Where Sunday's Message Meets Everyday Life

Devotion

  • Redeeming Love

    A song has been playing in my head throughout the week.  It’s not a new song.  It was written in 1800 by a brilliant man, but one who was often given to bouts of deep depression.  The man was William Cowper.  The song is “There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood.”  Here are the words Continue reading

  • What It’s All About

    At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Continue reading

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  • A Dying Preacher

    An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his doctor and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit, one on each side of Continue reading

  • You be Jesus!

    A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, and Ryan, 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, “Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.” Kevin turned to Continue reading

  • Is Heaven Overrated?

    In the Los Angeles Times, Joel Stein wrote, “Heaven is totally overrated. It seems boring. Clouds, listening to people play the harp. It should be somewhere you can’t wait to go, like a luxury hotel. Maybe blue skies and soft music were enough to keep people in line in the 17th century, but Heaven has Continue reading

  • Ready to Go to Heaven?

    I remember hearing the story of a preacher conducting revival services in a large country church.  As he began to wind down his message, he asked the congregation, “How many of you want to go to heaven?”  Every hand in the place went up … except for one boy sitting on the front row of Continue reading

  • Seeing Jesus … at Walmart

    I hesitate to be overly critical of the spiritual insights or encounters that others have.  I realize that God has spoken through a burning bush and a donkey, so who am I to limit His options? Yet when I read about the engaged couple in Anderson, South Carolina who found an image of Jesus on their Continue reading

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  • It’s a Dangerous Life

    It is amazing that I am still alive! I’m serious. I just read a list of the most dangerous do-it-yourself jobs.  They include climbing a ladder, mowing the lawn, using power tools, working with paint and other chemicals, and using a chain saw. How did I make it to June? All joking aside, life is Continue reading

  • Ancient Truths for Today

    The book of Zechariah gets lost in biblical obscurity, but it shouldn’t. It has a powerful message that note only spoke to people returning from exile in Babylon 2,500 years ago but also speaks to our generation. There is much we can gain from the fourteen chapters of this little book, but I’d like to Continue reading

  • Mosquitoes with Flashlights

    Thomas LaMance told this story:  When my grandson, Billy, and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, “It’s no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are coming after us with Continue reading