There was a fourth-grade student named Tommy, whose mother gave him a box of cupcakes to take to his classmates at school. Unfortunately, Tommy had injured his leg and was on crutches. His mother asked Tommy’s older brother, a sixth grader, to carry the cupcakes for Tommy. The brother said, “I’d rather not.” His mother…
America’s independence from Great Britain was essentially secured 242 years ago today. On October 19, 1781, Britain’s Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia. The Revolutionary War would soon come to an end. Did you notice that date – 1781? That is five years after the birth of the United States…
Left-handed people have it tough. Making up just ten percent of the population, they live in a hostile world. We raise our right hands in court, drive on the right side of the road, and read from left to right. Everyone wants to be right; no one wants to be left. Lefties are more prone…
There are more varieties of trees in North Carolina than in any other state in America. During three months of fall, over five million people pump a billion dollars of income into the state as they come to experience the kaleidoscope of color in the trees. And then it happened. On August 27, 2011, Hurricane…
“If God would do _____, I would do ______.” I hear that a lot. We barter with God. “If he would bring me blessings, I would trust him more.” “If he would reduce my urges to act out, I’d stay sober.” That’s all backwards. The fact is, if you will stay sober, you will find…
After Michelangelo died, a piece of paper was found in his studio, on which the old master had scribbled a note to his apprentice. “Draw, Antonio. Draw, Antonio. Draw, and do not waste time.” The great apostle seems to agree with that sentiment. Paul wrote, “Do not waste your time on useless work” (Ephesians 5:11). …
It is my favorite Old Testament passage on addiction. When the families of Abraham and Lot had become too numerous for them all to stay together, Abraham gave Lot the first shot at finding a new place where his people could settle. Then we read this troubling verse: “Lot lived among the cities of the…
I’m going to say something I don’t think I ever said as a pastor. Quit serving God and start seeking God! If we were honest, most of us would define ourselves as human doings, rather than human beings. The first thing we ask a new friend is, “What do you do?” We measure our worth…
It is your ultimate opponent – apathy. You are probably familiar with Edmund Burke’s famous line: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing.” I like the way that John Stott said it: “Apathy is the acceptance of the unacceptable.” Nothing turns the stomach of God…
Before Augustine traveled from Milan to Rome, he shared a problem with Ambrose. As a young priest, Augustine wanted to know what he should do about celebrating the Sabbath. Rome celebrated the Lord’s Day on Sunday, while Milan celebrated on Saturday. The discrepancy confused Augustine and caused him to take up the matter with Ambrose.…