Moses was an old man by 21st century standards when he received the call from God to lead a nation of people out of slavery and into the Promised Land. Exodus 3-4 is the Biblical account of Moses' call by God at the burning bush and his subsequent ascension into the leadership position and savior to over a million Hebrew people. As I reread the account in Exodus, I was struck by the fact that Moses tried 3 tactics trying to persuade God to send someone else. He said: I'm not believable, I'm not a good speaker, and I really don't want to do this. God had an answer for each of his positions: I will make you believable with signs and wonders, I will speak through you, and I will send your brother with you as a helper. Moses eventually listened to God and became the leader he was meant to be. This is such a familiar story. As a child and young adult, I felt that Moses should have jumped at the opportunity to be God's Man, after all, God was going to be the life an...

  Someone said that if you ask ten people to describe Christmas, you will receive eleven different answers. It seems that Christmas has become what each person wants it to be. To one it is therapeutic, another describes it mainly in religious terms while still another bypasses religion altogether. So, what is Christmas? How would you describe Christmas? One Facebook reader said it was all about family and warm feelings. Another reader said, "Santa Claus, that's what Christmas is all about." Still another reader said, "Christmas is all about spending time at home, decorating a tree and generally enjoying 'me' time." While all of these descriptions have some validity in describing Christmas, the main element is missing. We talk about Christmas in terms of spending time with family, belief in Santa, and just stopping for some 'me' time. If this is all that Christmas means, it seems that something is still lacking in our Christmas celebration...

  “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” This slogan was probably one of your stock phrases for dealing with bullies. Perhaps you remember…the local bully pushes you, then makes a face at you, and finally says something particularly nasty. Your response most likely was drilled into you by a teacher, parent or even a friend…”Sticks and stones…” Sadly, sticks and stones do break bones, however, words hurt even worse than sticks, stones, boulders or a punch in the face! The body is an amazing healing apparatus; wounds do miraculously heal over time, but words, spoken in spite and cruelty can crush our spirits for a lifetime! “The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?” Proverbs 18:14 We live in a world where harsh words are common on Facebook. Tongue lashings happen while driving, pushing a cart in the local grocery store or even in dealing with our own children. How can we move away from language that tears down and...

  Storage units make money when you and I go to the store. Upon purchasing needed items, we soon discover that room for all of our items is at a premium and we must find alternate quarters for some of our stuff. This is where storage units enter. “Store your stuff with us,” is a frequent sales pitch. Another pitch is, “If you’ve got the stuff, we’ve got the space.” A well-known storage facility called “Life Storage.” is brightly colored with many windows and just looks “homey.” The company keeps the property clean, cleared, and desirable. Perhaps you are wondering why I am discussing “Life Storage?” Believe it or not, it reminds me of a parable that Jesus told in Matthew 25:14-30. An employer gave bags of gold to three employees. One received 5 bags, another 2 bags, and the last received 1 bag. The first two immediately went to work and doubled their investment.   According to Jesus’ parable, “the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid hi...

“You are next in line for a heart replacement,” was the long-awaited promise from the heart surgeon. My friend had waited two years for a stronger, newer heart. Finally, his hopes were about to be fulfilled. Saul was the tallest man in Israel. In fact, the Prophet Samuel said that he “was the most handsome man in Israel, head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.” Saul was gifted with winning looks and a basketball   player physique, perhaps the envy of every man in the land of Israel. Saul’s fortune was about to gain even more ground. While on a trip searching for the family donkeys, Saul met the Prophet Samuel who gave him exciting news; He would meet a group of traveling prophets. “At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you…and you will be changed into a different person.” 1 Samuel 10:6 All of these events came to pass. “As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.” 1 Samuel...

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 ...

  Neil Armstrong is remembered as the first man to walk on the moon. George Washington is remembered as our first president, the Father of our country. Pong was the first video game to grab worldwide attention. Believe it or not, Balaam is remembered as the first man to talk with a donkey. How would you feel if your final memorial was a picture of you talking with a donkey? Balaam was an Old Testament Bible prophet. Not just any prophet but one for hire. His business card may have read, “Have Prophecy, Will Travel”. Perhaps you are getting the idea that Balaam was not one of God’s devoted prophets? Correct! Balaam had been contacted by the Moabite King Balak, in order to place a curse on the Israelite nation as they traveled from Egypt to their Promised land. Balak was ready to pay any amount of gold or silver if Balaam would say a curse and get rid of the Israelites, who were a pain in his side. “Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials...

God, I'm ready! Please use me. Wherever you lead, I’ll follow. (Later in the same day…) God, are you sure? This sounds unusual. I'm not ready for this. Commander Joshua and the Israelite army were ready. Jesus had appeared to Joshua as The Angel of The Lord, and promised victory.   The army was awaiting the battle plans for the final assault on the closed city of Jericho. God spoke to Joshua again, and... …………………………….are you sure?   God? The is where it get’s interesting.   Are you ready for a surprise? Let's read together. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.   March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army g...

