tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25605690857223494412012-02-15T16:01:26.026-05:00Where you can find the good stuff.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.comBlogger1111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-87033910849121024902012-02-14T19:18:00.001-05:002012-02-14T19:18:32.884-05:00

I’m going to go out on a limb . . . whew, it’s windy out here. Before the branch breaks, can I ask you a question? OK, another question. Can Christian book stores be too Christian? Understand that I love Christian book stores. The smell of coffee and imitation leather. The sound of opening a new book. I can lose all track of time in a place like this. I can also lose track of how much I am piling

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-40802321561263880892012-02-07T22:06:00.001-05:002012-02-07T22:06:39.124-05:00

When was the last time someone asked you to pray for them, for someone they know, or for some event?  Did you?  Or did you forget.  Here’s a quick tip on prayer requests – pray.  I don’t know who I first heard it from, but they taught me to pray right then and there.  If someone stops you in the hall at work, pray with them there.  If they catch you after worship on Sunday morning, pray with them

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-67374641672225333112012-01-31T20:52:00.001-05:002012-01-31T20:52:03.446-05:00

Have you ever talked to someone on the phone and detected their smile?  You could tell by the tone or words they used that they were showing some teeth.  On the other hand, you could tell if they were frowning.  What did it do for the conversation?  Smiling meant the talk was going to be fun.  The frown was like pulling a band-aid off – it hurt a little. The next person you meet – smile.  It may

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-30377133433372923712012-01-26T10:08:00.001-05:002012-01-26T10:15:27.106-05:00

I have learned a few things.  I learned early on that licking a 9-volt does funny things to the end of your tongue.  I learned that riding a skateboard is much easier than it looks.  I learned that high school would have been more fun if I knew then what I know now. I’m also learning a few things.  People have stories to tell.  When you learn those stories, you learn about the story-teller. 

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-23636675474525937832012-01-24T10:34:00.001-05:002012-01-24T10:34:24.476-05:00

While there are plenty of pluses to being a preacher, there are a few minuses as well: Being in Dockers when everyone else has jeans on The assumption that you have the answer to every possible Biblical question Hearing and seeing so many reminders of our distance from God Finding time to study for a sermon and class, but not finding time to study for myself Knowing that all of the people can’t

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-71215875170604407232012-01-19T09:51:00.001-05:002012-01-19T09:51:59.848-05:00

I’m sitting here thinking of some of the +’s of being a preacher: Knowing what the sermon is about before everyone else. Seeing someone’s face when you tell them what kind of job you have.  (This is especially fun when they have just finished cussing about politics or their in-laws.) Being married to the preacher’s wife. Having so many opportunities to share the greatest story ever told. Getting

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-76819278540580032082012-01-16T14:36:00.001-05:002012-01-16T14:36:11.547-05:00

Think about all that goes into a name.  When your child is born you try to think of, not only a good name, but the right name.  Maybe you name him after his great-grandfather.  Maybe you give her your middle name.  When you bring home the new dog or fish, you call a family meeting and vote on the new name. What about your name?  What did your friends (or enemies) do with it in elementary school?

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-21907796215199515452012-01-10T11:49:00.001-05:002012-01-10T11:49:14.218-05:00

Today I’m thinking about songs.  This morning I tuned into a radio station and I heard a song from my high school days.  Yes, it was even a self-professed oldies station.  Ouch, that hurt me to hear them say it.  Before the lyrics even started I knew the song.  The memories that can go with a song!  Things you haven’t thought about for years have a way of coming back.  Music can be like a key to

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-18365169021763075962012-01-03T21:48:00.001-05:002012-01-03T21:48:56.064-05:00

What you did today, good or bad, was noticed by others. God made you.  You didn’t make you. You are important but you can’t control it all. Someone will need you tomorrow. ‘Thank you’ says more than you think. What you’ve earned – paycheck, degree, promotion, title, etc. – wasn’t earned as a solo project. One decision can change everything. You matter.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-30164734637297034072011-12-30T15:36:00.001-05:002011-12-30T15:36:36.098-05:00

There is something unique about the end of one year and the beginning of the next.  On May 14th, we don’t think too much about the passage of time – unless that day is your birthday.  August 3rd really doesn’t do much in the way of causing reflection – unless that day is your anniversary.  November 29th doesn’t generate much hype on the web – unless you post your senior picture. Then there is

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-52543614512836508052011-12-27T21:46:00.001-05:002011-12-27T21:46:33.577-05:00

The nativity sets are still up in front of some places.  Most Christmas lights will keep flashing for a couple of more weeks.  Prices have been slashed on inflatable snowmen and extra-large rolls of wrapping paper.  The garbage collectors have hauled off everyone’s 8 extra black bags of trash.  And Jesus is forgotten.  For a few hours he was remembered.  Some met in church buildings, some read

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-52513494519195030862011-12-24T21:01:00.001-05:002011-12-24T21:01:49.104-05:00

If he wouldn’t have come. If God wouldn’t have cared. If love wasn’t so clear. But he did. But he did. But it was.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-76681172429531066722011-12-23T18:55:00.001-05:002011-12-23T18:55:59.122-05:00

