There is nothing quite like the charm and personal touch conveyed by a handwritten note. Since our penmanship, like our fingerprint, is altogether unique, each curve of the letter or stroke of the pen bears its own originality. There is personality and warmth and, yes, special effort too; for, after all, it’s much more efficient to click on the PC, bang out a few lines on the keyboard, and print it.
Read MoreTag Archives: Colossians
Goods vs. God
While we think we may be immune to the endless litany of television commercials, newspaper ads, our friends’ gadgets and gizmos, the constant admonition to spend, spend, spend, we Christians need to be alert to how Satan tempts us with the temporal. I’ll mention a few ways to avoid the magnetism of the cash register or the credit card.
Read MoreBlind Loyalty Is Not Servanthood
You may remember the story of a young man named Christopher Edwards who became a helpless pawn in the hands of one of the New Age religious groups that first came on the scene in this country back in the 1970s. Edwards was so captivated by this insidious movement that he had to be kidnapped by his own family before there could be any hope of recovery.
Read MoreGardening Season
I really have a way with plants—a knack for turning them brown. So this note isn’t full of tips about tulips, or pointers for primping your petunias. But it is about gardens. As I spend time mulling over the biblical texts of Easter, I’m struck by the contrast between two garden trials. The first, through […]
Read MoreIsaac’s Apple
Have you ever come across this puzzle? It’s known as Isaac’s Apple. The aim is to break the apple into all its pieces and reassemble again. The final piece is the central ‘core’. Once it’s inserted into the middle, it locks all the other pieces into position; completing the apple. If you like puzzles, this […]
Read MoreTruth with Tenderness
There’s a song by Paul Simon with a line that is worth noting. Now I don’t consider “Rhymin’ Simon” to be one of the great theologians of our time, but in this instance at least he stumbled into a trustworthy saying: you don’t have to lie to me, just give me some tenderness beneath your […]
Read MorePrayer – Letting Your Compass Rest
Did you know that a compass needle is just a little magnet that aligns itself with the much larger magnetic field of the earth? What’s more, you can confuse and distract a compass needle by bringing another magnet near. The distracting pull of something like a fridge magnet drags the compass needle off its true […]
Read MoreTips for Teaching Kids Truth
1. Tap into Transparency. Modeling Christian truth for your kids doesn’t just mean going to church, reading your Bible, and letting them see all your spiritual bright spots. Allow them to see the dimmer points in your past and present. Without disturbing them with unnecessary detail, be honest about the struggles you’ve endured. Relate to […]
Read MoreFinding a Middle Way through the Midway
With excitement in her eyes, Sarah kissed her parents goodbye. John and Judy’s decision to let their sixteen-year-old daughter attend the girls’ summer art camp wasn’t difficult. They had heard great things about the program and believed it was an excellent opportunity. Then John and Judy learned the famous art camp was a magnet for […]
Read MoreA Pinch of Salt
I am told that there is a common expression in the Middle-East: “there is salt between us.” It has to do with lasting loyalty in a relationship. It’s a saying that probably derives from the idea that salt has been shared at meals in which negotiations have been held and settlements reached. The symbolism of […]
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