An Even Greater Expectation
In 1861 Charles Dickens wrote and published Great Expectations. The title in itself is attention-getting when you understand the meaning of expectations to be “a strong belief that something will happen” or “a belief that someone will or should achieve something.” To add Great to the title only makes it more enticing to read. According to an internet source, “the moral theme of Great Expectations is quite simple: affection, loyalty, and conscience are more important than social...
Read MoreWisdom: Free for the Asking
Over this past year the world has been swamped with scientific and medical expertise, all shared with authoritative self-confidence and impeccable wisdom. But I can’t help wondering, Where is the source of such wisdom? I am reminded of a king who was considered the wisest man who ever lived. King Solomon recognized the responsibility before him and asked God for a discerning heart to govern God’s people and to distinguish between right and wrong. It goes without saying that God’s reply...
Read MoreWorth Noting, But…
With all that is happening in our world these days, there are times when I find it hard to focus on something positive and uplifting. I often battle a feeling of helplessness that borders on frustration and anger, conscious of the Depression Monster looming in the shadows. I question authoritative decisions that have a direct influence on my life, and I wonder how long our world—my world—will continue on this course. Not to support the old adage, “misery loves company,” but I don’t...
Read MoreYou Shall Call His Name Jesus
For decades…no, for centuries, words have been written and sung in an effort to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas: O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, to name just three. We sing such carols and worship with a heart that is, once again, reminded of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. But sometimes I can’t help wondering, Are we successful in remembering or are we so distracted by the interruptions of the world around us and the problems we face that we...
Read MoreThe Quietness of the Moment
We have a wall clock that my mother gave us in the early 1970s. It is unassuming and has no great value. It’s simply a wall clock that tick-tocks and chimes every half hour on the hour. It has never failed to keep time, but unlike we humans—who tend to slow down as the calendar flips from month to month—the clock picks up speed and by the end of the month, when it needs to be rewound, it has gained ten minutes! For some, a chiming clock may be on the edge of annoying, but having grown...
Read MoreThere’s Worship and then There’s WORSHIP!
The author of a devotional entitled The Worship of God suggests that the word worship has taken on a new meaning: worshipping in song. This is evident in our modern churches where worship teams, choirs, or individuals lead in congregational singing. To support this, the author of Psalm 100 encourages us to “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” (v.v. 1-2). It is quite clear that worshipping God through song not...
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