With each of the last seven posts, one invention has argued in my mind for a higher bidding.  This invention gave me some of my first glimpses of Jesus.  It opened my eyes to the way others must have seen Moses.  It gave my young mind clarity as I tried to figure out what a ‘tomb’ was.  The invention?  Flannelgraph.  Someone somewhere had 5 extra yards of flannel, a stack of pictures of long-hair

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-82788992380218753442011-12-22T20:30:00.001-05:002011-12-22T20:30:17.258-05:00

Again, seven will be a good number to stop with.  What is an invention that has helped us relay a message that has been passed on for centuries?  While we could certainly survive without it, having it has changed the way we can relay our message.  It can convey messages that are unthinkably horrible or it can be harnessed to share a message that could only be expressed through a cross and an

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-73474062740613787232011-12-16T19:47:00.001-05:002011-12-16T19:47:23.599-05:00

I used it several times today and, honestly, I took it for granted.  I’m so used to just picking it up and talking.  The telephone has changed how we communicate.  It used to be a voice-only device, but now you can text with it, email with it, or send pictures with it.  I’m sure there’s an app for Morse code, too.  Think about all of the ways our phones can be used to share that awesome news from

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-44104637580391376022011-12-15T10:19:00.001-05:002011-12-15T10:19:26.850-05:00

Of all of the things we use to share a message from heaven – envelopes.  No glory in glue you lick to activate.  No applause when you use ones with the little window.  No pats on the back when you use ones with security tint.  But the message is still shared.  How? The get-well card is sent The note of encouragement is dropped in the mailbox. The envelope is opened and there are several bills –

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-56772796373458163852011-12-14T13:37:00.001-05:002011-12-14T13:37:05.388-05:00

Over the years the medium has changed.  Just in my lifetime I’ve had music on 45’s, 33’s, cassettes, CD’s and MP3’s.  Music comes at us from our car radios and our TV speakers.  We hum a song when we are working on a project and we sing a song at birthday parties.  Music is a great invention!  It captures thoughts and feelings in a way that nothing else can.  Did Adam whistle while he worked? 

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-38442292735313070612011-12-12T14:00:00.001-05:002011-12-12T14:00:03.493-05:00

I have no idea when this invention first came on the market.  In The Passion of the Christ you would think it was Jesus who had a role in the idea.  Some cultures use it, some don’t.  In 21st century America, almost every home has one.  It also exists in big numbers in places where we go to eat.  The dinner table.  Simple in design, profound in use. Think for a moment of all the conversations you

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-50065461318653183162011-12-08T13:56:00.001-05:002011-12-08T13:56:05.438-05:00

I use it every day and every night.  What can change that is a power outage.  The internet is durable under most circumstances, but it does cower under direct lightning strikes.  Regardless of that weakness, the information superhighway is a fascinating way to share a message from heaven.  Because of the internet we can: use blogs to share a story or a verse. look up Bible passages or topics

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-24034008066126785432011-12-06T13:15:00.001-05:002011-12-06T13:15:07.405-05:00

Any day of any week.  Any place at any time.  I can read it, memorize it, study it and question it.  The Bible.  God shares his thoughts with us.  God communicates his story, his history.  He explains my story, my history.  There was a time when his words were learned because they were repeated and taught.  Not everyone had a book made up of pages with gold edges.  There was a time when the books

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-7131096149729181152011-12-02T10:27:00.001-05:002011-12-02T10:27:31.698-05:00

My inventions won’t be on any shelf or on any cell phone in the near future.  The reason?  I can’t decide whether to ship via USPS or UPS.  Once I get that worked out, we’ll be good to go.  In the meantime, I am very thankful for some things that were, at one time, inventions, but now are so much more.  They were considered strange, unique, or maybe even welcomed.  Some were designed to share a

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-45858687165767976692011-11-29T14:10:00.001-05:002011-11-29T14:10:07.906-05:00

Inventions are not only things to help us with our schedules or revolutionize our dining experience, they are also needed to help people know about Jesus.  These are the kind of inventions we’ve been considering.  My next, and last, invention (seven is a good Biblical number to stop with) is broad.  It is a simple idea, but the application of it could go on and on.  To explain it, will you take a

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-80075219740756912202011-11-21T22:23:00.001-05:002011-11-21T22:23:11.648-05:00

Take 5-10 seconds and think of some of the most ruthless people that have made up the Who’s Who of History.  Think of those people whose actions have left a mark on people or countries for decades and longer. Did you come up with 2-3 names?  How is your life in comparison to theirs?  Good?  While those people were nightmares, we often find value in their lives because they give us a point of

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-77811906702009108642011-11-17T13:17:00.001-05:002011-11-17T13:26:10.399-05:00

One of the biggest barriers between those following God and those trying to figure God out may be words.  I have often thought that sometimes I need to say more and at other points I think I need to say much less.  What I have failed to realize is I sometimes need to say the right thing.  That’s where the next invention comes in. Invention #5 – Anti-Weather App This app would be available for

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-33023985021542717922011-11-15T17:39:00.001-05:002011-11-15T17:47:49.133-05:00

I know my way around the church buildings I’ve been in.  You know your way around the church buildings you’ve been in.  I know that one door at the top of the stairs leads to the furnace room.  You know that one door opens to the front of a classroom.  I know where the men’s bathroom is.  You know where the-old-nursery-which-is-the-one-used-during-worship-but-not-the-same-one-they-use-for-class

