This is an invitation. Should you find this invitation desirable or even compelling, you might respond with a comment. We live in a culture where more and more people are openly crude, insulting, belittling, and demeaning. Perhaps we could use an invitation to be gracious. As Fred Craddock one said, “The final act of… Continue reading An Invitation to be Gracious
Category: Grace
Five Lies You Shouldn’t Ever Believe
Many of us listen to lies that we really shouldn’t ever believe. The following are five examples. 1. You are not worth very much. This message may have had its beginning with a harsh father or an overpowering uncle. Years ago in Kansas City, I heard a father next door scream at his five-year-old. He… Continue reading Five Lies You Shouldn’t Ever Believe
What I Heard When I Began to Listen
I will not forget these stories. I was a young minister. I began preaching for a small church in North Alabama. In this community there were many, many churches. I was grateful for the opportunity to serve in this congregation. I preached each week. I taught Bible classes. I began to meet with people… Continue reading What I Heard When I Began to Listen
Do You Ever Wish You Could Have a Do-Over?
Do you ever wish you could have a do-over? As a teenager, I used to play golf frequently at Tenison Golf Course in Dallas. One of the first times I ever played, I hit a terrible drive off the tee. Someone said, “Take a mulligan.” I learned that “mulligan” was just another word for… Continue reading Do You Ever Wish You Could Have a Do-Over?
Are You Comfortable With This Person?
When someone refers to another as “unpretentious” it is often quite a compliment. Such a statement is not typically made with cool detachment but with great pleasure. After all, unpretentious people are not only people we like but are often people who cause us to feel good when we are with them. Meanwhile, we may… Continue reading Are You Comfortable With This Person?
When You Fail to Show Respect
Respect. I suppose it may not a word that immediately gets your attention. Perhaps it doesn’t have much buzz or flair. Yet the importance of showing another respect is huge. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. A young husband is condescending to his wife, making her feel as if she is less intelligent… Continue reading When You Fail to Show Respect
Tom Long – Sticks and Stones
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1movUP1cZRU[/youtube] It is amazing what men and women will say to one another when they are frustrated, angry, outraged, or are simply wanting things to go their way. Tom Long, Bandy Professor of Preaching at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, explores the power of words to hurt or to heal.
When Perfection Becomes an Obstacle
David Seamands, a longtime Christian counselor, told of a young woman whose mom always demanded perfection. She was never good enough for mom’s praise. When she was 6 or 7 she had a piano recital. She had worked hard and practiced and practiced. On the day of the recital she performed her piece flawlessly. Her… Continue reading When Perfection Becomes an Obstacle
What the Joy and Pain of Child Rearing Finally Taught Me
If you want some insight into the heart of God, have a child. There is nothing like receiving the sweet love of a child, no matter the age. Yet, the reverse is also true. There is sometimes no pain like what you can receive at the hand of a child. For several years, when I… Continue reading What the Joy and Pain of Child Rearing Finally Taught Me
Being Judgmental Doesn’t Have to Take So Long
It was October 1995. I had been in Bethesda, Maryland, at a seminar for almost a week. Finally, it was time to go home. Late that afternoon, I flew out of Baltimore and changed planes in Chicago. After landing in Chicago, I boarded a connecting flight to Austin. As I sat in my seat waiting… Continue reading Being Judgmental Doesn’t Have to Take So Long