy Abbott was born Sept. 19, 1967, without a right hand. When he started school his classmates teased him mercilessly. Despite his disability he developed a love for baseball. When he began playing catch with his dad he soon threw away his chunky prosthesis and eventually became so good at tucking his glove between his arm and body and throwing with his left hand that he could field as well as any player...
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My Jesus I Love Thee (10/4/23)William Featherston was born in Montreal, Canada in 1846. He would die there when he was only 26. His life did not capture the attention of others and little is known about him. He is thought to have married Julie McAlister in 1869. She gave birth to the couple’s only child in 1870...
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Life Is Short (9/26/23)The boy was barely a year old when the atomic bomb dropped just 100 miles from his home. Six years later during his school’s show and tell, a classmate played the violin using the Suzuki method and the little boy fell in love with both the music and the instrument...
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God Loves Us Unconditionally (9/6/23)I love the parables found in scripture. Jesus often used these fictional stories to teach spiritual truth in unorthodox ways. While they frequently make truth more understandable, parables can also have the opposite effect on those who are not open to Jesus and make them miss the truth...
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The Amazing Power Of Teamwork (8/30/23)A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to serve as the photographer for the “Joni and Friends Missouri Family Retreat.” This event is designed for families who live with the daily challenges of special needs family members. These heroic parents and kids consistently deal with difficult tests which most people cannot imagine...
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Helping Others (8/29/23)Five-year-old Beth Usher experienced up to 100 seizures every day. She often injured herself when she fell during one of her seizures. When her mother needed to shower or get dressed, she would prop up Beth on soft pillows to watch Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. Beth believed Mister Rogers was her friend. Interestingly, she never had a seizure while watching the show...
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Honoring The Overlooked (8/15/23)Far too often those who work behind the scenes are either ignored or viewed as less valuable than their upfront counterparts. This tendency was addressed by Sheridan Voysey in Our Daily Bread on July 30, 2023, when he shared about his friend Mick, who works on a ship called Africa Mercy. ...
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Grandchildren (8/9/23)As my wife and I approach the first birthday of our first grandchild I have been thinking about my first year as a grandparent. For at least two decades I have looked forward to grandchildren, however, I did not understand how wonderful it would be when Baby J finally arrived. ...
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Do Your Best Each Day (8/2/23)Most of you who read my weekly columns do not know that my friend David Shaw helps me edit each column you read. This week Dave sent me an email he received from a friend which contained a remarkable story and suggested we share it with you our readers and I completely agreed...
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God Knows (7/19/23)In 1994, the FBI arrested Aldrich Ames for espionage. He was a CIA agent for 30 years; during nine of those he sold secrets to the Soviet Union. While pleased that Ames was convicted, the agencies believed other agents were still spying. The FBI compiled a list of secrets believed to have been stolen and began looking for agents with access to the leaked information. ...
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Finding Hope (7/3/23)Stories are one of the most powerful tools speakers have at their disposal. As a pastor I have used them for over 40 years. Jesus, the greatest communicator ever, used great stories, called parables to communicate challenging truths. Many of his parables are well known, for example, the Prodigal Son and Good Samaritan. ...
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Sooner Than We Think (6/28/23)I am writing today’s column the day after I had the honor of conducting my Uncle Ronny’s funeral. Many members of our family gathered to celebrate his life and grieve his death. Like all families in similar situations, we not only shared special memories from his life but also caught up on what is happening in one another’s lives...
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God Loves Us As We Are (6/20/23)Charlotte Elliot, born in 1789, grew up in the home of a minister in Brighton, England. She was a popular young woman, however, after she became extremely ill in 1821, she grew discouraged and bitter. The frustration with her illness led to Elliot becoming angry at God. She reasoned, “If God loved me, He would not have treated me this way.”...
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Gratitude Is An Attitude (6/14/23)Over the course of many years, James Banks has had many devotionals in Our Daily Bread. In his devotional on Jan. 31, 2022, he wrote about an event which took place on Jan. 15, 1919. A massive storage tank in Boston holding molasses burst and spilled more than two million gallons of the sticky substance. ...
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No Greater Love… (6/7/23)Like many, I was blessed to be with my family on Memorial Day. As I talked with my mother about the holiday, she reminded me of a story I heard years ago from one of my favorite family members, Uncle Jim. Though he rarely talked about his service in World War II, this was a story he did share...
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Sharing Our Blessings (5/24/23)Each morning on his way to work, Glen went through the drive-through of a local coffee shop to order a coffee for himself and pay for the order of the person behind him in line. According to Kirsten Holmberg in the June 1, 2022, Our Daily Bread, Glen would ask the cashier to wish the fortunate customer a good day. He never knew who was behind him in line nor how they would respond to his generosity. That did not keep him from repeating his random act of kindness...
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A Case For Faith (5/16/23)Lee Strobel’s journey to faith was long and difficult. The former atheist was an award-winning legal editor of the Chicago Tribune when he set out to discredit the Christian faith. Strobel was shocked when his research instead led him to faith in Christ...
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Serving Others (4/25/23)All of us have read an inspirational story which made us smile, however, occasionally, a friend plays a significant role in one of those stories and it touches us in a special way. The previous church I pastored, The Refuge, was blessed to have Bob and Debbie Row serve as our worship leaders for many years. They are both extremely gifted musicians...
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Hope (4/11/23)In The Jesus I Never Knew, award-winning author Philip Yancey examines the story of Jesus’ resurrection. He says those who reject the resurrection usually see Jesus’ disciples, “either as gullible rubes with a weakness for ghost stories, or as shrewd conspirators who conceived a resurrection plot as a way to jump start a new religion.”...