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-72051729048066480622011-11-10T21:01:00.001-05:002011-11-10T21:01:17.628-05:00

I’ve been sharing some ideas that I hope will remove some of the road blocks  between God and someone who wants to learn more about him.  For my next invention, I’m not sure whether it will be software you install or if it will actually be a piece of hardware.  It may be that I will offer you the option and if you choose both I’ll throw in a free t-shirt or something.  What will the shirt say?  “

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-17165420227853135302011-11-08T13:55:00.001-05:002011-11-10T09:25:43.856-05:00

The inventions we have been talking about aren’t necessarily things that will have a patent number anywhere on them.  That doesn’t mean the invention isn’t important, it just means that some preacher came up with it and trying to figure out how to apply for a patent confused him.  (Plus, when you realize your only customer will be your wife, corporate law isn’t that important.) Invention #2 – A

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-44592055762756752872011-11-04T13:59:00.001-04:002011-11-10T09:24:40.894-05:00

I told you last time that I had a few inventions in mind.  These aren’t things that will change the course of the internet or change the way our kids will travel.  What I hope they will do is change how we share the greatest message there is.  I hope my inventions will help all of us take a new look at how we communicate Jesus.  If you are reading this and you don’t know much about Jesus, chime

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-35424256815786370992011-11-02T23:48:00.001-04:002011-11-02T23:48:14.992-04:00

I have never invented anything, nor have I given an inventor any seed for thought.  My dad and I have fashioned some makeshift tools over the years but those were mainly to get us out of some plumbing nightmare.  Those types of things aren’t found on the shelves at Lowe’s.  They were simply tools that were cobbled to finish a job we wished we would have never started. I do think the world of

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-10237749563914823622011-10-18T12:43:00.001-04:002011-10-18T12:43:13.928-04:00

Today.  On a calendar it is only one box.  A lump sum of 24 one-hour segments. 1/7 of a week.  A re-do of things done wrong yesterday and a glimpse of what may be tomorrow.  Today is all we have. “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matt 6:11, NIV) “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt 6:34, NIV) “Now listen,

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-75295261912436934312011-10-05T19:07:00.001-04:002011-10-05T19:07:23.509-04:00

In today’s issue of USA Today, they report that some British hotels are beginning to use snore monitors.  You arrive back to your hotel room, get cleaned up, turn down the bed, and S-N-O-O-O-O-R-I-N-G starts coming through the wall.  Thankfully some company had the initiative, the funding, and the technology to stop this hideous violation of our own personal sleep patterns.  Maybe the next

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06300198961074697912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-4265760124763860162011-09-22T14:03:00.001-04:002011-09-22T14:03:56.556-04:00

It’s been a few days ago, but the conversation started like this: “Do you think we have good leaders in Washington?” Though the inquirer was a stranger to me, I could sense they were prepared to ask even more no matter how I answered.  That is a loaded question.  My response? “I think we need to pray for them.” Needless to say, my answer wasn’t one of the options the asker was giving me, but here

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-16360139093522415362011-09-06T20:41:00.001-04:002011-09-06T20:53:28.425-04:00

Maybe it should be "Profoundly simple” instead.  I came across the verse again today.  I’ve seen it plenty of times before.  It’s been on shirts and stickers; it’s been in the end zone and in the news.  As soon as I start reading it, I know how it will end.  That, I figure, is my problem.  It is too familiar.  Since I can’t forget it (thankfully), maybe a slower reading of it will let me see it

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-13153826799317430602011-08-31T11:03:00.001-04:002011-08-31T11:03:12.562-04:00

A couple of days ago we were in an ice-cream shop.  I squatted down to help my youngest decide what she might want.  As I pointed to the flavors, I also noticed all of the machines, signs, trashcans, and colors that made up the store.  I told my wife, “Things look kind of intimidating from down here.”  The store didn’t change, but my perspective did – I dropped down about four feet.

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-45025560480037572492011-08-29T07:41:00.001-04:002011-08-29T07:41:14.730-04:00

Today you go out into the world as a messenger.  You carry something very special with you.  You have the choice of how to share it.  It may be covered in words as you pass it off to another person.  It could be delivered in silence but cloaked with action or movement.  It could leave you electronically.  It will be good if you remember the message didn’t originate with you.  It started from a

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-75971002480718065302011-08-25T07:06:00.001-04:002011-08-25T07:06:18.642-04:00

What is your best memory of going to church?  When you think back to time in the classroom or time in the pew, what makes you smile?  Who impacted the way you live or the things you do because of what they did while at the church building?  It could be an event from decades ago or something that happened at a mid-week gathering last night. Some of my best memories are of Sunday school when I was

Marknoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-9670281284363787612011-08-23T21:44:00.001-04:002011-08-23T21:44:43.324-04:00

It is on the news tonight, but it was beneath our house this afternoon – shaking.  Some of you may have felt it at your location along the eastern half of the United States.  Hearing it on the news is one thing, feeling it is another. Job may have spoken from experience:          He shakes the earth from its place          and makes its pillars tremble. (Job 9:6, NIV) We feel so big in our homes,

