Writing
TWO ROADS BY THE RIVER
What if you lived your entire life believing a lie? Your faith and trust misplaced. What if others were concerned, but kept silent fearing you’d find offense? How would you know? Personalize the passage of scripture below. Let the words penetrate your heart, transcend your traditions, and stir your spirit. You may find the words of Jesus unsettling. I did. I hope you do too. At least for a moment. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will
CHRISTIAN COCKROACHES
When I came to Christ in my early twenties, I lived in a small one-bedroom house. I rarely cooked and didn’t frequent the kitchen much. Wendy, Jack, and Mickey D prepared most of my meals, resulting in the occasional food bag or wrapper lying around. One night, as I flipped on the light, several cockroaches scampered across the kitchen counter, quickly disappearing somewhere in the cabinets and drawers. Though they all ran in different directions, their destination was
CHANGE
The only New Year’s resolution I’ve kept was in 1984. It was the year I “resolved” to no longer make New Year’s resolutions. It’s not that I can’t make them. I can’t keep them. But I admire those who can, albeit from a distance, because that apple rolled far from this tree. There are passages of scriptures in which we can all relate, and unfortunately Romans 7:15-20 is toward the top of my list. “For what I am
HEAVEN
“All you good people can have the streets of gold and jeweled buildings. Give me a vineyard and pasture surrounded by huge Valley Oaks and sycamores. Cattle grazing across the road and a river running by with all my friends and family. Simple meals, cold water to drink, and the ability to sit in the fading evening with all those I love, enjoying the product of my vineyard and garden.” Steve’s idea of heaven is a lot like many
THAT ONE ROOM
The phone rings, “Hey, we were in the neighborhood and thought we’d come over. Be there in 10 minutes.” “Sounds great! See you then.” It’s always nice when friends stop by, but not so nice when they come on short notice. I didn’t inherit the “house cleaning” gene. I doubt one actually exists, but if it does it skipped a generation. Pushing the vacuum cleaner at warp speed, I’d gather the collection of fast food wrappers and empty
CASH ON EXTRACTIONS
One day while waiting to see the Dentist, I saw a small sign that read... “CASH ON ALL EXTRACTIONS” It took me a minute, but then it hit me. If you’ve ever experienced the excruciating pain of a bad toothache, you know in THAT moment you’d pay anything to get relief. I’ve had toothaches hurt so bad I would have given my first born (sorry Sara), and thrown in a puppy. But when the pain is gone, are
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
“but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”