13 March 2011
James 1: 27
Mar/18/11
Clear mandates guide our behavior. James 1: 27 states that people of faith demonstrate that by caring for orphans and widows. We get that. But implementing the mandate is not so easy. Since our average age is about 55 for every ‘vintage’ widow responsible just for herself, there is a younger one with dependent children. I prayed with a beautiful young widow last Sunday. Her income from her new full time job is not enough to support herself and three children and pay the mortgage. Her home is on the market. Nobody’s bidding.
Life gets complicated. Churches have limited resources as well. While I don’t have a concrete solution, I do know that providing a group where we meet, pray, and share each other’s burdens helps.
Podcast
Life gets complicated. Churches have limited resources as well. While I don’t have a concrete solution, I do know that providing a group where we meet, pray, and share each other’s burdens helps.
Podcast
The power of one
Mar/17/11
The power of one. Officials slapped a vegetable stand vendor in Tunisia and took his freedom to sell. He’d had enough. Dousing himself with fuel, he lit himself on fire and ignited protestors for freedom from Tunisia, to Egypt, to Jordan, to Yemen and beyond.
Like the shot heard round the world, this was the flame felt round the world. Deep in the souls of repressed peoples, they took courage to stand up, speak back, and even strike back. What will the outcome be? We don’t know.
We do know God is no respecter of persons. No one is greater, more equal, more deserving of wealth, respect, or this earth’s resources. We do know that the capability of human cruelty is limitless. We know that only peace with God will bring peace on earth.
Podcast
Like the shot heard round the world, this was the flame felt round the world. Deep in the souls of repressed peoples, they took courage to stand up, speak back, and even strike back. What will the outcome be? We don’t know.
We do know God is no respecter of persons. No one is greater, more equal, more deserving of wealth, respect, or this earth’s resources. We do know that the capability of human cruelty is limitless. We know that only peace with God will bring peace on earth.
Podcast
Legacy
Mar/16/11
After your last breath on this earth, what will people remember? An exercise guru who died at age 97 left a legacy of towing 70 boats from the Los Angeles harbor to a cruise ship 1.5 miles away--while he was handcuffed. He swam from Alcatraz, the island prison, to San Francisco. And then did it again in handcuffs towing a 1000 pound boat.
Exercising our bodies is profitable but temporary. Spiritual exercise more so. Reading and praying are important disciplines. They’re tested through service and sacrifice. Thats when the handcuffs of disappointment go on, the sacrifice of fatigue sets in. The intensity of our spiritual life is on full display.
This physical shell eventually dies in spite of exercise. Our spiritual investment prepares us for heaven. And onlookers see what’s worth living for.
Podcast
Exercising our bodies is profitable but temporary. Spiritual exercise more so. Reading and praying are important disciplines. They’re tested through service and sacrifice. Thats when the handcuffs of disappointment go on, the sacrifice of fatigue sets in. The intensity of our spiritual life is on full display.
This physical shell eventually dies in spite of exercise. Our spiritual investment prepares us for heaven. And onlookers see what’s worth living for.
Podcast
Communication
Mar/15/11
Surprising statistic: Couples spend less than 5 minutes a day in uninterrupted conversation. In happy relationships, couples have focused conversation 20--30 minutes. Given this statistic, many marriages are stagnating at best or in trouble. Its a fixable problem. We’re in charge of our time. 24 hours is a generous chunk. Is your marriage more important than the newspaper? an extra hour at work? interaction with children? shopping? Of course, it is. Start by noticing, keeping track, scheduling time, if need be.
Walk and talk, sip coffee or tea and talk. Watch a sunset and talk. No Iphone in hand. Focus, no multitasking.
Take this widow’s advice, you’ll not regret the hours you invest in each other. Besides making memories, you’ll preserve your marriage. Just keep talking.
Podcast
Walk and talk, sip coffee or tea and talk. Watch a sunset and talk. No Iphone in hand. Focus, no multitasking.
Take this widow’s advice, you’ll not regret the hours you invest in each other. Besides making memories, you’ll preserve your marriage. Just keep talking.
Podcast
Parking space drama
Mar/14/11
Parking spaces are a boring tiny piece of real estate owned by nobody. Right? Not if you’re a Chicago city dweller in snow time. Home owners and renters shovel out their little square. But before leaving that space they place dibs on it by parking lawn chairs, old baby cribs, dilapidated bookcases, any thing unsightly will do. Attractive? Don’t leave it there. The weather will destroy it. It might be damaged by a snow plow.
This accepted Chicago tradition is being challenged. An organization opposes it, but I think they’ll loose. Tradition prevails here. Thankfully saving parking spaces will be unnecessary in heaven. Our bodies will move anywhere without cars, planes, and trains. And all neighbors will not just get along. If there’s snow there, we’ll be volunteering to help each other.
Podcast
This accepted Chicago tradition is being challenged. An organization opposes it, but I think they’ll loose. Tradition prevails here. Thankfully saving parking spaces will be unnecessary in heaven. Our bodies will move anywhere without cars, planes, and trains. And all neighbors will not just get along. If there’s snow there, we’ll be volunteering to help each other.
Podcast