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-29590836078123519762011-08-19T13:34:00.001-04:002011-08-19T13:35:21.193-04:00

It was during a trip to the library that we saw the CD.  First, let me explain what some of the other CDs on the shelf were: The Best of the Wiggles, The Best of Raffi, several Veggie Tales, and then this one: Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of AC/DC.  If the name AC/DC doesn’t mean anything to you, don’t worry about it.  You are now free to enjoy the rest of your day.  If you know something

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-39254872115527548132011-08-12T15:31:00.001-04:002011-08-12T15:31:35.721-04:00

If you read Tuesday's post, you joined me in thinking about ice cream and those fun places that serve it.  What makes it fun?  The signs, the seats outside, the cashier you got to know, the crazy new flavors, the people you went with, the people you plan on taking next time, and the list goes on. Chances are you have a neighbor or a co-worker, maybe even a family member who won’t go to church

Marknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-5448460120310010962011-08-09T21:11:00.001-04:002011-08-09T21:11:55.756-04:00

Little B’s Mrs. B’s Igloo Hall’s Ice Cream Frozen Delight Dairy Isle Dari Shak Some of these are from when I was a kid, some are current, others are names I’ve seen on signs.  What are the ice cream places from your childhood or your favorite one now?

Marknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-21634684567779142962011-08-07T14:34:00.001-04:002011-08-07T14:34:55.318-04:00

I shared the ducks with some people today.  Our family has been going to feed them off and on over the last few weeks.  Their ‘home’ is a large retention pond at the back of  a huge parking lot.  Sometimes the geese are in on the feedings, too.  A loaf of bread can bring a lot of happy-sounding quacks and honks. Today we were able to see Mama duck and her little ducklings head back our way.  Even

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-7425386279502636662011-08-05T07:35:00.002-04:002011-08-06T19:04:28.816-04:00

Pop (or soda) at a self-serve machine Food at an all-you-can-eat buffet Cake and mints at a reception              VS.Minutes spent in worship Bible pages read in a week (or year) Hours spent in prayer Some things we take in as much as we can.  Other things we take in as little as possible.

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-59355587461349684862011-08-03T09:24:00.001-04:002011-08-03T09:24:51.320-04:00

I still have vivid memories of gym class.  I think most people do.  It was either one of the highlights of school days or it was one of the nightmares.  Me?  Certainly not a highlight (except for the volleyball unit in high school – it was crazy!) nor was it a nightmare (except for those days when people threw up – no, it wasn’t me).  Gym class is where we really were able to hone our skills at

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-56244660907483928922011-07-28T14:49:00.001-04:002011-07-28T14:49:10.903-04:00

The next time you are sitting at a stoplight at a busy intersection, look to see if there are any wooden telephone poles nearby.  If you see one, look closely at the area between 4’ and 6’ off the ground.  In that 2’ area you will see the largest collection of staples and nails in a 10-block radius.  Sometimes those collections even have a little bit of color.  Someone tore down the garage sale

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-44426373294358918872011-07-27T07:45:00.001-04:002011-07-27T07:46:13.665-04:00

     They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-46570370970639743452011-07-20T13:01:00.001-04:002011-07-20T13:01:44.563-04:00

The ‘Seek’ button on the radio was what I was pushing when I heard the guy’s voice.  I have no idea of the context of his talk, nor do I know what kind of audience he was speaking to.  For a moment I was his audience.  He spoke of a “perfect human model” and our belief in that.  Of course I thought of Jesus.  What he said next was the last thing I heard him say before I got out of the car: “If we

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-54166191199073428292011-07-15T12:16:00.001-04:002011-07-15T12:16:19.651-04:00

It’s hard to have a favorite color sometimes.  It means you exclude some others you really like.  It’s even harder to have a favorite food.  You have to sort between breakfast foods and supper foods.  Sweets or vegetables?  The hardest ‘favorite’ has to be Bible verses.  When you pick one does that mean the others don’t rank as high?  What if another verse or story fits tomorrow’s events better

Marknoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-74136546483409423382011-07-06T18:08:00.001-04:002011-07-06T18:08:57.537-04:00

I’ve seen two plastic owls in town.  One is behind a fast-food restaurant.  The owl sits on a fence that surrounds the dumpster there.  The other owl is on top of a fire-station that was probably last used in the 1950’s.  At first glance, both of the owls looked real.  I did a double-take and then watched for movement.  Nope, the plastic ‘feathers’ didn’t flutter in the wind.  The big eyes never

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-71840090037282097682011-07-04T21:04:00.001-04:002011-07-04T21:04:31.125-04:00

When I pump gas I usually pass those few minutes by reading the advertisements above the pump or by looking at the often-funny hand-printed directions the clerk has taped to the pump.  Today what caught my eye was the usual warning about losing my license if I drive off without paying for the gas.  It was worded in a ‘scary’ sort of way.  To add to the intimidation was the big badge that made up

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-56599879846623837742011-06-26T20:34:00.001-04:002011-06-26T20:34:24.464-04:00

That’s what the conversation was.  It was one of those reminders that God can use anyone, anything, anywhere, at anytime.  Earlier today, my sermon included the mention of Paul being a tent-maker.  Later today I was at a wedding.  After I announced the bride and groom, and after the people started getting in line for the food, I stood off to the side of the room.  I saw the photographer there and

Marknoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-87458205626331335872011-06-22T22:53:00.001-04:002011-06-22T22:53:30.432-04:00

Tonight was one of those times when I marvel at the simplicity of God’s message.  When you study the Bible you can look at its original languages or you can consult countless books or online sources.  You can look at words, study verses or digest whole books of the Bible.  In all of it are some very simple messages.  Sure, there are some difficult places.  There are things we may not figure out

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-65147159477301258832011-06-15T21:26:00.001-04:002011-06-15T21:26:14.499-04:00

Usually once or twice a month, Microsoft has some updates for my computer.  Even as I type, I can see the little symbol at the bottom by the clock.  When I scroll my mouse over it I can see it’s 3% complete.  There are several other programs that do quite a lot of updating.  Adobe is always directing me to new versions of their products.  Java does the same.  Rarely do I turn an update down. 

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-58479727076426077402011-06-12T22:38:00.001-04:002011-06-12T22:38:09.725-04:00

There were several tables of things that, at one time or another, we had to have.  What I paid 10 or 12 dollars for I parted ways with for 2 shiny quarters.  What initially set me back almost a hundred dollars gave me a return of five dollars.  Stuff.  That’s what it is.  A friend of mine shared this with me earlier in the week (and he didn’t even know we were having a garage sale): “I’ve

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-81751126560926510652011-05-31T20:19:00.001-04:002011-05-31T20:20:44.190-04:00

The forecasted temperature for today was 90 degrees.  The person in charge of the digital sign in front of McDonald’s must not have The Weather Channel website bookmarked.  The sign read: “Warm Up With a Cup of Oatmeal” as I drove by – with my A/C on. Sometimes the message doesn’t match the audience.  I try to be aware of that.  I may be speaking to a group of God-believers on a Sunday morning or

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-30291186437112636322011-05-26T15:46:00.001-04:002011-05-26T15:46:23.866-04:00

         I have chosen the way of truth;               I have set my heart on your laws.          I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD;               do not let me be put to shame.          I run in the path of your commands,               for you have set my heart free.  (Ps 119:30–32, NIV) The Bible is more than a history book.  Yet it is more than a religious manual of some sort.  It is in

Marknoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-66641801644637595932011-05-23T21:56:00.001-04:002011-05-23T21:56:44.940-04:00

You know those air hand-dryers in public bathrooms?  There are usually 2 pictures that give the directions.  There are also usually hand-carved instructions above those pictures.  The words I’ve always seen are: “Push button” and “Wipe Hands On Pants.”  This weekend I saw a new one: “Push button” and “Receive Bacon.”  Sure enough, that is what the picture seems to say, too!

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-20390214648498633902011-05-20T21:04:00.001-04:002011-05-20T21:04:18.221-04:00

Cable TV has nothing on what we watched over the last couple of weeks.  The screen was our kitchen window and the show was “Mourning Doves.”  It started with mom and dad building a crude little nest.  That was episode 1.  Day after day mom sat on the nest watching our every coming and going out the back door.  We’d watch her, she watch us.  Those were episodes 2-15.  Then one morning two little

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-17124401722103611502011-05-19T20:08:00.001-04:002011-05-19T20:08:42.060-04:00

In some ways it seems to have happened overnight.  One day there was talk of having a computer in the classroom, now we have the internet right on our hips or in our purses.  Kilobytes then megabytes then terabytes.  CRT then LCD.  Phone lines to wireless.  Change. In all of that, the message from God doesn’t change.  Sure, it’s told with different illustrations and current jargon.  At the end of

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-34887895195383464982011-05-18T08:58:00.001-04:002011-05-18T08:58:16.547-04:00

Cupcake Wars - The premise of the show is much like the premise of the channel it is on.  Food Network is about our favorite pastime.  Cupcake Wars just hones in on a single item with multiple recipe variations.  Last night’s judges discussed the use of lemon curd (which they thought added a striking element) and the baking of kiwi (which they told me causes it to lose its flavor).  To add to all

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-38028883419771996472011-05-15T21:28:00.001-04:002011-05-15T21:28:15.131-04:00

One of the joys of officiating a wedding (why do we use the same term for basketball games?) is being one of the first people to see the bride coming down the aisle.  Her dress, her smile, her dad – all coming your way.  That event yesterday made me think of another groom and another bride: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy,

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-5735901146536334812011-05-13T15:28:00.001-04:002011-05-13T15:28:37.155-04:00

For the last several months I have had a very special privilege on Wednesday nights.  I’m able to meet with 10-15 adults that all have varying degrees of developmental disabilities.  The purpose of our time together?  Besides building friendships, we get to hear more about God’s message to all of us.  I’ve certainly learned many things during these Wednesday night encounters.  How I appreciate

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-72032491150119934942011-05-09T22:32:00.002-04:002011-05-10T08:36:30.570-04:00

The Bible is an old book.  That’s the reason many people, even those who wear the Author’s name, don’t read it.  The Bible is a long book.  That’s the reason some people, even those who own several copies of it, don’t study it.  The Bible is a fire-starting book.  As you mention it, it either ignites a conversation or fuels an argument.  That’s the reason many people, even those who have known it

Marknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-9132810738178213922011-05-05T21:34:00.001-04:002011-05-05T21:34:22.255-04:00

the ladies who make meals for others at a moment’s notice. people who pull over for a funeral procession. that guy who bought chocolates when the card-store lady asked . . . and then turned and gave the chocolates to my kids. friends who get it. that greeter at Wal-Mart.  He always makes me smile. those people who are always smiling when you see them. God for dealing with me again today.

