There’s plenty of things to discourage us. There’s always someone or something that will bring you down. But there are even more things to encourage you and lift you up. Example: Watch the news and you will think “what in the world is going on with our nation?” But, hear me out…we still live […]
Sometimes we think that the struggles and anxiety caused by our own mistakes and sin are not God’s concern. I can assure you that is not the case. When we turn to God in repentance, He will bear the weight of those struggles. Don’t submit to the circumstances, but to the Lord who controls […]
In Paul’s era of religious controversies, it wasn’t music that was controversial in the church, it was whether Gentiles should be circumcised like their Christ following Jewish brothers! What was Paul’s response to this issue? “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6) Paul, like Jesus, didn’t want rules […]
One of John Wooden’s famous quotes was, “Be quick, but don’t be in a hurry.” Jesus’ half brother, James had a somewhat similar thought 2,000 years ago: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” James 1:19 NIV http://bible.com/111/jas.1.19.niv
Bear Bryant carries this poem in his wallet for many years: “This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life […]
It’s easy for me to trust God while “looking in the rear view mirror” of my life. He is faithful. But when I’m faced with a devastating circumstance or if I’m in a dark place, it takes much more faith and strength. It’s then I must intentionally decide to trust Him, even if I’m […]
A former MLB Chaplain, Walt Wiley, taught me something about baseball a few years ago. He asked me, “what is the major role of a lead off hitter?” My answers, “get on base.” No. “See a lot of pitches, get the pitch count up, relay info to the rest of the lineup as to […]
10 years ago today Flight 5191 crashed shortly after takeoff here in Lexington. Two of the 49 who died in that crash was one of my former players, Jon Hooker, and his bride of less than 12 hrs, Scarlet Parsley Hooker. Jon loved his family, loved baseball, loved being a Wildcat and loved his […]
Many times we don’t serve God because we feel unclean before him or we feel our gifts and abilities aren’t as good as someone else’s. First of all, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) As for […]
God doesn’t forget you, abandon you or let go of you. Not even when you have a bad day, forget to pray or think you are too busy to read your Bible. He wants to hear from us, just like we want to hear our children’s deepest thoughts. He want us to have good […]