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Overcoming Loneliness (4/4/23)Last November an article from Michigan State University (MSU) addressed the devastating impact of rampant loneliness in the United States. It spoke of a recent Cigna study which reported these disturbing statistics: Among adults 66 and over, 40 percent admit they are lonely...
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Healthy Marriages (2/21/23)Like most of you, I watched Sunday’s Super Bowl along with an estimated 150 million viewers, but the night before I attended our church’s Valentine’s Banquet. Our attendance was 150 instead of 150 million, but we shared a delicious meal, listened to some great music and thoroughly enjoyed celebrating love and marriage...
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Sacrificial Love (2/14/23)Eighty years ago, Feb. 3, 1943, on a frigid night in the North Atlantic, a German torpedo struck the SS Dorchester creating a large hole beneath its waterline. The transport began sinking shortly after midnight. Many onboard died when the torpedo exploded, hundreds more would lose their lives later...
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The Limits of Knowledge (2/7/23)All of us have heard the statement, “knowledge is power.” I have a question, is this true? Nearly everyone recognizes there is a degree of truth in this statement, however, I want to suggest a different question, how much knowledge does it take to have power?...
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God’s Help To Overcome Stress (2/1/23)The Penn State Nittany Lions played the Memphis Tigers in the 2019 Cotton Bowl. Penn State’s running back, Journey Brown, did not know it at the time, but it was to be his final football game. He played incredibly well, rushing 16 times for 202 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He led the team to a decisive 53-39 victory...
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Do Not Give Up (1/24/23)Many people have heard the story found in Matthew 14 of Jesus walking on water. Most probably also know how Jesus told Peter he too could step out onto the stormy waves. It is unsettling to think of attempting to walk on water in perfect weather. But it would be far more frightening to attempt a walk on the Sea of Galilee with wind howling at gale force and massive waves crashing around you...
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Wise Words (1/17/23)As we begin 2023, most of us are looking for ways to gain fresh perspective. Perhaps some of you read the recent Reader’s Digest, article entitled, “75 New Year’s Quotes That Will Inspire a Fresh Start to the Year.” Below are several quotes including one not listed in the article...
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Leading By Serving (1/10/23)Few today know much about our 22nd and 24th president, Grover Cleveland. He was financially conservative in some areas while liberal in others. He was praised for his honesty, self-reliance and integrity. While not popular at the end of his second term, he is now recognized as a strong leader with high morals plus the courage to defy strict party boundaries...
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The Amazing Power Of Kindness (12/27/22)Most of us put a great deal of time and energy into preparing for Christmas. While New Year’s Day is seven days after Christmas, that holiday is not a date most of us spend months preparing to celebrate. You may be surprised to learn that 38.5 percent of U. ...
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For You (12/20/22)I subscribed to the 1440 Daily Digest, a politically balanced synopsis of each day’s top news stories. This news organization feels our country have become too alienated from each other and they are committed to reporting the news in an unbiased way...
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The Power of Godly Habits (11/22/22)I am currently reading Drew Dyck’s intriguing book, Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science. In his book, the author links scripture’s challenge to discipline ourselves with fascinating scientific research...
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Embracing Change (11/16/22)The Bible contains many fascinating stories from Jesus’ remarkable life. One of the most interesting is in John 5:1-15. It tells the story of a man who waited 38 years to be healed at the Pool of Bethesda. Tradition had it that periodically an angel would stir the pool and the first person who stepped into the water afterward would be healed...
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God’s Surprising Angels (11/10/22)I read Lisa’s story in the Oct. 4, 2020, Our Daily Bread devotional. Lisa did not know what to make of the following Bible verse found on a greeting card when it arrived. “Then Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!’ The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.” (2 Kings 6:17, NLT) The words did not seem to relate to the painful circumstances she was enduring...
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An Amazing Answer To Prayer (11/2/22)I recently had the privilege of attending the 2022 Legacy Grandparenting Summit. This two-day event challenged each grandparent who attended, to be more intentional about passing their faith on to their grandchildren. One of the featured speakers shared a story about her grandfather, William, who had been a dairy farmer in North Carolina. ...
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Are You Looking? (10/26/22)Even if you are not a country music fan, you have probably heard Trace Adkin’s 2008 hit, You’re Gonna Miss This. The song became the artist’s third number one hit on the U. S. Billboard of Hot Country Songs, but also peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and even made it to #19 on the Pop 100 chart...
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Persistence (10/18/22)In 1954, Life magazine published a critical exposé of American education which captured the public’s attention. It focused on how grade-school students were falling further and further behind previous generations. The shortcomings of our schools justifiably frightened Americans...
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Living For The Glory Of God (10/11/22)One of my favorite movies is the 1981 classic, Chariots of Fire, which tells the stories of two British runners, Harold Abrams and Eric Liddell. Each was a world class competitor and both had won gold medals in the 1924 Olympics. While Chariots of Fire is a sports movie, it is ultimately the story of what motivated each man to compete...
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God’s Grace Changes Lives (10/4/22)John Newton was born in 1725. On Sept. 3, 2020, my favorite blogger, Jim Denison, wrote about an event which occurred in Newton’s life on the same day 272 years earlier, Sept. 3, 1748. Newton, who was the captain of a slave ship, encountered such a violent storm he feared he and his crew were going to die. ...
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New Beginnings (9/28/22)In the late 1890s, Swedish Christian, Eric Lund felt God was leading him to become a missionary to Spain. He soon left Sweden to begin his work there convinced he was doing what God wanted him to do. However, his work in Spain was unsuccessful and Lund became frustrated. Then, he met a Filipino man, Braulio Manikan, Lund shared his faith and Manikan became a believer...
