Hot Babe

Betty White

Betty White

Is there anybody on the planet who is hotter now than Betty White? The 91-year-old television icon is more in demand now than she ever has been in her lengthy and illustrious career. If you had told her back in the 1970s that she would still be this busy in her 90s, I think she probably would have laughed.

Many people think that their most productive years will come in their 30s, 40s or 50s. Obviously, that is not always the case. Some people have the capacity and the opportunity to be fruitful well into their senior years.

May we all be so fortunate!

“The righteous will flourish…They will still bear fruit in old age…”—Psalm 92:12-15.

 

Posted in Christian Living, Culture, Leadership | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Time to Splurge

Pie Mascot

I just read that today (3.14) is National Pi Day. So I decided to celebrate by…eating pie!

Did you really think that I was going to say, “Doing math”?!

The Bible warns against gluttony. It also encourages us to make wise choices about our daily food consumption. It even teaches us that it is appropriate to fast on occasion.

However, sometimes the Bible exhorts us to splurge and enjoy a special meal. There are a lot of Scriptures that speak favorably about celebrating special occasions with feasting.

“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”—Nehemiah 8:10.

So, forks up everybody! Here’s to National Pi Day!

Posted in Christian Living, Current Events, Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrating the Victory

storming the court

There have been a lot of upsets in college basketball this season, and with those jubilant victories come the court-storming celebrations, as the fans of the home team stream onto the court to rejoice in the victory.

Some coaches are concerned for the safety of the visiting players during these court-stormings. While not wanting to put a damper on the celebrations, they wonder if we can’t be more focused on getting the players and coaches safely off the floor.

It will seem like an upset to most people when Jesus returns and gives his followers the final victory. When he does, there will be a celebration like none of us have ever seen!

And no innocent people will be injured. The only ones who will get hurt will be the enemies of Christ!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—1 Corinthians 15:57.

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deserving Our Help

Gary Hank Thompson

Gary Hank Thompson

Gary Hank Thompson, 30, has done pretty well financially by begging for money in Lexington, Kentucky. Thompson recently admitted that he makes $60,000 to $100,000 a year from the kindness of strangers.

Thompson has pleaded guilty to two counts of theft by deception because he has pretended to be mentally handicapped. His ruse has left many people feeling deceived after they learned that he was not really mentally disabled.

It’s sometimes difficult to know when to give help to someone who seems to be in need.

On the one hand, the Bible seems to say that we should be discerning about our giving. Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it (emphasis mine), when it is in your power to act.”

On the other hand, we don’t always have the time or ability to properly assess someone’s need. For example, when the Good Samaritan helped the man he found beaten and half dead, it doesn’t appear that he checked out the man’s credentials—he just helped him (Luke 10).

I suppose if we err, we should err on the side of mercy. But let’s try to give help to those who truly need it.

Posted in Christian Living | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finest Dining

noma_restaurant

Sixty-three diners became very ill after eating last month at Noma, a Copenhagen restaurant known for its fine dining. These dinner guests experienced diarrhea and vomiting. Some staff members also reported being sick.

Noma was named the world’s best restaurant by Restaurant magazine for the past three years.

It seems that even the best the world has to offer cannot be completely trusted to satisfy our needs.

Jesus says, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life…” (John 6:27).

“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”—John 6:35.

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations, Current Events | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Didn’t Earn It

Fred Butler

Fred Butler

Fred Butler dropped out of school in order to support his mother and five younger siblings. Therefore, he never earned a high school diploma, and that always bothered him.

Butler went on to accomplish a lot in life. He served in WWII, he was married for 65 years, raised five children and worked for years for the water department, but he always felt that something was missing because he had not graduated from high school.

He has his diploma now. At the age of 106, Fred Butler was awarded his honorary diploma recently. School officials, state lawmakers and the mayor were among the attendees at the emotion-filled ceremony.

Fred Butler’s only concern was that he had not earned it.

Many Christians feel ill at ease about their standing with God. They hope that they are saved, but their concern is that they didn’t earn it.

Grace is difficult for us to understand. Perhaps that’s why the theme is addressed so often in the Bible. God wants us to know that we don’t have to earn our salvation. In fact, it is impossible for us to do so. We are saved by our faith in Jesus.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”—Ephesians 1:8-9.

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations, Current Events | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Special Deals

rationalizing

Someone recently said that most people oppose abortion except for three types of circumstances:  rape, incest and “my situation”.

It’s true that we humans have an incredible ability to rationalize our behavior no matter how wrong our actions may be. Even Christians fall into this bizarre pattern of trying to convince ourselves that we are right, even when we are obviously very wrong.

“Speed limits are for people who can’t drive as well as I can.”

“I know that living together outside of marriage is almost always wrong, but I know that above all else, God wants me to be happy.”

“We understand what the Bible says about homosexual behavior, but our daughter has found the nicest partner.”

“I’m not at all like those other people who cheat on their taxes.”

These and other lies that people tell themselves might help them get to sleep at night, but the facts remain the same—sin is sin. God did not cut a special deal just for you.

“If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”—1 John 1:10.

Posted in Christian Living, Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brand New You

Dick Vitale

Dick Vitale

Not long ago, I watched a men’s college basketball game on ESPN Classic. It was a 1983 ACC tournament semi-final between North Carolina State and North Carolina.

There were several elements of the re-broadcast that interested me. I noticed that the uniforms have changed since then, with the shorts becoming longer. It was also nice to see N.C. State coach Jim Valvano in his prime and Michael Jordan before he became legendary.

However, in my opinion the most intriguing aspect of the game was the performance of announcer Dick Vitale. He actually sounded like a normal human being! This was before he had adopted his over-the-top style of calling basketball games.

Evidently, Dickie V. at some point made the decision to make some major changes in his delivery, becoming much more exuberant and excitable. The rest, as they say, is history.  His chosen style has helped him become one of the most recognized sports broadcasters on the planet.

Not everyone needs such a complete makeover. Some do, however.

Just ask Saul of Tarsus.

Posted in Christian Living, Leadership, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cured

Scientists announced yesterday that a baby who was born with the AIDS virus has apparently been cured. The Mississippi child, who is now 2-and-a-half years old, has been off medication for about a year with no signs of infection.

Doctors used aggressive treatments on the child, beginning within 30 hours of birth. The strong medicine seems to have cured the toddler. If so, this is only the second reported cure of AIDS in the world. The news gives hope that the disease, which was once seen as a death sentence, can someday be defeated.

The sin that infects all of mankind leads to spiritual death. Thank God there is a cure! His name is Jesus!

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”—1 John 2:2.

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations, Current Events, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We Remember

Alice Gray shares the following story.

Her husband died suddenly in an accident and she was left to raise her two sons alone. At first she was surrounded by compassionate and caring friends. They brought meals, sent cards, made phone calls, prayed. And then the weeks turned into months, and it seemed like all the world had forgotten. She longed to hear her husband’s name mentioned in conversation, she longed to talk about the wide stride of his walk, the warmth of his easy laugh, and how his hand had felt so strong in hers. She wanted the neighbors to come and borrow his tools or have a grown man shoot basketballs with her sons.

It was early on the morning of the first anniversary of his death. The dew was still wet on the grass as she walked across the cemetery lawn. And then she saw it, laying next to his gravestone. Someone had been there even before her and left a small bouquet of fresh cut flowers, tied with a ribbon. A gentle caring act that reached out to her lonely heart like a tender hug. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she read the unsigned note. The three words said simply, “I remember, too.”

People tend to forget that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for their sins. When we participate in communion, we are saying, “We remember, too.”

“…Do this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.

Posted in Christian Living, Communion Meditations | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment