We can’t go on togetherWith suspicious minds (with suspicious minds)And we can’t build our dreamsOn suspicious minds–“Suspicious Minds,” written and recorded by Mark James (made famous by Elvis Presley). Following the death of Charlie Kirk, some of Kirk’s fans immediately began to “question the narrative.” Having watched the video, they insisted Kirk was shot notContinue reading “Suspicious Minds. 1 Chronicles 19.”
Category Archives: wisdom
Respect Your Elders. 2 Chronicles 10:7.
The Bible contains a few things so vulgar you may never hear them in a sermon. This is one of them. And yes, I have misgivings writing about it. After Solomon’s son Rehoboam became king, the people of Israel came to him complaining Solomon had worked them too hard. They had built the temple, theContinue reading “Respect Your Elders. 2 Chronicles 10:7.”
The Inauguration and the Wisdom of Solomon: 2 Chronicles 1:8-10.
One of my friends from law school founded a politically oriented non-profit and was invited to attend the inauguration this week. He took his three teenaged children and his mother and even the kids seemed to understand that this was the trip of a lifetime. I have followed his posts on Facebook, and Jonathan, wearingContinue reading “The Inauguration and the Wisdom of Solomon: 2 Chronicles 1:8-10.”
MAMA TALKS ABOUT DEATH. Ecclesiastes 7:1-4.
My mother has always spoken quite casually of her own death. When I was about 12 she said, “I don’t care what you do with my body. When I die, you can just put me in the trash can and drag me out to the curb.” Honestly, I have always found her attitude bold, courageous,Continue reading “MAMA TALKS ABOUT DEATH. Ecclesiastes 7:1-4.”
ECCLESIASTES IS MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE BIBLE. Do You Have a Favorite?
What is your favorite book of the Bible? Have you thought about it? Have you read enough of the Bible to have a favorite? If not, why not? What are you waiting for? It only takes a few minutes a day. The first time I read Ecclesiastes, I had just spent the hardest year ofContinue reading “ECCLESIASTES IS MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE BIBLE. Do You Have a Favorite?”
ECCLESIASTES Part 2: THE KEY TO GODLY ADULTHOOD IS TO RECOGNIZE HARD TRUTHS, BUT CHOOSE JOY AND SERVE GOD.
After the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 4:31) encourages adults to face hard truths and take life seriously, he adds the unexpected, “now lighten up.” It is as though Solomon says: Work hard, do what’s right, remember one day you will face judgment—and HAVE FUN! While living wisely, choose joy! The truth is,Continue reading “ECCLESIASTES Part 2: THE KEY TO GODLY ADULTHOOD IS TO RECOGNIZE HARD TRUTHS, BUT CHOOSE JOY AND SERVE GOD.”
ECCLESIASTES Part 1: A MESSAGE FOR ADULTS—WORK HARD, GO TO FUNERALS, BE SERIOUS.
Ecclesiastes is misunderstood because a few influential preachers have described it as cynical words from Solomon during a period in his life when he was not following God. However, Solomon encourages readers to worship and obey God nearly twenty times in twelve chapters. A better understanding is that this is a book for ADULTS. EcclesiastesContinue reading “ECCLESIASTES Part 1: A MESSAGE FOR ADULTS—WORK HARD, GO TO FUNERALS, BE SERIOUS.”
WISDOM. Hebrews 4:12-13.
The year 2020 was a year of searing pain. I talked to a friend at work during the summer of 2021 about the year of 2020, and about politics, riots, COVID, vaccines, and suffering. If you measured the greatest amount of pain distributed to the greatest number of people, the pain of 2020 must haveContinue reading “WISDOM. Hebrews 4:12-13.”
WHY IS THE BIBLE FILLED WITH RICHES? Esther 1:4; Luke 11:31.
People are poor. Many struggle to feed their children. Yet the Bible—a story about God’s compassion for the least of these—is filled with tales of the greatest among us. We meet Egypt’s pharaohs. Then God’s kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. Solomon builds a temple covered in gold. The nation splits. Nineteen of history’s richest menContinue reading “WHY IS THE BIBLE FILLED WITH RICHES? Esther 1:4; Luke 11:31.”
“Let’s kill all the lawyers.”
Who are our heroes? Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and Nolan Ryan? Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk? Celebrity actors or “influencers”? Political and military leaders? Let’s ask the question another way. Who is most critical to the survival of our society? We do not depend on entertainers for survival. Rich businessmen are only slightlyContinue reading ““Let’s kill all the lawyers.””
Household Words: 