Sermons and Biblical Studies

The Race “Quit!” “Give up, you’re beaten,” they shout and plead there’s just too much against you now, this time you can’t succeed. And as I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face, my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race. And hope refills my weakened will as I … Continue reading “Endurance, cf. faithfulness, perseverance, success”

Quote •      If we are but sure the end is right, we are too apt to gallop over all bounds to compass it; not considering the lawful ends may be very unlawfully attained. – Wm. Penn Source unknown

Prepositions Most of us were taught that a preposition is not a good word with which to end a sentence. A small boy, home sick with a cold, managed to come up with a sentence that ends with five of them in a row: “Mom, what did you bring that book I didn’t want to … Continue reading “Ending”

The Fire The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last, and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave … Continue reading “End of the World”

Resources •      Loving Across Our Differences, by Gerald L. Sittser, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), pp. 140ff •      Leadership IV, 3, 60–1 Nothing Like a Hug When times are tough and things just aren’t going your way, there’s nothing like a hug. Someone putting an arm around you and telling you, “Hey, everything’s going … Continue reading “Encouragement”

Tennis Star Tennis star Boris Becker was at the very top of the tennis world—yet he was on the brink of suicide. He said, “I had won Wimbledon twice before, once as the youngest player. I was rich. I had all the material possessions I needed . It’s the old song of movie stars and … Continue reading “Emptiness”

Ambiguous Victories 1. Business is made up of ambiguous victories and nebulous defeats. Claim them all as victories. 2. Keep track of what you do; someone is sure to ask. 3. Be comfortable around senior managers, or learn to fake it. 4. Never bring your boss a problem without some solution. You are getting paid … Continue reading “Employee, Employer”

President Gerald Ford When former President Gerald Ford visited Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma several years ago, he had breakfast with some student leaders. As one of the students stepped out of an elevator, her heel caught on the carpet and she crashed into Ford. She repeatedly apologized as he helped her to her … Continue reading “Empathy”

Jonathan Edwards In 1746 Jonathan Edwards published a book, The Religious Affections, in which he argued that “true religion must consist very much in the affections,” Edwards saw that one of the chief works of Satan was “…to propagate and establish a persuasion that all affections and sensible emotions of the mind, in things of … Continue reading “Emotion”

Summer Frock When her Majesty Queen Elizabeth visited New Zealand in the 1960s, it was my job as a broadcaster to give the live description of events. My vantage point was on the main street of a small town where the queen was scheduled to pass. I carefully thought through my description of the scene, … Continue reading “Embarrassment”