Category: Uncategorized
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Believe it or Not
“They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind’” –Acts 12:15a As part of a family vacation a few years back, we spent a week at a North Carolina beach. The coast south of Wilmington has long been a favorite and as part of this journey we made a day trip to Bald Head Read more
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Learning From Him
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”–Matthew 11:29 In officiating at funerals, I often open with these words of Jesus: “Come unto me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens.” That message has always Read more
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Weep or Laugh?
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh”–Ecclesiastes 3:4a Once as part of a summer trip, Lori and I pulled into a hotel lot in Milwaukee. We had been on the road since early that morning, having had a good visit with family in Michigan’s upper peninsula, but the drive had been miserable. There Read more
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Brave Words
“Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’”––2 Samuel 12:7a One summer during my seminary years I worked for a cooperative ministry group in Huttonsville, West Virginia. The purpose of that organization was to provide assistance to the poorest individuals of that county who couldn’t afford needed repairs on their home. Each week, a different Read more
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A VBS Threat
“But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sins by the sacrifice of himself.” –Hebrews 9:26b One day, I was waiting in line at the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles office. This was in the era before the improvements of recent years that get Read more
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Tending To Some Business
“…make them known to your children, and your children’s children.” –Deuteronomy 4:9 When I was a boy, my siblings and I would spend a month each summer visiting our grandparents in Greensboro, NC. It was always a special time as they lived eight hours away. During those extended stays they would ask about our friends Read more
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The Essential With
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.” –Ephesians 2:19 Four decades ago, I traveled to Great Britain. It was my first trip overseas and I enjoyed it immensely. Along with touring several historic sites, I loved seeing Read more
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An Encouraging Word
“And a voice came from heaven, ’You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.’”–Luke 3:22b The Scripture verse above comes from the day of Jesus’ baptism. Luke’s account of that moment omits some key details. He doesn’t tell us, for instance, that John the Baptist was the officiant or that it Read more
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The Cost of Freedom
“For freedom Christ has set us free.” –Galatians 5:1a “Freedom isn’t free. Freedom isn’t free. You’ve got to pay a price. You’ve got to sacrifice for your liberty.” One day in 6th Grade, my class sang those words as part of a school assembly. I don’t remember the theme of that program, but do recall Read more
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In Need of Translation
“And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.” –Acts 1:6 During my seminary years, I once had some free time between the end of a semester and the start of a summer job. So before leaving New Jersey for West Virginia Read more