Devotion

Ever heard these words:  ‘It’s not you, but I think it’s time to move on…’  The words stick in the air, and they poke us in the ribs.    They come from a friend … maybe a colleague … It could have been a spouse.  Or it could have come from a parishioner, if you’re […]

Have you noticed that God often calls us into the unknown and the uncomfortable? Why do you think He does that? I suspect it is because our character is more important to God than our comfort.  God knows that we grow best when we are counting on Him and leaning on Him the most. The critical question then […]

NEIGHBORS!  Who are they? How do we relate to them?  How should we respond?   Statistics from the US Census Bureau revealed that, on January 1, 2018, the US Population was 327-million people.  That is just 4.4% of the world’s population. So what should be our perspective?  Our communities are increasingly a microcosm of international […]

LONELINESS!  NOW CONSIDERED A NATIONAL EPIDEMIC!  Ever wondered what it takes to live 100 years?  Social scientists have studied the lives of centenarians to discern what are the predictors for a long, healthy life … and thus understand what are the social traits that negatively affect our lives. Their conclusion:  The secret to living longer […]

OPEN YOUR EARS! DO MORE THAN HEAR! LISTEN! Ever had a hearing problem?  Ever struggled to understand a conversation?  Our ears can be clouded and deafened by our perceptions and perspectives. Jesus’ half-brother gave a straight-forward injunction: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. -James 1:22 The Shepherd […]

Been wandering in the woods lately?  You have to be careful where to step and how to manage not getting tripped up in the process.  Fallen trees.  Jagged rocks.  Briar bushes. Narrow paths.  All require carefulness in watching where and how to make a path forward.  The immediate requirement is looking – even searching – […]

As we come to the end of one year and begin to think about the coming year, we often make plans as ‘New Year’s Resolutions.’ What changes should I make in my lifestyle?  What goals should I set for the coming year?  What business plans or financial objectives should I make? The community gym will […]

Ever seen a silver spoon darkened by age and the air?    What once was bright and shiny becomes gray and dull.  Why?  Because tarnish is a product of a chemical reaction between the metal and non-metal compound, such as oxygen or carbon dioxide.  One of my boyhood memories is helping my mother polish the […]

How do you respond?  What is your focus when things go wrong? You get all kinds of happiness advice on the internet from people.  Some cause you to wonder if they know what they are talking about.  Cures are a-plenty.  They all prompt a deeper query … and some degree of skepticism.  This includes what […]

Learning to lead like Jesus is a lifetime journey that begins with humility. “Better to say I am learning, than to say, I have learned,” were the wise counsel of a revered senior pastor. That pastor helped me understand to first follow the Lord Jesus by continuing to learn and grow. For example, don’t say […]