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-23801644368663853302011-05-04T08:04:00.001-04:002011-05-04T08:04:52.875-04:00

The suffix, if I remember right.  It’s been a few years since those early language arts classes.  How the word ends can make all the difference in the world.  “I enjoyed a donut.”  Pretty plain.  Now this next one is exciting, at least for me: “I am enjoying donuts!”  Never mind it’s breakfast time, that last one is full of action! The same is true when it comes to prayer.  A friend of mine

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-22608826791100394852011-05-03T09:36:00.001-04:002011-05-03T09:36:45.095-04:00

The lady was talking loud enough that I could hear her side of the conversation from the other side of the hospital lobby.  Her phone was turned up loud enough that I could hear the other side of the conversation too.  Her ringer was turned loud enough that my glasses vibrated as the next inquiring family member dialed in.  After several calls, here’s what I know: He’s out of surgery and still

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-34542038537442666672011-04-28T20:34:00.001-04:002011-04-28T20:34:20.524-04:00

Big, fluffy loaves.  That is the bread that is usually depicted in Last Supper pictures.  During worship, if a slide is used for communion, make note of the bread.  It’s not Wonder, but it’s some pretty big stuff.  That makes it much unlike what we actually use where I worship.  Early on I had Manischewitz matzos (spell check didn’t like that).  I’ve had homemade unleavened bread (I usually took

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-7610915759270241502011-04-27T21:25:00.001-04:002011-04-27T21:25:18.764-04:00

How would you define ministry? Is it something that only a few can do? Is it only for emergencies and other bad events? Is it only for good events? Can it happen all the time or only at certain times? Can I show you how to do it?  Can you show me? How do you know your definition of it is right? Is there a wrong definition of it? Should it look the same in all places?  Why?  Why not? What are

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-41054872199002764662011-04-26T14:07:00.001-04:002011-04-26T14:07:57.773-04:00

In ‘93 I lived in the Midwest right by the Mississippi River.  I saw what water can do.  Not just any water, but flood water.  It can move things that were not meant to be moved.  It could ruin things that were never meant to get wet. I’m no longer by the Mighty Miss, but the rains keep falling.  On a rare sunny day last week I mowed the yard, but some of it was more like mowing puddles.  The

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-3518161296209077592011-04-24T21:43:00.001-04:002011-04-24T21:43:24.332-04:00

For some, Easter will end in a couple of hours.  The eggs will be put away until next year (the plastic ones, that is), the candy will be eaten, and the ham will be marked as leftovers. Don’t let it end, though.  The tomb is still empty!  It’ll be empty tomorrow, too.  Celebrate when you get up!  It’ll be empty at lunch time!  Thank God then!  Next weekend?  Still no body.  Get the eggs back out!

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-41694199570930723372011-04-23T20:38:00.001-04:002011-04-23T20:38:56.301-04:00

The numbers alone make me smile.  25 kids on the sign-up sheet, 1600+ eggs, 1 chapel, 1 gym, 2 classrooms, 60+ kids show up.  There wasn’t a basket that didn’t have a load of filled-plastic goodness.  Toy rings, peanut butter cups, needle-point crosses, toy cars, stickers, slips of paper with powerful truths on them, half dollars, quarters, balls, bubbles, chocolate kisses, and plenty of things I

Marknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-17120995693385293282011-04-22T21:31:00.001-04:002011-04-22T21:31:02.778-04:00

As I was walking into the hospital tonight to visit a family, it hit me.  Here is a place where some families are celebrating new life coming into the world.  It is also the place where some families are crying because life has just left this world.  People find God in there and others walk away from God in there.  Some have their faith challenged and they come out even stronger.  In the next bed

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-19610062659125597432011-04-21T13:17:00.001-04:002011-04-21T13:17:33.124-04:00

It was about 2:30 Wednesday morning.  One of two things brought me out of a deep sleep: the howling winds or the tornado siren.  Off we headed to the basement.  Fortunately, half an hour passed and the all-clear siren sounded.  It was during my time on the other side of town later in the morning that I realized some people didn’t go back to sleep like we did.  Limbs were in yards, roofs were

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-47585985586881584172011-04-19T13:19:00.001-04:002011-04-19T13:19:44.972-04:00

This past weekend my family spent time with 40+ other people at a family retreat.  Here are some things I learned or was reminded of: I sleep much better in my own bed. One-on-one conversation with someone reveals so much more than a passing conversation. Leading a song is easier when everyone knows the words. A good cook can make a rainy day seem sunny. My wife and I really are teaching our

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-52140760321261240202011-04-14T20:08:00.001-04:002011-04-14T20:09:10.403-04:00

As printed in the upper left corner of the menu: “If you desire special assistance in ordering, please contact a Carhop by using hand movements, flashing headlights or honking the horn, and ideally by using a handicap stall or the drive-thru.” Next time you are at Sonic you won’t have to wonder.