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My New Grandson (9/21/22)My oldest nephew celebrated his 32nd birthday on Sept. 2. He was born on Labor Day in 1990. I still remember how I teased my sister-in-law about waiting until “Labor Day” to go into labor. Our entire family was excited to welcome my brother and sister-in-law’s first child. ...
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Life Is Short (9/14/22)Leo Tolstoy, one of Russia’s greatest authors, once penned the story of a young Russian farmer who inherited his father’s small farm. He at once began dreaming about expanding his property. Shortly after that a well-dressed stranger visited with an offer which seemed too good to be true. The man promised to give him all the property he could walk around in a day. He merely had to return to the same spot from which he started, his father’s grave, before the sun went down...
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Offering Forgiveness (9/6/22)I quickly knew when I began reading, Forgiving My Father, by M. William Lensch in the February 2018 issue of Reader’s Digest that it was a powerful moving story. The author related how his father rarely talked and was emotionally distant. While he tried to teach his son to be respectful, he had a bad temper and Lensch felt very isolated from him...
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We Have A Lot To Learn (8/30/22)The Washington Post recently featured an article by John Greer and Mary Catherine Sullivan entitled, How Politically Divided is the US? The June 7, column challenges the assumption America is more divided than it has ever been. To develop a more objective measure of the nation’s common thinking, the Vanderbilt Unity Index (VUI) was created in 1981. It attempts to objectively measure how divided we are as a country...
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Remembering Andrew (8/24/22)Several years ago, I did a sermon series on the 12. I found it interesting that Jesus called both Simon Peter and Andrew to become his apostles. The two brothers were professional fishermen. When people think of them, they rarely focus on Andrew, because Peter is the best known of Jesus’ disciples. Peter was loud, Andrew quiet. Peter was rowdy, Andrew steady. As different as the two were, at their defining moment when Jesus called them to leave their nets and follow him, both did precisely that...
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Precious Lord Take My Hand (8/16/22)Thomas Dorsey, born in 1899, was the son of a Baptist minister and a piano teacher. His life’s work would include the passions of both parents, scripture and song. He studied music in Chicago and eventually became a jazz musician and pianist frequently going by the name, Georgia Tom. Though he and Big Band musician, Tommy Dorsey, shared a name and profession, the two were not related...
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Making A Difference (8/10/22)Homelessness among our children is a tragedy, unfortunately, it is not a new problem. In 1850 New York City had nearly 30,000 children who were either homeless or living in slums. Many had lost their parents to epidemics, others had parents who were so poor they could not feed them, still others had parents dealing with additions. Even more children were left orphaned and alone in the 1860s as more Americans died during the Civil War...
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Active Or Passive? (8/2/22)Sheridan Voysey’s July 23, 2022, Our Daily Bread Devotional caught my attention when he wrote about an animal of which I had never heard. The sea squirt is an extremely strange creature looks a lot like soft plastic tubes waving in the current. This weird little sea creature lives a totally passive life which changes dramatically from its infancy to its adulthood. ...
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Focus On Faithfulness (7/26/22)In his book, Holy Sweat, author Tim Hansel tells the story of Clarence Jordan, a man with unusual talent and a total commitment to serving God and the poor. Jordon was incredibly intelligent and had an amazing work ethic. He earned two PhD’s; one in agriculture and another in Biblical Greek. He could have chosen almost any profession, but he chose to serve the poor. In 1942, he founded the Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia, a community for poor whites and blacks...
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Money (7/20/22)Catchy quotes often offer helpful perspective. A famous rich man once said, “Whoever says money can’t buy happiness, doesn’t know where to shop.” However, his attitude about money differs from several even richer individuals. W. H. Vanderbilt said, “The care of $200,000,000 is enough to kill anyone. ...
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Difficult Moments (7/13/22)I am a big fan of author Robert Fulghum and have read most of his books. I am always fascinated by how he takes life’s experiences and consistently finds important lessons in them. Here is one of those stories, taken from his book, Maybe, Maybe Not...
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Do More Than Talk… (7/7/22)Several years ago, my children gave me a book of presidential quotes for Father’s Day. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day allow me to share four quotes from presidents and then see if you can match the quotations to the correct president. The answers will be at the end of the column...
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Jesus Definition Of Greatness (6/29/22)Tony Campolo is someone who consistently impresses me with his ability to see lessons in life which others typically miss. He is a gifted, amazingly versatile, man. Campolo is a sociologist by training, but has also served as a pastor, author, public speaker and even a spiritual advisor to former President Bill Clinton...
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The Importance Of Your Name (6/22/22)Although the name “Tim” is common in the English language, it catches my attention the moment I hear anyone say it, even if they are not talking to me. You probably do the same when you hear your own name. In the June 12, 2018, Our Daily Bread devotional, Amy Boucher Pye wrote about how advertisers in Great Britain recognized the potential of using a person’s name and started placing personal names in advertisements to increase sales...
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Murder (6/14/22)The former Chief Justice of the South Carolina Court of Appeals, Alexander Sanders, told the following story about his daughter Zoe. The judge came home from work when Zoe was three and learned her pet turtle had died. Zoe’s mother had dealt with her crying throughout the day and informed him it was “Daddy’s turn.” The judge regularly ruled on complex legal issues but explaining death to a three-year-old was out of his league. ...
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Committed To Truth And Tolerance (5/31/22)Contemporary society has made the word “truth” unpopular and has replaced it with another virtue that has become more highly valued: tolerance. These days one of the most negative things someone can be accused of is being intolerant. Almost no one wants that label...
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Trust God To Help You Thrive (5/24/22)In recent weeks I have been teaching a class based on Hal Seed and Dan Grider’s fascinating book, The God Questions. The authors offer thought provoking answers to tough spiritual questions. Perhaps the thorniest question of all is, how can a good God allow so much bad in his world?...
