January 7
He said his name is Bill Young and he was looking for work and needed some money for breakfast.I handed him a couple of dollars and mentioned softly that he might have a better chance of getting a job if he didn't have alcohol on his breath.
I asked him if he knew Jesus. He took a small Bible from his sack. He turned to Luke 16-19.
"You read it," he demands, handing me his Bible. It is about the rich man and poor Lazarus eating crumbs.
“ The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham." I stopped. "Read the next line," he urges. “The rich man also died, was buried and went to hell and was suffering terribly."
I stood convicted of my arrogance and smugness.
"Judge not that you be not judged. (Matthew 7:1)
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Why I Quit Smoking
January 6
At age 14 I started smoking. I felt dizzy and was sick to my stomach but I continued to smoke.
When I was 30 the Government warned tobacco could be harmful to your health. I continued to smoke. My dad finally quit when his doctor said he had emphysema. I continued to smoke. After some chest pains, I switched to a pipe and decaffeinated coffee. I continued to smoke.
One night my son Rob, then seven, asked, " Dad can you get heart disease from smoking a pipe?" I hadn't heeded the other warnings, but when God sent my son, I heard the message. I quit! For good.
Come to think of it, God sent His only son with an important message for all of us. Hear him!
“I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John12:47)
At age 14 I started smoking. I felt dizzy and was sick to my stomach but I continued to smoke.
When I was 30 the Government warned tobacco could be harmful to your health. I continued to smoke. My dad finally quit when his doctor said he had emphysema. I continued to smoke. After some chest pains, I switched to a pipe and decaffeinated coffee. I continued to smoke.
One night my son Rob, then seven, asked, " Dad can you get heart disease from smoking a pipe?" I hadn't heeded the other warnings, but when God sent my son, I heard the message. I quit! For good.
Come to think of it, God sent His only son with an important message for all of us. Hear him!
“I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John12:47)
Latch Key Kids
January 5
This year my granddaughters became latch key children. Their mother joins their dad in the work force to make ends meet. A grandson is in day care.
The worry side of me goes wild thinking of what could happen during those few hours after school. Movies like "Home Alone" just add fuel to the what ifs? Their parents say, “The girls are eleven and twelve and they know what to do.”
Then I hear, “Remember when you were eleven?” The world was at war and my Mom went to work to "help win the peace." After school I returned to an empty house.
I WAS A LATCHKEY CHILD.
"Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
This year my granddaughters became latch key children. Their mother joins their dad in the work force to make ends meet. A grandson is in day care.
The worry side of me goes wild thinking of what could happen during those few hours after school. Movies like "Home Alone" just add fuel to the what ifs? Their parents say, “The girls are eleven and twelve and they know what to do.”
Then I hear, “Remember when you were eleven?” The world was at war and my Mom went to work to "help win the peace." After school I returned to an empty house.
I WAS A LATCHKEY CHILD.
"Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
Vantage Point
January 4
It is a full moon and a pleasant night to walk around the neighborhood. I muse how the ancients viewed this same moon, fearing it and even worshiping it.
John Glenn, the first American to orbit our planet and have a moon’s-eye- view of earth, takes another trip 36 years later. Now 77, Glenn catches the world’s attention on his "flag lap" around our earth. Walter Cronkite is back to report the event and the Australians light up their country for Glenn, as they did in 1962.
From space Glenn says, " Looking at the Earth from this vantage point, looking at this kind of creation and to not believe in God, to me, is impossible."
Right on.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)
It is a full moon and a pleasant night to walk around the neighborhood. I muse how the ancients viewed this same moon, fearing it and even worshiping it.
John Glenn, the first American to orbit our planet and have a moon’s-eye- view of earth, takes another trip 36 years later. Now 77, Glenn catches the world’s attention on his "flag lap" around our earth. Walter Cronkite is back to report the event and the Australians light up their country for Glenn, as they did in 1962.
From space Glenn says, " Looking at the Earth from this vantage point, looking at this kind of creation and to not believe in God, to me, is impossible."
Right on.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Leaving Home
January 3
On a walk around my neighborhood, I notice a small boy pulling a little red wagon with a suitcase in it down a driveway. As I near the house a man comes out, looks in the direction of the boy.
"Leaving home are we," I ask? The man nods.
That boy is testing his boundaries but what he really wants to know is that his parents still love him.
As a child of God, I have walked away from my heavenly Father. Like that little boy, I didn’t get far and I desperately wanted to know that God still loves me.
God tells us all the time that He loves us. We just have to pay attention and listen.
"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His faithful love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1 NLT)
On a walk around my neighborhood, I notice a small boy pulling a little red wagon with a suitcase in it down a driveway. As I near the house a man comes out, looks in the direction of the boy.
"Leaving home are we," I ask? The man nods.
That boy is testing his boundaries but what he really wants to know is that his parents still love him.
As a child of God, I have walked away from my heavenly Father. Like that little boy, I didn’t get far and I desperately wanted to know that God still loves me.
God tells us all the time that He loves us. We just have to pay attention and listen.
"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His faithful love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1 NLT)
Airport Delay
January 2
My flight from Hartford to Sarasota is canceled.
I call Joy and she says "Look around and see who you can help. Go do the Lord's work."
As we end the call, I spot a man in a wheelchair looking at his ticket. I wheel him to the next gate. The agent redoes his ticket and turns to me.
"Oh I'm not on his flight," I tell him, “I ‘m going to Florida but my flight to Charlotte was canceled."
"I can get you to Tampa. Will that help?"
Tampa is only an hour away. My wife drives to Tampa International and we have dinner together afteall. It is amazing what happens when you help someone else.
" Lord when did I see you a stranger and take you in? Surely I say to you when you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it to Me." (Matthew 25:38-40
My flight from Hartford to Sarasota is canceled.
I call Joy and she says "Look around and see who you can help. Go do the Lord's work."
As we end the call, I spot a man in a wheelchair looking at his ticket. I wheel him to the next gate. The agent redoes his ticket and turns to me.
"Oh I'm not on his flight," I tell him, “I ‘m going to Florida but my flight to Charlotte was canceled."
"I can get you to Tampa. Will that help?"
Tampa is only an hour away. My wife drives to Tampa International and we have dinner together afteall. It is amazing what happens when you help someone else.
" Lord when did I see you a stranger and take you in? Surely I say to you when you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it to Me." (Matthew 25:38-40
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Years Day
January 1
It isn’t a typical start to a New Year.
My wife Joy wants to let God orchestrate this New Year. At Christmas Joy asks that we give Jesus something on His birthday. We soon realize that means giving something of ourselves. Lord, I pray give me the opportunity to share this idea with others.
The day after Christmas the associate pastor of our church calls saying,” I was praying for someone to talk on resolutions at our New Years service and how they differ once you become a believer…and your name kept coming to mind.”
What a way to begin a year, in His will.
“In all your ways acknowledge Him. And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
It isn’t a typical start to a New Year.
My wife Joy wants to let God orchestrate this New Year. At Christmas Joy asks that we give Jesus something on His birthday. We soon realize that means giving something of ourselves. Lord, I pray give me the opportunity to share this idea with others.
The day after Christmas the associate pastor of our church calls saying,” I was praying for someone to talk on resolutions at our New Years service and how they differ once you become a believer…and your name kept coming to mind.”
What a way to begin a year, in His will.
“In all your ways acknowledge Him. And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
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