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-81126723348740384052011-04-13T11:18:00.001-04:002011-04-13T11:18:48.451-04:00

It’s no wonder I don’t remember it.  Jesus was a flannel graph guy for years.  He looked like Moses only his beard was darker and his sash was a little more current.  The apostles were only lyrics to a song.  The books of the Bible also took on a certain rhythm as they rolled off my tongue.  (I didn’t learn the ‘10 Little Indians’ version until college.)  When I add all of that up, it’s no wonder

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-2976990229254196902011-04-11T22:29:00.001-04:002011-04-11T22:29:36.686-04:00

Why do we run from the tough questions?  When someone asks a question about God or the Bible, and it’s a hard question, why is the next step either running or fighting?  I’ve seen it play out that way too many times to count.  As long as we can keep God within the fence we are OK.  As soon as someone finds a place where God might be able to get out, an alarm is sounded.  Doesn’t worship happen

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-44553078166156382652011-04-09T15:03:00.001-04:002011-04-09T15:03:41.445-04:00

Would Paul have been on Facebook?  If so, would he have played Farmville? Would Jesus have blogged? Would David have used texting to talk to Uriah? Would Abram have ‘cheated’ and used GPS? I wonder.

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-49004175947017383892011-04-06T14:01:00.001-04:002011-04-06T14:01:25.498-04:00

Yesterday we talked about unique products and today the conversation is going to have to continue.  Only hours ago I was standing in the freezer section at the grocery store.  My dilemma?  Which kind of ice cream sandwich to buy.  As I scanned the boxes and brands my eye caught the little dog.  Hmmmm.  I didn’t remember seeing him in any commercials.  Purina?  I didn’t know they made people-food.

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-36528987320586412612011-04-05T15:02:00.001-04:002011-04-05T15:02:05.454-04:00

At one of the big-name drug stores they have part of an aisle dedicated to the “As Seen On TV” products.  Some of them, like the Slap Chop, I recognized.  Others, like the Mister Steamy Dryer Ball, I didn’t.  (It shoots out steam in your dryer which works magic on your clothes, I guess.)  Some of the products looked good and others reeked of the word ‘scam.’  How do you test the validity of these

Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-3008915618064479952011-04-02T20:20:00.001-04:002011-04-02T20:20:09.814-04:00

We use a coat tree at our house.  Some people call it a hall tree.  Others prefer to just call it a coat rack.  It’s a long board, 4 hooks at the top and 4 legs at the bottom.  In the summer it’s empty and in the winter it’s full.  The problem is the current season: wing.  That would be a cross between winter and spring.  Some days are 33 degrees and they are followed by one that is 67 degrees. 

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-4805656295511133652011-04-01T11:15:00.003-04:002011-04-02T13:04:31.177-04:00

How do you best celebrate this national holiday?  Tell your friend a lie and then negate it by saying “April fools”?  There isn’t any color associated with April 1st and holiday decorations don’t really exist for it.  Maybe the point is to not be foolish.  If I’m going to laugh at anything, maybe I should laugh at myself.  Laugh at the times I’ve been a fool.  No, I don’t mean calling my mom when

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-60805380712945673242011-03-31T10:14:00.001-04:002011-04-02T13:05:22.722-04:00

It's that place in the store where some of the best things are kept.  The flashy things are out front, but the really useful things aren't.  They are usually tucked away on the back wall, bottom shelf.  In your garage or pantry the everyday items are kept by the door, but the special things aren't.  They are usually tucked away on the back wall, bottom shelf.  Sometimes it's fun to go and see

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-92069948461598130582010-12-14T07:59:00.000-05:002011-04-02T12:55:55.407-04:00

You simply asked your friend to bring it with them when they came over. You simply told that lady you would need a copy of it for your records. You simply asked the customer service rep to add it to their notes. You simply asked the voice in the speaker to put in some extra napkins.   But they didn’t.   One man compared it to a mouthful of vinegar or to smoke in your face: As vinegar

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-73363859004825133072010-12-07T08:55:00.000-05:002011-04-02T12:55:55.409-04:00

Life without God.  It makes the time in a funeral home very scary.  It makes the beeping in the ER even louder.  It puts an exclamation point at the end of life’s questions.  It makes a person the center of everything and one person can’t manage everything.  Life without God. What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.  (Proverbs 10:24, NIV) Is

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-13353688210673808632010-11-30T21:56:00.000-05:002011-04-02T12:55:55.411-04:00

Upset that the drive-up line isn’t moving quicker – wondering if there will even be a meal this week Frustration when the “Check Engine” light comes on – walking for miles to get water or food or help Procrastination in fixing a leaky faucet – knowing that giving your thirsty baby that water will make them sick . . . again Complaining that it’s too hot – fighting to finish the work day in the

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-7446327599898296332010-11-23T09:25:00.000-05:002011-04-02T12:55:55.413-04:00

One of the reasons I enjoy watching TV is because of the old shows that are still being shown.  On any given evening I can relive my childhood.  The A-Team is still pulling through tough situations, the Dukes of Hazzard still know how to drive the General Lee, and Michael Knight still drives a nice car.  I can remember watching these shows each week.  As a kid they were great!  As an adult, they