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God’s Love (5/18/22)Earlier this year in my men’s group at church, we read James Bryan Smith’s excellent book, The Good and Beautiful God. It was a very fascinating study and it expanded my understanding of God. Although it occasionally made me uncomfortable, it also reassured me God is both good and beautiful. I knew I would use one of his stories during the Easter season because it makes an immensely powerful point...
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God Cares About You (5/17/22)For as long as I can remember I have been a fan of an influential man whom I knew I would never meet since he died 95 years before I was born. Abraham Lincoln has always fascinated me. I often reflect on his incredible intelligence, powerful perspective, and wonderfully witty words...
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Glorifying God Through Our Kindness (5/11/22)You probably have not heard this recent story, but it will likely make you smile. A couple of weeks ago Pam and Jeremy began joking they should go to Las Vegas and get married. Each assumed the other was not serious, but they soon began talking about booking a flight and getting married in a wedding chapel the next Sunday night...
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The Positive Impact Of Christianity (5/4/22)Perhaps you have heard of Lee Strobel, the Chicago Sun Times journalist who set out to prove Christianity was not true. Ironically, in the process the atheist became a believer, and eventually a pastor. Their backgrounds are not identical, but John S. ...
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Jesus’ Countercultural Perspective (4/6/22)The world’s most famous sermon was preached by Jesus; it is commonly called, The Sermon on the Mount. The best-known part of the message is the beatitudes— Jesus’ statements about what makes a person blessed, or happy. Recently, I came across a serious thought-provoking blog on the Denison Forum in which Christian author, Josh Miller, contrasted Jesus’ words with what many today believe will make them happy. ...
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God Is At Work (3/29/22)Each Christmas our church has a massive drive to fill shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse to distribute to children around the world. In these shoeboxes we place small toys, school supplies, personal hygiene items and other similar things. My wife, Kelly, recently read about an eight-year-old girl who had never received a gift before getting a Christmas shoebox...
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Responding To Ukraine (3/22/22)All of us have been touched by the tragic stories coming out of Ukraine. It is heartbreaking to watch the daily horror stories we now see. News of the maternity hospital bombing in Mariupol last week is especially appalling. As of March 13, an estimated 85 children have been killed with 100 more wounded. ...
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Blessed to be a Blessing (3/16/22)Dr. Jim Denison, in his Oct. 15, 2020, Daily Article, shared something a colleague told him several years ago. His friend had a unique perspective on the United States because he was not from our country. He was a pastor from Cuba. During dinner one night he offered this surprising observation, “I know why God has blessed America… God has blessed America so America’s Christians can bless the world.” ...
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A Life Well Lived (3/8/22)If you follow men’s college basketball you know we are a mere two weeks from the start of March Madness, when the best college teams play to win the top NCAA honor. Since 1939 when this famous tournament began, North Carolina has won the top title six times, and Kentucky has won eight times, however, the university which has won this honor the most times is UCLA. The Bruins have wound up on top an amazing 11 times...
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A Remarkable Partnership (3/2/22)I consider Bob Johnston one of my mentors. In my early thirties, Bob had a little more experience but a lot more education. He frequently made time to encourage and challenge me. He regularly allowed me to borrow commentaries from his library. His kindness and generosity helped me become a better pastor and preacher...
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We Need God’s Help (3/1/22)Over the last few years Americans have become increasingly polarized about politics. With that in mind I try to avoid writing anything in my columns which can be seen as political. While this week’s article has politics in it, let me be clear, I am not making a partisan point, but using historical events to illustrate a spiritual principle...
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The People God Uses (2/17/22)The Hebrew word, “Lemuel” means “devoted to God.” Lemuel Haynes took the meaning of his name as his personal calling and committed himself to God. Haynes early life was anything but easy. At only five months old both of his parents abandoned him. Later he was indentured by a wealthy Christian farm family in Massachusetts. ...
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The Surprising Power Of Confession (2/8/22)Several months ago my friend who helps edit my columns, sent me the link to an article Barton Goldsmith wrote for the Tribune News Service on Nov. 21, 2021. The article discussed how we respond to personal failure. Dr. Goldsmith observed how even the most gifted people make foolish mistakes. He offered the following suggestions when we fail:...
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Stay Alert (2/1/22)Occasionally I hear a story which makes me simultaneously smile and shudder. One I recently read in the Our Daily Bread devotional for Jan. 19, 2022, did that. Writer Marvin Williams told how a sleepy German bank employee dozed momentarily in the middle of a transaction and set up a nearly $300 million transfer. ...
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We Need Each Other (1/26/22)We live in a world which increasingly emphasizes our individuality. While personal rights are important, when taken to an extreme they can be dangerous. For society to be well served, our focus on individuality requires balance. My friend Jonathan Kopel prompted me to think about this recently. Jonathan writes a daily devotional which he frequently emails to me. One of his recent pieces included these extremely insightful quotes from Catholic priest R. Rohr...
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We Could Never Imagine (1/18/22)Future president Ronald Reagan starred in the 1939 Warner Brother’s film, Code of the Secret Service. He played the role of tough secret service agent Brass Bancroft. I am being kind when I say the film was not particularly good. It was so bad producer Bryan Foy attempted to shelve the movie before it was even released. One disillusioned fan told Reagan, “You should be ashamed.” Reagan agreed and later described it as, “the worst picture I ever made.”...
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A Remarkable Partnership (1/4/22)I consider Bob Johnston one of my mentors. In my early thirties, Bob had a little more experience but a lot more education. He frequently made time to encourage and challenge me. He regularly allowed me to borrow commentaries from his library. His kindness and generosity helped me become a better pastor and preacher...
