Posts Tagged ‘Choice’
Elections
Elections weren’t generally popular during Bible times. Yes, ancient Greece was a “democracy” in theory, but according to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, it wasn’t until the 17th century that representative democracy used voting as the primary decision-making process. Leaders in the early church were chosen or appointed based on character. In fact, the selection of Elders…
Read MoreRoad less traveled
In elementary school, we had a section of my English class that was devoted to the “classics”, especially poetry. One of those “classics” was a poem by Robert Frost called “The Road Not Taken”.It begins, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both.” It ends, “I took the one…
Read MoreLay down your life?
Jesus was always at work teaching and training His disciples for a life of meaning and service for God and others. You see this written on most pages of the gospels. Related to his teaching, when He declares “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends “…
Read MoreI’ve got a problem
I hate to be so revealing of my inconsistencies and shortcomings, but I have a problem. I don’t think I’m the only one. You may struggle here too. This is my issue: I want my wife to tell me all of the “wonderful” things I do…all the time. Somehow my ego needs to be satisfied…
Read MoreCounter-culture
Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even the Messiah did not please Himself. Romans 15:1-2 Jesus turned the world upside-down concerning the “strong” and…
Read MoreWake up!
Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments ” Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. Joel 2:12-13 …
Read MoreCelebrating with another
Why is it so hard to celebrate the successes of others? It might be because of jealousy. Dictionary.com defines jealousy this way: resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, or against another’s success or advantage itself. Jealousy is a normal emotion that just about everyone experiences. But, jealousy can grow into anger…
Read MoreIt’s just the way I am
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “that’s just the way I am.”? Maybe you lose your temper for a moment. Maybe you find yourself rarely finishing a project. Maybe your patience with your kids or your spouse isn’t what it should be. In the moment of frustration, you find yourself justifying your actions with those…
Read MoreThe things that REALLY matter.
William “Bud” Post won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988, but he was $1 million in debt within a year. He said, “I wish it never happened,” “It was totally a nightmare.” A former girlfriend sued him for a third of his winnings, and his brother was arrested for hiring a hitman to kill him hoping he’d…
Read MoreFriday night
I was the president of my fraternity in college. Many of us lived in the fraternity house and Friday night we would have a regular poker game. It happened almost every Friday night. Before you get the wrong idea, it was penny poker with a primary goal of just hanging out with friends. I enjoyed…
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