Happy 24th anniversary to my sweet wife, Valerie!
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
My Expectation Will Hold
Here’s what I wrote for today’s “Proverbial Thought (and More).” It was a blessing to me as I studied for it.
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. – Proverbs 11:7 KJV
This is a fascinating verse to contemplate, so please take a moment to think about these words with me.
Other Translations
If you don’t already know, I love the King James Version of the Bible, but I am not a King James Only-ist by any stretch of the imagination. However, there are times when I wish modern translators could have left well enough alone.
For example, below are four different versions of Proverbs 11:7, each from a very popular translation.
NLT – When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.
NIV – Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
ESV – When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation…
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We ‘re Ready!
This was from 5 years ago. It’s from a blog I don’t use anymore. Both of these four-legged family members are gone, now. They were such a joy and will be missed.
I’ve pulled the carrier around with a bicycle so Nugget and Baby Girl could ride along. When they found out I got a scooter they demanded we go for a ride.
We did 🙂
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Anthony Bourdain
I’m going to reblog this in order to give me a reason to share my own thoughts. Thanks for priming the pump.
For those who don’t know, Anthony Bourdain was an author and a TV host who dealt with food as cultural harmony, food as empathy and unity. He traveled about the world introducing us to different cultures, different ways of life, and presented our commonality as humans. We all eat, right?
I enjoyed Anthony Bourdain’s work and often saw the connection, the relationship, the profound concept behind the Lord’s invitation to His table, communion, our spiritual connection that takes place when we sit down as saints together. Anthony really helped me to value and appreciate the gift Jesus gave us in the last supper, the ritual, the significance, the way He knew that even thousands of years later His people would be partaking in a meal together in remembrance of Him. Communion is so much more than “a meal,” and bread is not just “bread,” but I do so love how those common symbols…
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What’s Your Excuse?
Since I starting pastoring churches back in ’90’s, I’ve heard it all.
But if you’ve been looking for an excuse NOT to go to church, this old song from The Kingsmen may help.
What’s your excuse?
Filed under Church, Uncategorized
Sleep On It
Yes, there may come a time in life that, for the moment, suicide will seem to be the best or only option. However, that’s when you need to at least sleep on it…wait until tomorrow.
A lot can change in a day, if only your perspective.
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What’s Your Life Worth?
Someone needs to read this. Is it you?
What would you die for?
What is so valuable that you would risk or even sacrifice your own life? Have you ever stopped to think about that? You should.
The typical things in life that are considered so valuable, when put in perspective, aren’t really worth that much. Even the most “priceless” treasures are not worth your life – or are they? Would you fight a thief for your purse or car? Then you are saying those things are more valuable than your life, for you are willing to risk your life to keep them. It is how people die every day in the pursuit of, and the keeping of earthly possessions. Foolish, frankly.
Even more than concrete items, some value their pride more than life. They are willing to fight to the death, or kill others when insulted or “dissed.” Perception is NOT reality, just as integrity is not determined by opinion; yet, some would rather risk death than be thought of wrongly. So many have yet to learn that what people think of them does not determine the reality of who they are.
From the perspective of family, I would say that most believe life is worth risking life. If my loved ones were in danger, then it would be natural to put my life on the line. Really, there is no argument against this one. But on the other hand, society is very fickled when it
comes to how it determines the value of one life. One life is not as valuable as another, after all. Life is not as valuable to some if convenience or personal pleasure is at stake. I would die for my children, but many kill their own children before birth. It seems to me that values gold more consistently than life itself.
What about beliefs? Are you willing to die for what you believe? Now, this, I know, could open up a whole can of worms; but that’s ok. Just stop and think about it for a moment. Do you believe in anything so much that it is worth more than your own life? When your life is on the line, knowing the difference between what you believe and what is only opinion is of key importance. A martyr is one who will die for what they believe, rather than deny it. Is your faith worth dying for? If not, then how much do you really believe?
But here’s one more thought…how much is YOUR life worth?
Value is determined by what someone is willing to give for it, right? That’s typically the way it goes. So, if nothing on earth is more valuable than your life, does that make your life valuable? Well, maybe to you.
Think about it, to someone else your life might not be as valuable as their own. Would you value the life of a total stranger so much that you would offer your own in exchange? I mean, really? Someone may even be willing to give all of the world’s riches in order to obtain your life, but are you worth it? Who would even have that kind of wealth? That leaves you with nothing more than your sense of value compared to another’s. Your worth against theirs.
Value is relative to the thing for which the buyer will exchange. That’s a disturbing thought, isn’t it?
On the other hand, what if the Creator of the universe offered to die for you?
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Rom 5:8 NIV
That would make you of incalculable worth! The King of Heaven, the Son of God, gave His own life in exchange for yours, even accepting your guilts and failures as His own, and paying the death penalty for sin on your behalf.
For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. – 2Corinthians 5:21 KJV
That makes you valuable. That makes Jesus pretty unique. How many others have done what He has for you? Most of us would die for our children or spouse. Some of us would die for a friend or maybe a good person. But how many of us would give our own life to purchase the life of a stranger, much less a convict, drug dealer, murderer, etc? Jesus did.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Rom 5:6-8 NIV
That’s the whole reason for Christmas, you know. Jesus had to come to earth as a baby to grow into the Man that would willingly go to a cruel cross. The gift of Christmas is the gift of life, purchased with the life of the Giver of Life. How ironic is that; and how wonderful?
What is your life worth? It was worth the Messiah suffering the most excruciating death Rome could conceive. It was worth the Prince of Peace being shredded by a “cat of nine tails.” It was worth God becoming flesh so that we could know Him. If you are worth that much, and if that kind of price was paid, don’t you think giving your life to Jesus is a fair exchange?
If you would like to know more about Jesus, and how he loves you and died for you, then call this number, 1-800-NEED-HIM. Or, if you would like to talk with me, just send me an email.
Your life is worth it.
