Her scream pierced the silence, shattering the tranquility of the house. In one motion Suzie and I dropped everything and began running toward the source of the scream. Parents can tell the difference in their children’s cries. Some can be ignored, some cannot. Some convey minor problems and some cries embody real urgency. This scream was laden with genuine fear, and there was no time to lose.

Racing up the stairs, we could hear her screaming at the top of her voice, “There’s a beast in the tub! There’s a beast in the tub!” We burst into the bathroom, and there, terrified, was our daughter, standing dripping wet on the bathmat. Her little body was shaking and she was looking into the water as she cried in palpable horror. Read the rest of this entry »

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

Speaking right and doing right bring rewards. The world may no longer exalt virtue, but this true proverb gives wonderful advice. If you use your mouth for kind, spiritual, and wise words, God and men will reward you with satisfying honors. And both God and men will also surely compensate you for works of charity, godliness, and truth.

The only speech that brings good and satisfying rewards is pure and wise speech, which the proverb implies. If you use your mouth for folly, lies, or boasting, it will bring trouble (Prov 10:6,14,31; 12:18; 13:3; 18:6-7,21; 20:17). The same is true of actions - things done with your hands. Only noble deeds bring good rewards (Prov 6:17; 10:4; 26:6; Is 3:10-11). Read the rest of this entry »

And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Read the rest of this entry »

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.   Genesis 2:15 [JPS]

God gives good gifts. He gives us friends, companions, brothers and sisters to share intimacy in relationship with us. He gives natural family, community, church family and social environments for us to enjoy. Good gifts, every one. He also gives us spouses/lovers with whom to enjoy romance, intimacy, companionship, friendship and children to help bring fulfillment to our lives. All good stuff! Read the rest of this entry »

I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. [Philippians 4:11b]

The passages which deal with attitudes and mental disposition are myriad. Picking one to present as the linchpin for this article wasn’t an easy task. “All the days of the miserable are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” [Proverbs 15;15b] and a personal favorite: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” [Philippians 4:8,9] Read the rest of this entry »

    There is an image in my head this morning which arises from the memories of Israel when we went there time before last. I was standing on a hillside looking across a small ravine to an adjacent hillside. It was rocky and there was some greenery because of the spring rains. Almost as if woven there, pathways like narrow ruts crisscrossed the hillside. Each distinctly visible and each obviously with its own destination. They appeared random, but I doubted that they were because each one was well traveled. Read the rest of this entry »

In Bottom Line Personal, July 15th issue, I read an article “Why Your Not-To-Do List Is More Important Then Your To-Do List” by Gary Bencivenga. I immediately tore the article out in order to give it to one of my “disorganized” friends. But as I reread it before passing it along, I got one of those smacks on the forehead, “Hey, let’s take a look at its application for me before I eagerly try to “fix” another. So, following are his/my thoughts….. Read the rest of this entry »

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her.  She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up.

 She was tired of fighting and struggling.  It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen.  She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.  Soon the pots came to boil.  In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.  She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. Read the rest of this entry »

A habit is the ordinary course of conduct; general tendency; disposition; and established customs. Words found in the Thesaurus include addiction, bent, fixation, frame of mind, inclination, manner, second nature, routine. Read the rest of this entry »

“I coulda been a contender.”

“I coulda been somebody.”

If we demand the right to hold the outcome we’d wished for as the standard of comparison for the outcomes in which our present realities consist, we commit robbery. Read the rest of this entry »