If there is one overriding image everyone would have about their retirement, it would be “peaceful.” The specifics will vary widely based upon individual preferences. The area in which some envision spending their senior years may be rural and pastoral. For others it would be a bit more urban, but it still inspires dreams of days without pressure.
None of us has created a mental picture of a […]
Some people are optimists. Like the quote from Walt Disney, noted in the image accompanying this post, we look at life focusing upon the possibilities ahead that will produce better outcomes. On the other hand, some are pessimists. Some people seem to have more than their share of unfortunate situations befall them. Some are naturally pessimistic due to their melancholic personality type.
When difficulties arise, some of us […]
Does the future seem cloudy? Do you find yourself worrying about the future of your children and grandchildren? You are not alone, but you know that. If the uncertainty of the future is a burden, this post is for you.
Worry about the future has plagued mankind since creation. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told thousands that worry was a worthless enterprise. “Who of you by […]
As a teenager in the 1960’s, one musical theme was young love with all its thrills, excitement, and struggles. Ray Charles sang Georgia On My Mind about a long ago love that haunted relationships of today. The Beatles recorded Michelle and Yesterday about the feelings of a young man in love. First, a young man wondered if he would ever be able to make a young lady […]
I remember my grandparents complaining about the speed of life 60+ years ago. Fans of the movie The Shawshank Redemption will recall Brooks Hatlen being shocked about how fast he found life to be outside prison. After his parole, he wrote to friends still incarcerated inside Shawshank, “The world went and got itself in a big **** hurry.”
Life continues to change at a pace unseen in US […]
Does God see all the craziness and pain in the world?
Does God really care about me, or about anyone?
Does Christianity actually believe people are accountable for their actions?
Questions abound as do accusations. Some accuse evangelicals of being uncaring of the plight of others. Some point to wokeness as a weakness that is “deadly as far as the Gospel” is concerned.
The result of recriminations has not […]
Unity is quite the rage in the political realm. On January 20, Ari Shapiro interviewed Mara Liason during the “All Things Considered” NPR radio program. During the dialogue, Mr. Shapiro stated President Biden emphasized a message of unity during his campaign and reiterated the theme during his inaugural address. Shapiro then asked, “Do you think that this message of healing and unity can lead to real […]
In May of 1989, the British rock group Queen released “I Want It All” from the group’s studio album The Miracle. Critics, and the public, often said the lyrics focus on rebellion and social upheaval. From this interpretation, multiple interest groups adopted it as their theme. However, songwriter Brian May has long declared the song is solely about individual ambition and impatience. The song tells the story […]
In my pre-teen and teen years, many of the men in our home church encouraged me to think about becoming a preacher. That really wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life. However, I normally found myself in some leadership role each annual “Youth Sunday.” When I was finally charged with delivering the sermon, I settled on a portion of the sermon on the mount as […]
The world is in a mess. Every day there seems to be something to disturb or shock us! Operation Warp Speed resulted in vaccines for the novel virus COVID-19 in months instead of years. However, there are concerns about the safety and the efficacy of these miraculous developments. The New York Times published an article worrying, “it’s unclear how well they will curb the spread of […]