Pastor's Blog (Page 44)

I remember the day I asked my dad if I could buy a used dirt bike—a Suzuki 80 that one of the other kids was selling. I was ten. My palms were sweating profusely as I came into the living room—I desperately wanted a Yes from him, but I didn’t think it was going to happen. I was so nervous I forgot my carefully crafted speech and just blurted out, “Dad, can I buy a…

Caps and gowns, tassles and cords, Pomp and Circumstance, diplomas and speeches… graduation is a big deal, isn’t it? As it should be! Graduation trumpets a fine accomplishment with appropriate honor and celebration. But the really big deal about graduation is what’s ahead. Thus the day’s more formal title. Commencement marks a new chapter with all sorts of fresh…

Seems like stress is turning up everywhere. There’s life-change stress, heart stress… now there’s even bank stress! What is stress? Stress is the strain that occurs whenever the demands exceed the available resources. Most of us don’t need a test to figure out we’re stressed. All we need is one look at the stack of bills on the table. It’s right there next to the…

Every so often we see a doomsday headline that predicts we’re on a collision course with a massive asteroid or some other space object. There’s one heading our way that may hit in April, 2029. Will that be the big one? Maybe. It’s just a matter of time—“the world will face an extinction-level impact at some point… but we don’t know when.” 1 Before you start…

Have you heard all the ruckus from last Sunday’s Miss USA pageant? Leading finalist, Carrie Prejean (Miss California ), was asked a question by judge Perez Hilton: “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?” Carrie’s answer: “I think it’s great that Americans are…

The Maersk Alabama brought the growing scourge of high seas piracy up close and personal. Did you follow the story? Here’s a recap: Very early Wednesday: Four armed pirates board the Alabama in the Indian Ocean & attempt to take over. A distress call goes out. Captain Richard Phillips is held at gunpoint. The crew disable the ship, capture one pirate, and hide in the…