While listening to a talk in church this morning, I was reminded of the parable of the sheep and the Good Shepherd. The parable used sheep to represent those who believe in and follow Christ or the Good Shepherd. There is no question that Christ was (is) a Good Shepherd and there are those who,…
Tag: Church
On Repetition
Repetition is one of the most common methods of learning. We have all heard the admonition to keep saying it until you know it by heart or keep doing it until you can do it without thinking about it. As a young man I was a bricklayer by trade, when I first stood on the…
On The Fear of Christianity, But Not of Judgement
Adult people who were not raised in a church or those who were raised with a church background but who, later, left their church and belief system, have a difficult time coming back. The reason for this is the fear of being ridiculed or shamed by friends who feel religion is a weakness or even…
On Setting Boundaries
We seldom think of how important a person is who cleans the building after the rest of us have gone home for the night. People come in and go out of our lives like two ships passing in the night. We see and may even blow our huge foghorns (wave) at one another but that…
On Big and Little Things
A man of God had a particular mission to perform. The Lord told him just what he must do, and just what he must refrain from doing. He could not go wrong if he followed instructions. The tragedy is that he strictly carried out the most difficult part, and failed in the easiest part of…
On Indifference
Napoleon was involved in a conversation with a colonel of a Hungarian battalion who had been taken prisoner in Italy. The colonel mentioned he had fought in the army of Maria Theresa. “You must have a few years under your belt!” exclaimed Napoleon. “I’m sure I’ve lived sixty or seventy years,” replied the colonel. “You…
On Forgiveness
Genuine repentance pleads with the Lord to forgive and deliver from the burden of sin and the fear of judgment. The publican who, fearful of even looking toward heaven, smote his breast and cried, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). Repentance is more than changing a person’s behavior because it requires that…
On Drugs
I reluctantly watch the news most evenings knowing there are bound to be some reports of a drug bust somewhere and/or a medical report of some young/older person dying of an overdose. For an old man that has never had a drug problem other than smoking when I was in my teens. That was bad…
On Taking The Best
Most people, most of the time, follow the rules and behave civilly, primarily because of religion or at least the precepts taught by the various religions that have pervaded most all societies historically. Religion and moral teachings are critical to the working of any society. Even if that religion is non-Christian. Most citizens follow rules…
On Perspective
It is said that people who look through keyholes are apt to think that most views they have are shaped like keyholes. Their perspective has been shaped by the object they were seeing through. I remember some years back a very common term was, “Birds of a Feather,” referring to people who have many of…