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God's Surprising Ways (12/28/21)Young people today often wear ripped and tattered jeans. To them the damaged jeans are not ruined— they have character. This fashion statement is part of a larger trend about which Amy Peterson wrote in the Oct. 20, 2020 edition of Our Daily Bread. She described a group from the Netherlands who offered a workshop on fashion design called, “Golden Joinery.”...
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The Hope of Christmas (12/23/21)Many of us have left a door open at some point in our childhood only to have our mothers ask, “Were you born in a barn?” Our moms asked this question to remind us that some doors are normally closed. However, Mary would not have asked Jesus this question when he was a child because he was in fact born in a barn...
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Living With Purpose (12/22/21)Some of you may have noticed my column did not appear in your newspaper last week. While I was attending morning worship at my church on Dec. 5, I was notified my younger brother, Jerry, had taken a turn for the worse and needed to be put on a ventilator. ...
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An Attitude Of Gratitude (12/15/21)One of the challenges pastors and writers face is dealing with important topics like thankfulness every year. We must speak about being thankful each Thanksgiving. It’s not that we aren’t convinced being thankful is important, it’s that we’ve communicated our perspective many times before...
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Fifteen Years (12/7/21)As I write these words I am sitting alone in my in-law’s living room reflecting on my blessings. I feel happy and content after celebrating a delightful Thanksgiving with my wife’s wonderful parents. I am grateful for them, but I am even more grateful for their daughter, my wife, Kelly. ...
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The Power Of Proper Perspective (11/30/21)I recently began a sermon with this story told by author Randy Alcorn but in that sermon shared only the first part of the story. Now as Paul Harvey would say, here is… “the rest of the story.” Years ago, a business man parked his Mercedes near an office complex in downtown Manila. A street boy asked, as the poor there often do, if he could watch the vehicle while the owner was away. He agreed...
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Grief And Hope (11/23/21)In the March 7, 2018, edition of the devotional guide, Our Daily Bread, Cindy Hess Kasper described the routine she and granddaughter Allyssa go through each time they say goodbye. They wrap their arms around each other and wail. The grandmother and granddaughter sob dramatically for 15 to 20 seconds before casually saying, “See ya.”...
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The Power Of A Kind Heart (11/16/21)In a recent national poll 81 percent of Americans believe life after Covid-19 will not return to normal anytime soon. When those surveyed were asked to select the word which best described how they are feeling: 62 percent said “disappointed”, 46 percent “exhausted”, 43 percent “worried”, and 41 percent “angry.”...
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Making A Positive Difference (11/9/21)What do Elinor Donahue, who achiev-ed national fame as Betty Anderson in the 1950s sitcom, Father Knows Best, and 66-year-old actor and director Ron Howard have in common? Both were regulars on the beloved Andy Griffith Show. Donahue played Griffith’s girlfriend in the show’s first season and Ron Howard played his son for the show’s entire eight-year run. ...
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Off Our Map (11/3/21)About a year ago my oldest daughter, Johanna, gave me the fascinating book, Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger in which the author writes about today’s rapidly changing times. The book’s name comes from the experiences of Lewis and Clark who were given the task of tracing the Mississippi River westward to the ocean. Here is how historians Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan describe the moment Meriwether Lewis realized the river did not cross the continent...
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Settling Our Disagreements (10/19/21)We have all heard the story of the Hatfields and McCoys; two families who were at war from 1863 to 1891. Though few today know the details of their disagreement, the lengthy fight between the two families is legendary. Sadly, it is far from being the only famous feud...
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God In The Shadows (10/13/21)Many amazing events have occurred in history which defy the odds of being merely coincidence. Several years ago, I read Rick Beyer’s fascinating book, The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told. Based on the title, my wife knew I would enjoy the book and gave it to me as a Christmas gift. Today I want to share one of the incredible stories Beyer told...
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The Real… Rest of The Story (10/5/21)In 2009, while researching a story I had heard broadcaster Paul Harvey tell on his Rest of the Story broadcast, I learned the legendary newsman’s wife had died the previous year. At the time of Lynne’s death, the couple had been married for more than 65 years...
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God Honors Perseverance (9/29/21)I recently watched a YouTube clip from an old Donnie and Marie talk show which originally aired May 23, 2000. In the show Donny told of how he had sung the National Anthem at a Dodgers-Braves game earlier that year. Knowing 40,000 fans were in the stands and the game was being broadcast to millions more, Osmond was understandably nervous. ...
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Good Attitudes Trump Good Rules (9/21/21)In the July 21, 2021, Our Daily Bread devotional, David Roper wrote about his personal experience when years ago he applied for a position at a Christian organization. The group’s rules for employment detailed personal behavior “having to do with the use of alcohol, tobacco, and certain forms of entertainment.” When he asked about the rules they explained, “We expect Christian behavior from our employees.”...
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Love Changes Everything (9/14/21)On Aug. 18, Washington Post writer Cathy Free shared the stories of prisoners: Richard Sanders, William White and Fred Brown. They are serving time in the South-Central Correctional Center in Licking, Mo. The three are also active in the prison’s quilt making program...
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Being Agreeable (9/7/21)In his Aug. 16, Daily Article, Dr. Jim Denison wrote about the relationship which developed between presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush. Clinton defeated Bush in the 1992 presidential election. However, after leaving office, the two fierce political foes gradually became friends...
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Pray For Afghanistan (8/31/21)For years I watched hours of television news each day to help me stay informed about what was going on in my community and the world. Eventually I stopped since it consistently left me frustrated about things I could not change. Never-the-less, I am writing today about a sobering event currently in the news. ...
