The Fountain of Youth is a mythical spring that is said to restore youth to anyone who drinks from these waters. Ponce de Leon is credited with discovering this magic fountain in St. Augustine, Florida. My family visited this site, and we all tried a cup of the supposed magic waters. I am currently a 70-something male who wonders where the vigor of that cup of magic went. A company recently posted this advertisement, “You were made to grow younger.” My immediate thoughts were drawn to the previously mentioned Fountain of Youth. Perhaps this company had tapped into the magic of youth restoration. Youth! Everyone desires it, yet we live in a world of aging individuals. The gyms are full of people wanting to retain a youthful lifestyle and strong body, yet the natural course of life is one of aging. We are told that aging gracefully is possible with a certain food or drug. Another piece of sage advice is, “age is just a number.” Well, my number is getting higher each year, and with...

  The Masters Golf tournament features the best golfers in the world playing to win…a green jacket. Actually, it is much more.  The winner receives a large monetary check, a trophy, gold medal, an invitation to play in the tournament each year hereafter, and the honor of the choosing the menu for the champions dinner next year. Don’t forget the coveted green jacket. Playing golf involves much more than chasing a ball around a golf course. Professional golfers are trained athletes. Their tools are a set of golf clubs, a golf ball, and good shoes. The goal is to tee off or hit the ball from a designated starting point, aimed toward an ending point or hole on the green. Between the starting and ending points lie many difficulties, such as rolling hills, trees, bushes, sand traps and long distances. The player must negotiate each of these situations in order to get the ball into the hole. In addition to these issues, the player who wins must get the ball into the hole with few...

Rapunzel: I’ve been looking out of a window for eighteen years, dreaming about what I might feel like when those lights rise in the sky. What if it’s not everything I dreamed it would be? Flynn Rider: It will be. Rapunzel: And what if it is? What do I do then? Flynn Rider: Well, that’s the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream. –Tangled by Walt Disney Watching for the lights was Rapunzel’s dream and heart’s desire. Raised in a tower 18 years, with little entertainment, she had a fascination for the candle lights that rose into the night sky each year on her birthday. Her conversation with the movie scoundrel, Flynn Rider caused her to begin thinking about her dreams, desires, and soon to be love interest. Rapunzel’s question about her dream coming true then wanting to know…”what do I do then?”…strikes at each of us. What now? After my dreams come true, what’s next? Perhaps you are waiting for your first dream to materialize. Perchance you move from dream to dream without ev...

 Jesus spent His last few hours on earth with the disciples.  They were pleased to celebrate Passover with Jesus, little aware that He would soon die.  The disciples joyfully prepared the feast and were soon gathered around Jesus as He initiated the age-old celebration. Passover was one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals during which the entire population of the kingdom of Judah made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.  The city was packed with pilgrims, eager to celebrate and renew vows. Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”   Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”  “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”  But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with ...

Thomas missed the meeting, and this led to his not seeing Jesus and becoming “Doubting Thomas” and sermon material for thousands of years. Point number one for many of these sermons is don’t miss the meeting which leads to point number two, don’t doubt what your friends say. How about you? Do you see a little of yourself in Thomas? Don’t be so difficult with our friend. I am convinced that Thomas is a reflection of everyman and everywoman. Scripture bears out that even the eleven disciples present when Jesus appeared to them, were frightened and had doubts! Jesus had to prove to them that it was actually Himself! Jesus! The whole story comes together when both gospels, Luke and John, are consulted. Let’s read these verses. Jesus himself stood among them (the disciples) and said to them, “Peace be with you.”   But the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! …“Why do you doubt that it is really I? Look at my hands! Look at my feet! You can see ...