This is my 50th Christmas without my father. I thought of him recently while I browned some meatballs for a spaghetti sauce we were cooking up for guests over the holidays.
This was his recipe. One handed down from his father and passed on to me by my mother years after he passed away. The pungent smell of the garlic and Romano cheese filled the kitchen and flashed back his old ritual of tasting the first batch of sauce with ... read all »
I believe Martha's gotten a bad rap as far as Bible characters go. The most quoted reference about Martha is where Jesus gently admonishes her concerning this good woman's frustration at not receiving help from her sister, Mary, in serving their guests. This story recorded in Luke 10:40-41 has become, for many, the defining image of this woman, a worrier, a person consumed with tasks, and a disciple not attuned to spiritual things like her sister, Mary.
Mar... read all »
There has been much talk concerning Social Security that has a lot of folks in a lather. The government is suggesting a variety of ways to save it or make it more viable.
Some groups want to abolish it in favor of private plans, others suggest delaying retirement or having part of the S.S. payments put into private funds. With the bulk of the population rapidly approaching retirement, it‟s natural that people are feeling a little panicky.
The problem, ... read all »
September 11th is “Grandparents Day” according to the flower and gift industry. Certainly grandparents are worthy of a bouquet or an outing at the Golden Corral but if we really want to please them, how about some things that would truly make a difference in their lives?
Staying in touch and visiting on a regular basis would be nice. Cards and flowers on one day without an on-going presence only heightens our absence and recalls our neglect throughout t... read all »
Recently the men who attended our “Married Men Support Group” were asked to suggest ways that men could improve as husbands. Below is a sampling of some ideas that were brought forth.
1. Listen to her. Stop doing whatever else you may be doing and look at her and listen. Write things down if you have to for recall.
2. Show leadership in your family and Christian household.
3. Reassure her often that she’s your first priority.
4. Never make fun ... read all »
One of the most common reactions that new elders have at being selected for this position is a feeling of unworthiness. After all, we’re giving a man the responsibility of watching over the eternal souls of hundreds of people. This is quite a responsibility and a certain hesitation and sense of humility is natural.
In order to provide encouragement I believe the Lord has included several ways to reassure the new elder that his selection to this role is accord... read all »
Have you ever wondered why God required the Jews to give 10% of their wealth as an offering or “tithe” in the Old Testament (Lev. 27:30-32)?
First of all the number “10” in Jewish numerology indicated wholeness or maturity but as far as proportion was concerned, 10% of your wealth represented sacrifice. This was true then as it is today. For example:
3000 years ago if you gave 10% of your flock, harvest or goods to the Lord—it hurt,... read all »
Sunday, December 5th will mark the beginning of the new quarter for our Bible Class program. The insert included in the last Sunday announcement sheet lists the new classes and their location. We owe a debt of thanks to those brothers and sisters who serve this congregation in the education ministry. Let’s support their efforts in the following ways:
1.BE THERE
The church meets for study, worship, and fellowship. There is no distinction between “nece... read all »
Next to the statement, “I love you,” I believe the most encouraging words to hear are, “I’d love to…”.
I was reminded of this a while back when a regular Bible class teacher had to drop out because of work commitments and I had to find a mid-quarter replacement for this class.
Finding Bible school teachers is always a daunting task for the Sunday morning program but a good teacher for a children’s class on a Wednesday n... read all »
The oldest joke about preachers is that when they begin to deal with our true bad habits and sins in their sermons, we say that “they’ve gone from preaching to meddling”.
The implication is that preaching is O.K. so long as it teaches me facts about the persons and history connected to the Bible and religion in general. Many people are of the opinion that preaching is acceptable so long as it affirms my hope that I will go to heaven and the belie... read all »
Sometimes God surprises us. Not just with big things but with random blessings that sprinkle our day with evidence of His constant love and incredible kindness towards us. Here are a few random blessings that immediately come to mind.
1. The sweet smell of newly mowed grass floating into your car as you drive by on a cloudless summer day.
2. An unexpected apology from an estranged friend.
3. A magnificent rainbow after an afternoon rain.
4. Fresh lin... read all »
One thing the quiet of night affords you is the time and silence to hear yourself think of all the things that might go wrong with your life. It must have been such a moment that drove my youngest daughter, Emilie, to seek some reassurance one stormy night long ago.
Her falling asleep was interrupted by thoughts of the possibility of losing one’s salvation. "What if", she asked, "a person does something wrong and doesn’t confess it right away and then d... read all »
Somewhere around 1995, the Choctaw congregation tried something new. Blue prayer cards were printed up and members were encouraged to write down a prayer request which would be honored at the end of each service. The original intent was to make it easier for members to ―come forward or respond to the invitation. The cards would be filled out and the members would bring them forward to the front where they were received by the elders and ministers.
At first the r... read all »
TWISTER RELIGION
The recent storms that spawned at least a dozen tornadoes across the state also sparked a spike in some people‟s faith. I don‟t doubt the sincerity of folks who were “thankful to God” for being safe through the killer winds but I sometimes wonder where that faith lies when skies are blue and the weather is calm.
I suppose that it‟s human nature to l... read all »