It’s about Relationships

The realization had occurred to me many times before, but this year there was a greater significance.  The Thanksgiving holiday stressed the importance of our family expressing gratefulness to the Lord for His many blessings; and as I observed the eighty-plus members of my extended family gather for a reunion, I was struck with the…

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Living in a Make-Believe World

The cheers of the packed stadium echoed in his ears as he watched the ball sail over the centerfield wall and into the upper deck.  The thrill of rounding third base and seeing his teammates lined up to give him high fives as he crossed home plate was absolutely incredible.  As the television cameras focused…

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From Generation to Generation

A few short weeks ago I found myself behind the steering wheel of a 26-foot diesel truck with my car in tow as we motored north on I-35 through the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota.  Many thoughts were flooding my mind as I considered the purpose of our trip: to move my…

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Gullies of Erosion

My father built a new house during the summer when I was ten years old.  We lived in a small town surrounded by farms on which a variety of crops and livestock were raised.  There was plenty of sod, but there were no sod farms where a carpet of grass could be purchased to place…

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“I Bet You Can’t Do That, Mom!”

Several years ago one of our younger sons was learning how to ride a bicycle.  On the street in front of our house, our older children were helping him learn the basic maneuvers and techniques for balancing on two wheels.  Making sure to watch for any traffic which might venture into the area, they would…

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If the Foundations Be Destroyed, What Can the Righteous Do?

Years ago when the Empire State Building in New York City was the tallest building in the world, my parents took me to the top of that majestic structure.  We stepped off the elevator on the 86th floor and spent some time looking over the city from the observation deck. As a breeze ruffled our…

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The Unexpected Quality of a Leader

As we think about leadership, what often comes to mind is being “in-charge;” being “followed,” “noticed,” and “looked up to” by others; having “authority;” or being “in-control.” However, there’s a different quality required for us if we’re going to be a true leader. Jesus speaks about this unexpected quality in Matthew 23:11-12, “But he that is…

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“If the Iron Be Blunt …”

…and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.”  Reading this verse in Ecclesiastes 10:10 recently prompted a recall from my memory banks of several instances in the past which God used to emphasize this important lesson to me. Our Boy Scout troop joined…

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When Being a Man Is Not Enough

“Wipe up those tears.” “You can do it.”  “Don’t be a wimp.” “You’re afraid of your own shadow.”  “Stop being a baby.”  “Real men don’t cry.”  “If at first you don’t succeed, another try is what you need.”  “No pain, no gain.”  “Winners never quit and quitters never win.”  “The one who wants it hard enough…

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The Point of No Return

“Come on. It’s only thirty-five feet high. After all, you’ve been to the top of the Empire State Building and you’ve looked over the fruited plains from the top of Pike’s Peak.  You’ve walked on the bridge spanning Royal Gorge and have experienced the thrill of climbing out on the rocks which rest on the…

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