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Comforting Others (8/24/21)My friend Larry Davies began his Aug. 9, devotional: “We all occasionally suffer.” Suffering is a tragic but very real part of everyone’s life and some suffer far more than others. We also see family and friends endure tough times and most of us wonder, why is this happening, or where is God in this suffering? In his devotional Larry shared several stories of people who turned their suffering into a ministry to others:...
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Failing With Grace (8/10/21)Americans who follow the Olympic games were uncertain who would win medals in this year’s Olympics, with one exception; they knew Simeon Biles would add to her impressive medal count. Then last week we saw the 24-year-old gymnast first struggle to compete and then withdraw from the all-around team competition. Most Americans were disappointed when she decided to completely withdraw from this year’s Olympic games...
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Overcoming Doubt (8/3/21)Many believe Christians should never acknowledge their doubts. Having occasional doubts is normal since every believer sometimes has questions about their faith. Even strong believers occasionally acknowledge their faith is not as strong as they wish. What is most surprising is how scripture does not whitewash a Christian’s struggle to believe...
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The Power Of Weakness (7/27/21)My wife Kelly is a special education administrator in Cahokia, Illinois. Her school recently held an event to create a vision for the school’s future. She told me the meeting’s keynote speaker told this story, although it was not original with him. Knowing how much I love an exceptional story she related it to me. I share it today because it is engaging and makes an incredible point...
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Honest To God (7/20/21)I rewatched the film Shadowlands last week, it focuses on a portion of C. S. Lewis’ life. The movie reminded me of the author’s incredible contribution to Christian thought in the mid-20th century. According to Lewis’ 1955 memoir, Surprised by Joy, he was baptized in the church of Ireland as a boy but during adolescence, abandoned his faith. Partially through the influence of close friend and fellow-author J. R. R. Tolkien, Lewis rekindled his faith and became a committed Christian...
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Trusting God No Matter What (7/14/21)Those who regularly read my columns know I sometimes share devotionals written by my friend Larry Davies. This week I’m passing along one he wrote last month. Larry said he has seen many examples of miraculous healing, but more commonly has witnessed times when “a miraculous healing was wished for, prayed for, but the answer was not what was hoped for.”...
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The Role Of Faith In Society (7/3/21)On Sunday, our country will be celebrating its 245th birthday, giving each of us a chance to say, “Happy Birthday America.” I intentionally stay away from political things in my columns. However, since this week I am suggesting we as people of faith should share our values, some readers may assume my motivation is political. ...
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Biblical Lessons From Wildflowers (6/30/21)Those who read my weekly columns know I occasionally share something I have read in an Our Daily Bread devotional. What I am writing about this week appeared in Our Daily Bread on May 27, 2021. Jennifer Benson Schuldt spoke of the beautiful spring wildflowers which carpet certain areas of California like Antelope Valley and Figueroa Mountain. ...
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Control Your Temper (6/23/21)For most of my adult life I have been a senior pastor. I was privileged to serve four churches in that role and given the opportunity to preach regularly. Preaching is one of my favorite things. Currently I serve as an associate pastor in a much larger church and the opportunity to preach is much less frequent, but last Sunday, while our senior pastor was on vacation I preached the Sunday morning sermon...
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Our Ultimate Pursuit (6/15/21)Joseph Stowell served as president of the Moody Bible Institute for several years. Nearly anyone who has heard him speak knows he is not a good preacher; he is a great one. He sometimes writes devotionals for Our Daily Bread. One of these was written for June 23, 2018...
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The Truth About You And Me (6/8/21)Occasionally everyone encounters a tidbit of information which is nothing short of priceless in its simple wisdom. As a young pastor I was given just such a treasure. I do not remember if it came from a book or a more experienced pastor, but it has served me well. Here it is, “the previous pastor is neither as good nor as bad as others tell you.”...
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God’s Way Is Best (6/1/21)I have not read Yural Levin’s 2017 book, The Fractured Republic: Renewing America’s Social Contract in the Age of Individualism, but in 2018 I did read about one of the areas Levin addressed in his thoughtful book. Jim Denison’s Daily Blog, for June 27, 2018, shared one of the author’s observations...
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God’s Way (5/25/21)Many Union soldiers fighting under Major General John Sedgwick’s command affectionately referred to him as “Uncle John.” He was not only well-liked by his men but also highly respected by other generals. When he was shot and killed in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, on May 9, 1864, he became the highest-ranking Union soldier to die in battle...
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An Important Life Lesson (5/18/21)You may not recognize the name Craig Shergold, but it is likely you have heard his story, and may have even participated in it. This British child became ill in 1988. After many doctor’s visits, physicians diagnosed the nine-year-old with terminal brain cancer...
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A Unique Perspective On Mother’s Day (5/7/21)While grocery shopping several years ago I noticed a cute four-year-old twirling like a ballerina in a store aisle. The child was so engrossed in her play she was completely unaware of others. Though she was not far from her mother, her mom urgently demanded, “Emily, get back here!”...
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Do Your Best (5/5/21)Mary’s voice would often be described as angelic. By the time she was six, her church choir knew she had an amazing gift, and nicknamed her Baby Contralto. Her family lived on the wrong side of the tracks and though her father worked hard, they barely managed to survive. That did not prevent him from buying Mary a second-hand piano. Unfortunately, there was no money left for piano lessons and the young prodigy had to learn to play on her own...
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Only God Knows (4/27/21)April 12 is a monumental day in American history. Although 2021 marks the 160th anniversary of the event to which I am about to refer, very few remembered. Do you recognize the date? Perhaps adding the year will help, 1861. If you are still in the dark, let me add another detail, it occurred near Charleston, South Carolina at Fort Sumter...