  When all this is over, who will you be?        When all this is over where will you be?               When all this is over, what will be different in the world?                       What will be different about you? I am sick of this!   Why can't things just go back to the way they were?   I miss the good old days. So...here is the news; the world will never go back to the former times and ways; however, God is in control.   That should bring peace and perhaps excitement to our lives.   Why?   Read this gem with me... But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.    2 Corinthians 4:7-12 Did y...

  Can you hear me now?   We depend on our cell phones for communication with friends, business deals, and fun.   As we move about, the phone displays how close or far away we are from cell towers using "bars."   The best communication happens when our phones display all of the bars, showing that we are in close proximity to the tower, or the source. Our relationship with Jesus also depends on our proximity or closeness to Him.   Just as one moves around while using cell phones, we may find ourselves moving out of range in our relationship with Jesus.   Fortunately,   Jesus pursues His own, always!     Jesus desires fellowship with you and me. You are probably asking, “what does the word fellowship mean?   A friend defined it as, “two fellows in the same ship.”   That definition is actually quite accurate.   Fellowship is companionship, togetherness, camaraderie, and friendly association.   It describes two or more individ...

  I love you. I want to spend my life with you. I will do anything for you. Do these words sound familiar? They should.   Many of us spoke similar words at some point during the courting period of our lives.   Step back with me.   After meeting “the one”, the most important person in our lives, we uttered one or all three sentences, and we spoke with honesty and love. Did we really understand the scope of our statements?   If asked, “will you really lay down your life for me?”   Would we?   Would you? It depends….do you mean “lay down” as in…dying? Let’s read Jesus’ words….. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 This Greek word for “love” is Agapen or Agape.   Jesus used this word especially as meaning, “devoted to, caring, and the deep love of God for His own.”   A contemporary translation reads, “ This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your frie...

  He was selfish, narcissistic, and devoid of compassion.    He cared for no one and used people for his own pleasure.    One day, he was given the opportunity to help a poverty stricken person…he failed miserably!    The situation was not what it seemed, as the one who was seemingly in poverty was actually a personage of great authority and stature.    The selfish one was given a unique punishment.    He was driven away from society and given a limited time to learn how to love and thereby earn the love and trust of another. You may have already guessed who the character is…yes, it’s The Beast from  Beauty and The Beast .    A spoiled prince was punished, transformed into a beast, for his lack of love and caring, yet he learned to love through a series of circumstances involving a lovely young lady, who by the way, learned to love him.    The climax of our story comes when Beast dies, and Belle expresses tr...

The clouds were thick and dark. We saw them from a distance but as we drove,   those same clouds seemed to envelop us. Suddenly we realized that we were inside those thick and dark clouds! We no longer had access to the bright sun. Our dazzling, sunny day lay many miles behind us. With no choice but to drive on, our brave car with bright lights blazed a trail through the mountains, over the rivers and through the woods and finally…finally, we came to a mountain peak, overlooking a sunlit valley. The dark clouds were gone. Clouds can be frightening because our vision is limited. The view from a cloud is, well… more cloud. We feel trapped, as though we will never leave the prison of clouds. They hold us within a quagmire of darkness. Joni Mitchell sang of clouds,                               But now they only block the sun, ...

   Lent - Simply put, a time of preparation. Preparation for What? Just as Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas, Lent is the time we prepare for Palm Sunday and Easter. Why prepare? Do we need to prepare? Isn't it all just a waste of time? Just as excitement and preparation for a birthday party is good and needed...so is Lent for Easter. Can't I just celebrate Easter without all of the hoopla? Yes, you can. But do you? Do you really celebrate Easter? Real Easter celebration happens with forethought, planning, and caring enough to dwell on the awfulness leading up to the resurrection. Do I have to give up something for Lent? No, you actually don't. Lent involves focusing on something or someone. YOU choose what you will focus on. If giving up something helps you focus, then get to it. If starting something new helps you focus....then start it! What should be my focus? Jesus - He is the focus of Lent and Easter. He loves you and wants to live in your life. I...

  The Phone is ringing and I almost trip over a chair to answer it.   My cheery “hello” is a bit forced due to a stubbed toe and my hair is still wet from the shower.   My patience is wearing thin, when a voice on the phone responds with, “who is this?”   That’s it!   Click! The phone is off…hung up…. Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to a crowd cheering, waving palm branches, and calling Hosanna!   It was an unusual Sunday in Jerusalem with such a great crowd of people in a joyful mood, ready to celebrate and calling to Jesus. Did I say everyone?   Actually, not all were celebrating.   A few people asked, “Who is this?” When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: “Go over to the village across from you. You’ll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you’re doing, say, ‘The Master needs them!’ He wi...