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-56138231867556654272010-11-17T08:59:00.000-05:002011-04-02T12:55:55.416-04:00

As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him. Proverbs 10:26 (NIV) Just thinking about vinegar in my mouth makes my teeth hurt.  Just thinking about smoke in my face makes my eyes burn.  They are some of those grate-at-your-nerves feelings.  Fingernails on blackboards would be another one.  I’m sure you have some of your own.  The proverb

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-34976759980835498832010-11-09T09:31:00.000-05:002011-04-02T12:55:55.419-04:00

I turned on the radio in the car the other day and there it was in stereo: Christmas music.  Not one song, but back-to-back yuletide hits.  Elvis was having a blue Christmas and Bruce Springsteen was reminding me not to pout.  What happened to Thanksgiving?  Who took it away?  I guess there is more money to be made with December holidays. What do you miss out on because you are after bigger and

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-26678334720369762042010-11-02T22:14:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.421-04:00

The billboard was a big one.  When you can read it several times while going by at interstate speeds it has to be big.  The message was meant to be even bigger: AVOID HELL REPENT TODAY JESUS SAVES Is that why Jesus came?  So that you can avoid hell?  Is that all you want?  To divert your path from the fire?  That seems like a low-reaching goal.  May I suggest another one?  Aim for heaven! 

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-6659014907301630012010-10-26T13:07:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.422-04:00

I assume I’m going to have running water.  How do I know?  Because every time I go to the faucet and move the handle, water comes out.  Sunday was another story.  First, when the handle returned to its starting point, the water kept flowing.  Turn it on, move it back, water slows down, but keeps flowing.  On, off . . . still on.  After shutting off the water supply under the sink, I took things

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-52173984332525913492010-10-19T08:20:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.424-04:00

It was a big orange sign outside of a dentist’s office yesterday.  I saw it as I drove by.  He wanted to let you know that he’d buy back your Halloween candy for a $1 a pound.  That is a pretty good thought.  The one who knows what is bad for your teeth offers to take it from you and give you something good in return.  He must have gotten the idea from Jesus.  Jesus?  Yeah, Jesus. “Come to me

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-52844931221589973802010-10-12T22:21:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.426-04:00

God, I got out of bed this morning and groaned at the time on the clock.  The people in the hospital beds today reminded me I am ungrateful. I got 3 meals down pretty quick today.  I thanked you for each one, but thoughts of the food pantry in the church building reminded me I’m ungrateful. I took one Bible to the office and left another one at home.  To think that there are some people who

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-91082889992447118402010-10-05T12:30:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.427-04:00

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-62052218246616580222010-09-21T08:10:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.429-04:00

No one likes to be wrong.  The only thing worse is to have someone else tell you that you are wrong.  Then the next day the boss tells you what to do.  On the way home the policeman uses that big ol’ flashlight to tell you the road is blocked and you can’t go home the way you always do.  Once you get home your spouse reminds you about the promise you made last week.  Before you carry that out

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-49988866062155739252010-09-14T10:30:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.431-04:00

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. (Proverbs 10:1, NIV) Mom and Dad.  The neighbors.  That guy in the other office.  The lady who always parks by you.  Your brother-in-law.  The ladies at the beauty shop.  Your cousin.  That relative that lives in Illinois.  The driver in the car behind you.  Your best friend.  That one guy.  That lady. They are

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-59330966861747387602010-09-07T08:05:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.433-04:00

Have you ever wondered why you were in a bad mood? People around you are asking you what is wrong. “You aren’t acting like yourself,” they say. You may know the reason you are cranky. Or the reason may be alluding you as much as it is your audience. In some ways the reason doesn’t matter. Here is what one person said: Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-52899528881475615782010-08-31T11:55:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.435-04:00

It was less than an hour ago that I was talking to someone about James’ words: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14, NIV).  We hear of doctors telling their patients that they only have so long to live.  Yet, don’t we all live with that diagnosis?  God, through James, says we do. It

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-52277672307080672272010-08-24T07:58:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.437-04:00

that God wanted to tell you something.  Would you listen? you knew something needed done and you had the time and ability to do it.  How long would you wait? your church spent 24 hours in prayer.  Would you join them for a time? someone said they prayed for you today.  Would you feel honored or embarrassed? you were born in another country.  Would you see God differently?

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-32732119975263011562010-08-17T09:27:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.439-04:00

The History Channel is always delving into the past.  Yeah, the channel name says it all.  Why do they do that?  We like to know more about things that have already happened.  We want to know the various angles, the inside scoop, or the behind-the-scenes speculations.  This is also evidenced in our quest for our families’ genealogical information.  We like to know more about the people that we

Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560569085722349441.post-84523354292178425552010-08-10T09:36:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:55:55.441-04:00

There was always a kid who didn’t get in trouble.  They could get caught emptying out a 7-11 and their parents would say, “Now let’s not let that happen again.  Now turn the TV up.”  Then there was the kid that was home 5 minutes late and they would be banned from everything but breathing.  Life on the playground teaches you these things.  Where were you at on the spectrum?  It may have been a

Marknoreply@blogger.com0