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Mistaken Identity (4/20/21)I did not hear this story until just last week, but it happened in 2014. Karine Gombeau, a 42-year-old tourist from Paris was on vacation with her family in New York City when she noticed a man who appeared to be homeless going through the trash outside Grand Central Terminal. It seemed obvious he was looking for food...
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The Future Of Christianity (4/14/21)Easter is the Sunday more people attend church than any other. However, despite significantly higher numbers last Sunday, many believe the outlook for the American church is bleak. In recent years pastors like me have been increasingly alarmed by headlines like these:...
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The Hope of Easter (3/30/21)Twelve-year-old Jeremy was nearly five years behind in school. He had made it only to the second grade at the Christian school he attended. Controlling his body movements was difficult and learning even more challenging. His teacher, Doris Miller, found teaching him particularly tough. He frequently squirmed and made grunting noises, but occasionally spoke clearly, as if a light briefly switched on in his brain...
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Changing Directions (3/23/21)Harvard political scientist Robert D. Putnam and Harvard graduate Shaylyn Romeny Garrett wrote a fascinating book released on Oct. 13, 2020 entitled, The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again. Dr. Jim Denison’s Daily Article for Dec. 16, 2020, observed the book takes a perceptive look at overall societal trends during the last 125 years...
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God Loves To Help (3/16/21)Later this year I will celebrate 40 years as a pastor. Most of what I have observed during my years of ministry cannot be characterized as miraculous. I have witnessed people who find great hope in their faith even though they have not arrived at full spiritual maturity. I am eager to share that my faith has enriched my life, but must also admit it has not made me perfect...
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The Impact Of Faith (3/2/21)A current popular trend is to revise the stories of American heroes. Certainly, historical revisions are appropriate when facts provide new information. However, not all revisions are accurate. Numerous contemporary scholars suggest our founding father, George Washington, was not a Christian, but merely a deist. They suggest he believed in moral behavior but did not believe God makes a difference in the world...
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True Love (2/23/21)Last Sunday we celebrated Valentine’s Day, the holiday dedicated to love. The following day, Feb. 15, my good friends Gail and Opal celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. On Valentine’s Day this sweet couple allowed me the honor of having a delightful conversation with them about their long marriage...
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Love (2/17/21)Last Sunday we celebrated Valentine’s Day, the holiday dedicated to love. The following day, Feb. 15, my good friends Gail and Opal celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. On Valentine’s Day this sweet couple allowed me the honor of having a delightful conversation with them about their long marriage...
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Perspective (2/16/21)All of us occasionally fall into the trap of viewing important things as if they are insignificant. At other times we make the opposite mistake, foolishly turning small things into issues which seem monumental. In short, we lose perspective. That happened in June 1969, when Honduras and El Salvador met in a series of qualifying matches to determine the winner of the World Cup — soccer’s highest trophy. ...
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Heroism (2/9/21)My friend Dave Coombs sent me an incredible story of heroism that I want to share today. Roddie Edmonds enlisted at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia on March 17, 1941, and rose to the rank of master sergeant by the end of World War II. Edmonds, along with a large group of inexperienced soldiers arrived on the front a mere five days before Germany commenced the infamous Battle of the Bulge. ...
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All Things Are Possible (2/3/21)The following quote is not found in any published work of John Wesley, but it is often credited to him. Whether he said it or not, it is a very perceptive way to live: “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”...
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Practical Faith (1/26/21)Noted youth speaker, Ken Davis, did a presentation in his college speech class that neither he nor his professor will ever forget. His grade was to be determined by how well he could drive home the point of his speech. The title of Davis’ presentation was very bland, The Law of the Pendulum. ...
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Anger Rarely Solves Problems (1/19/21)If you read my columns regularly you know I sometimes take an idea from a devotional and use it in a column. I knew immediately when Patricia Raybon’s Dec. 15, 2020, devotional that I wanted to use it. In that devotional Raybon made an incredible point all of us need to understand. She wrote, “I was on Facebook, arguing. Bad move. What made me think I was obligated to ‘correct’ a stranger on a hot topic— especially a divisive one?...
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A Rich And Satisfying Life (1/11/21)In October 2020, the Wheatly Institution released a comprehensive study of 16,474 individuals titled, “Religion in the Home.” The study was conducted in 11 countries, located in North and South America, Europe and Australia. The report focused on how practicing one’s faith can dramatically impact believers’ lives...
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God's Amazing Grace (1/5/21)About a month ago my friend Harry Dapron sent me the story I am sharing with you today. Reading it I quickly knew it would be my final column of 2020. This year has been challenging for everyone. The story that follows reminds me of Jesus’ parables, probably fictional, nevertheless containing a nugget of incredible spiritual truth...
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Merry Christmas Everyone (12/23/20)In his delightful work, The One Year Book of Amazing Stories, Dr. Robert Peterson writes about an unusual friendship he developed with two interesting and remarkable ladies while he was a pastor in Tulsa, Okla. Wanda and Lucille looked like twins but were in fact mother and daughter. ...
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The Greatest Gift (12/14/20)Several summers ago, my family traveled to Oklahoma for a visit with my wife’s parents. While there I came across a great story in an old Reader’s Digest from December 2003. The minute I read the story I knew I would use it in a future Christmas column. The story of Dr. Leandra Lynch touched me and I hope it will inspire you as well...
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God’s Amazing Work (12/8/20)Carol and Cindy met one another many years ago when they began working in an elementary school. Both felt an instant connection and have been friends ever since. Soon after becoming acquainted Carol’s son Todd, died in an accident while riding with a friend who had been drinking. Cindy’s support was vital to her friend as she processed her loss and gradually regained her hope and happiness...
