Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Artist: Susan Cassidy Wilhoit)
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundation of Faith (Oklahoma)
Filed under America, Culture Wars, politics, The Magnificent Fifty
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundation of Faith (Ohio)
Columbus, Ohio (Artist: Susan Cassidy Wilhoit)
Ohio State Motto (1959): With God, all things are possible*
In 1997, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the motto. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in 2000 that the motto violated the separation of church and state. in 2001, the full court in a 9-4 decision reversed the decision of Its own three-judge panel declaring that the motto does not violate the separation of church and state.
*based on Matthew 19:26
To read the introduction to and purpose of this series, CLICK HERE.
Filed under America, Culture Wars, The Magnificent Fifty
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.
Filed under Uncategorized
Reviewing “Infinity War”
I finally went to see the last Avengers movie.
Here are my thoughts.
Filed under current events, General Observations, Movie review, Theology
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundation of Faith (North Dakota)
Constitution Preamble (1889)
We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain and establish this constitution.
Have you been noticing how many of the state preambles have verbiage similar to this? So many have stated their gratefulness to “Almighty God” for their civil and religious liberties. How is it, then, that the Freedom From Religion Foundation can make the claim that faith and religion should not be referenced as part of the fabric of our founding?
To read the introduction to and purpose of this series, CLICK HERE.
Filed under America, Faith, politics, The Magnificent Fifty
Memorial Day Sermon (2018)
For those of you who may be interested, I’m attaching a link to a sermon I delivered this morning (Sunday, May 27) in honor of Memorial Day.
Some of you may get triggered by the sight of American Flags, but don’t worry – this is not an uber-nationalistic, overly-patriotic, American-Christianity-like sermon. So chill.
However, this sermon is one about being a faithful soldier in the army of God (not the jihadi kind). Therefore, if military references offend you, consider this a “trigger warning.”
However, I would like to point out that at the beginning of the recording you will hear me play my guitar and sing an original song I wrote about 11 years ago in honor of a fallen soldier from our neighborhood. It’s called “No Greater Love.”
Then, towards the end of the sermon, I’d like for you to take special note of the “Battle Cry” I read. All of us should be able to stand and recite it.
Click On the Picture to Listen
May God bless and keep you this holiday weekend.
God bless those who serve and the families who wait for them.
To all those who’ve fought for our freedom, we salute you.
To those who have fallen, we will remember.
Filed under America, Christianity, music, Preaching
Memorial Day: A SEAL’s Comments
“Memorial Day is a time to honor the lives of those who would rather die than take a knee when our national anthem is played. But they will fight and die for the rights of those who kneel.”
Robert J. O’Neill (U.S. Navy SEAL, Retired)
Click HERE to read the original opinion piece, “SEAL who shot bin Laden: Don’t wish me a happy Memorial Day”
Filed under America
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundation of Faith (North Carolina)
Raleigh, North Carolina (Artist: Susan Cassidy Wilhoit)
Constitution Preamble (1868)
We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those blessings.
Man, that has to just get under the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s skin, like a rash that won’t go away.
To read the introduction to and purpose of this series, CLICK HERE.
Filed under America, Faith, politics, The Magnificent Fifty
Pick-n-Grin Commercial
Below is a video I just made. I made it in order to invite people over to the front porch of our parsonage (the place where the pastor of a church lives – that’s me).
I’d love for it to become a reoccurring event.
So, if you are in the Chattanooga, TN area next Friday, June 1st, come on by – and bring your geetar!
Addressing iWorries With iPraise
First of all, I have no photos to upload and post. If you want to call and talk about it, forget it.
Secondly, I am looking at a computer screen with 1 1/2 times the letters I’m actually typing.
Thirdly, the weeds are still there.
Fourth, I’m an emotional bag of nerves.
Will this be an inspirational post? I don’t know. It all depends. If you have a wonderful life where nothing out of control stresses you out, then you may think to yourself, “Man, I’m glad I’m not that guy.”
On the other hand, you may be in Zimbabwe and might think to yourself, “I wish my problems were as few as his.”
Nevertheless, here’s my story.
iProblems
Last night I went to bed and was going to set my alarm on my phone. When I plugged it into the charger, the charger port was broke. How/when did that happen??! I have no clue, but that has to be fixed…today!
I had photos I was going to upload for a post, but now I dare not turn on my phone and run down what charge I still have. Should there be an emergency, I will need to make a call. But now my wife can’t get ahold of me, and that’s a big problem – as you will see in just a second.
iBlind
And if the phone problem wasn’t enough, my glasses broke yesterday. I mean, I literally took them off my face and the dang things just fell apart! We’re not talking a loose screw, or anything – the frame broke!
If you want to know why that’s a big issue, let me just tell you the brand name of the frame: Silhouette. Another expensive fix.
iNearly Cursed
Before my glasses fell apart in my hands, something else decided to up and die – the new lawn trimmer.
Look, I don’t have to mow the lawn surrounding our church, the fellowship hall, and the house we live in; someone else does that. However, that someone is a little bit older and has difficulty getting on and off his riding mower, not to mention trimming the grass around three structures and parking lots. So, in order to help out, while at the same time give me the satisfaction of doing something outside, I broke down and purchased a new trimmer.
Keep in mind, I might be 5+ months past shoulder surgery, but pulling the crank on a lawn trimmer is still not easy. So, after about 50 pulls I almost let loose a string of profanities, but I didn’t. Well… maybe a word or two.
iMiss’em
Then, on top of all that, my wife and youngest daughter just drove around the corner and out of sight as they are on their way out of town for 3 days. They are going to a conference in Knoxville, TN.
What’s wrong with that? Well, I absolutely hate it when my wife leaves town, especially with one of the girls. Why? Because they are out there somewhere and I can’t protect them. I’m also pretty clueless when my wife isn’t around to manage things.
It’s sorta kind of crazy, I guess. It’s no big deal for me when I leave town for something, but when my wife leaves town I can’t even sleep at night.
iPraise
So, as I was writing down all my first-world problems, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a scripture passage – literally, it came to mind as I stepped away to let the dog out to pee:
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
No, that doesn’t mean I should be thankful my glasses, iPhone, and weedeater broke. But what it does mean is that I should be thankful that even in the middle of all this brokenness, Christ has a plan for me. Yes, even when things like these break.
I must remind myself that God ordains my footsteps, and it might just be that He needs my witness at a repair shop or return counter. If a broken iPhone allows me to talk about Jesus, wouldn’t that be great?
Then, right after I thought of the above verse from 1 Thessalonians, another verse came to mind:
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 CSB
No, I can’t always be there to watch over my wife and daughters, but God is there. They are in His hand. He can watch over them far better than I can.
If I keep that in mind I might just get some sleep.
Filed under Faith, Relationships and Family, Struggles and Trials, worship
The Recovering Legalist 