Street theater is the man playing the saxophone between the skyscrapers in downtown Houston. It’s children tap dancing in the French Quarter with bottle caps nailed to their sneakers. It’s breakdancers turning Bourbon Street into a stage, spinning on their heads to the accompaniment of kids drumming on overturned 5-gallon buckets. There are buskers singingContinue reading “Street Theater.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
Don’t Try Anything—People Know You!
In 1995 I was sent to teach at the brand-new Austin High School. The state-of-the-art school had dry-erase “whiteboards” instead of chalkboards, computers in every classroom, and an abundance of windows and open spaces. Even students said it was a great facility. The library had a computer behind the desk for teacher use only. TheContinue reading “Don’t Try Anything—People Know You!”
What Will They Write on Your Tombstone?
MLK’s epitaph says “Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God Almighty, I’m Free at Last.” Frank Sinatra’s says “The Best is Yet to Come.” (Not “I Did it My Way.”) Mel Blanc’s says “That’s All Folks.” Merv Griffin’s says “I Will NOT Be Right Back After This Message.” Rodney Dangerfield’s says “There Goes theContinue reading “What Will They Write on Your Tombstone?”
Crime Doesn’t Pay.
More specifically, SIN does not pay. Do not be deceived by appearances. God is watching and He will address it. After all, He says, “vengeance is Mine. I will repay” Romans 12:19. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” Galatians 6:7. Consider the many punishmentsContinue reading “Crime Doesn’t Pay.”
“He Died to No One’s Regret.”
Most epitaphs say something nice, like “Loving Father and Husband,” or “Forever in Our Hearts,” or even “Sixth Generation Texan.” But the life of King Jehoram was summed up as: “HE DIED TO NO ONE’S REGRET” 2 Chronicles 21:20. Imagine that on a tombstone! What happened? King Asa, great-grandson of King Solomon, followed the Lord. Continue reading ““He Died to No One’s Regret.””
The Invisible.
When you feel outnumbered, do you remember that GOD IS FOR YOU? Do you encourage yourself with that? No matter how many betray you, desert you, or attack you—GOD IS FOR YOU. When Elisha angered an enemy king, the king sent an army to the town of Dothan to capture the prophet. The next morningContinue reading “The Invisible.”
Big Dreams and Big Sacrifices.
What is your big dream? It can be anything—a good marriage, a great career, a talent, a warm family. What are you willing to give up to achieve your dream? Are you willing to make sacrifices? And do you EXPECT to make sacrifices? Would it disappoint you if you did not? Naaman had a bigContinue reading “Big Dreams and Big Sacrifices.”
Leadership, Cannibalism, Supply and Demand.
It’s easy to pray about your home and family—the little world around you. But God controls EVERYTHING. When the world is suffering, God can fix it. The burden of leadership weighed heavily on the king of Israel when Samaria was under siege. His people were starving. “As the king was passing by on the cityContinue reading “Leadership, Cannibalism, Supply and Demand.”
Five Points From History.
Never forget the historical context of the Bible. For example, did you know Jews were history’s first MONOTHEISTS? Before Abraham, the world believed in many gods, worshipping the sun, moon, stars, and idols. The Jews were actually called “atheists” because they rejected every ‘god’ but their own. Second–a related point—these monotheists were the first toContinue reading “Five Points From History.”
What’s So Bad About Idol Worship?
What’s so bad about idol worship? Some idols are believed to be inspired by demons, thus idol worship is demon worship. And idol worship involved “temple prostitutes” of both sexes. When babies were born to them, the girls joined their mothers as sex slaves, and the boys were killed. Idolatry also involved child sacrifice. WhenContinue reading “What’s So Bad About Idol Worship?”
Household Words: 