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The Surprising Power Of Kindness (12/1/20)Occasionally I share a column based on Robert Petterson’s, The One Year Book of Amazing Stories: 365 Days of Seeing God’s Hand in Unlikely Places. Here is one of the author’s incredible stories. The final notes of the famous jazz musician’s life were fading fast when he checked into New York City’s Beth Israel Hospital. ...
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The Power Of Thanksgiving (11/24/20)We are entering the holiday trifecta: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. You may be surprised to learn many experience greater anxiety and depression during the holidays. Harvard Health Publishing (HHP) recently made this profound observation: “Research (and common sense) suggests that one aspect of the Thanksgiving season can actually lift the spirits, and it’s built right into the holiday — expressing gratitude.”...
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Change The World (11/17/20)John Blase told the story of college sweethearts, Ashton and Austin Samuelson in his Nov. 1, Our Daily Bread devotional. After these two committed followers of Jesus graduated from a Christian college they sought to live out their faith in practical ways, but neither felt God was calling them to a traditional church ministry...
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What Is Prayer (11/10/20)In Luke 18, Jesus told a story about two men who went to the temple to pray. One said a beautiful prayer, bragging about how good he was, how much he gave, and how he was better he was than everyone else. Although his prayer sounded impressive, the words were anything but beautiful to God. Jesus said the prayer of a tax cheat who was pleading for God’s mercy at the same time was far more acceptable...
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Do Your Part (11/4/20)Dr. Jim Denison described his visit to the Dallas Holocaust Museum in his Feb. 2, 2018, Daily Commentary. He told of an incredible story that was featured in the museum at the time. He was so moved by it he bought Marion Schreiber’s, The Twentieth Train, in the museum’s bookstore. Here is a condensed version of the story...
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Go Light Your World (10/20/20)Much of the news is anything but encouraging. There is a lot of political tension. The Republicans claim the Democrats are taking the country off the political rails to the left and the Democrats say the Republicans are taking America off a right-wing cliff. Anyone watching the recent presidential debate could easily see that President Trump and Vice President Biden are not merely proposing different policies, the two seem to despise one another...
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God Leaves Nothing Unfinished (10/14/20)Glen Packiam wrote a devotional for the Oct. 5 Our Daily Bread in which he recalls being asked as a child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” His answer would often change. At various times he wanted to be a doctor, a firefighter, a missionary, a worship leader, or a physicist. At one point he even wanted to be MacGyver, his favorite television character...
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The Challenge Of The Golden Rule (10/6/20)Rusty Wirt, the senior pastor at Concord Church, where I am on staff, preached a wonderful sermon last Sunday about the golden rule. He shared Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12, NLT)...
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Confessions Of A Former News Addict (9/29/20)Although today’s column is about the political climate in America, I want to be clear that what I am writing is not an attempt to influence who anyone votes for in the upcoming election. In recent years, every presidential election sees both major parties try to convince their voters that American life as we know it will come to an end if the other party’s candidate wins. ...
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Waiting On God (9/22/20)David Roper wrote a devotional for Our Daily Bread about Brad Paisley’s hit song, Waitin’ on a Woman. It was released on his 2005 album, Time Well Wasted. The song was just another cut, but when Paisley released a new version of it on his 2007 album, 5th Gear, the song went all the way to number one...
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Raynald’s Folly (9/15/20)Several years ago, my brother Jerry sent me an excerpt from Thomas Costain’s non-fiction book, The Three Edwards. Published in 1958, it was part of Costain’s House of Plantagenet series which traced the story of the family that produced 14 English kings...
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The Challenge (8/11/20)On April 28, 1999, a mere eight days after the Columbine shooting, shock rocker Marilyn Manson was scheduled to perform in Iowa City. Manson’s music was prominent in the lives of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, so a lot of emotion surrounded the concert. Since the deadly pair had specifically targeted several Christian students because of their faith, authorities prepared for a confrontation between angry Christians and devoted Manson fans...
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Embracing The Journey (8/5/20)It was legendary author Charles Dickens who penned the immortal words, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Those words capture the essence of a trip I took to visit my oldest daughter who was living in Asia at the time. After not seeing Johanna for well over a year, I was thrilled to once again be with her. ...
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Your Personal Worth (7/15/20)I am revealing something about my age when I admit I once had my social security number printed on my checks. Many people 25 years ago did; it was a matter of efficiency. Today no one would dream of doing that. Every person with an email account has received numerous messages informing us that someone somewhere has a huge sum of money they cannot wait to deposit into our account; they just need our personal information to give us millions of dollars. ...
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Bringing Good Out Of Crisis (7/7/20)Most of us remember where we were when we heard a plane had flown into the first tower on 9-11. The same is true for the assassinations of John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, and Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Turning points exist for every generation, times when events change history...
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Serious Thoughts On Laughter (7/1/20)With so many difficult things currently happening in our world, and so many of us feeling so much stress, I decided to write something this week that I hope will make you smile. My friend Larry Davies has written a weekly blog for years. I have periodically used things he has written, and he has occasionally used something of mine. When I wrote my first book, Larry provided the introduction. Today I am sharing something he shared several years ago...
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Standing For The Oppressed (6/23/20)In his book, The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson told the story of one of America’s most influential novels. The author was born into one of our nation’s most distinguished families. Many considered her father, Lyman Beecher, to be one of the most gifted speakers of his generation and her brother, Henry was even more famous...
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God Is With Us (5/19/20)I love stories that illustrate how God often works in unusual ways. In the June 2007 issue of Guidepost Magazine, Elise Seyfried shared an amazing story about her Grandmother Rose that revealed God’s perfect intervention in her family’s life. Grandma Rose had Alzheimer’s disease. ...