HAND-MADE VS HEAVEN-MADE
Posted on May 9
When something is hand-made, it usually has more value. It indicates creativity and craftsmanship. Hand-made is an asset in temporal terms, but a liability in eternal terms. Paul said, “When this earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (II Corinthians 5: 1) On August 13,1995, there were some notably different approaches to life and death. The Panama City paper carried the stories of... more »
Posted in Excerpts From Books
Down – But Not Out
Posted on September 25
It was the greatest in NFL history! It occurred in 1993. I watched it and had a hard time believing it. At halftime the announcers had already given the game to Houston and were interviewing the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, asking him how he would play Houston in the next round of the playoffs. Thirty-two points behind – the game was over. Frank Reich, quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, had a different idea. Back... more »
Posted in Excerpts From Books
Encouragement
Posted on September 4
Otto Graham was quarterback for the Cleveland Browns when they played the Rams for the championship in 1950. Graham recalls, “We were one point behind, moving down the field in the last two minutes. All we needed was a field goal to win. I ran a quarterback draw and picked up about ten yards. I was blindsided and fumbled, and it was recovered by the Rams.” Graham couldn’t forget that turnover. The Browns were close... more »
Posted in Excerpts From Books
Little Things
Posted on August 24
Late one Saturday a few years ago I returned to Montgomery from North Carolina. It had been a busy week with speaking twice a day to 700 Y.M. C. A. high school students, and commuting about 100 miles round trip to Lake Junaluska twice a day to preach at the Candler Camp Meeting. After that 7-hour drive home on Saturday, I walked into the house and the house was hot! I checked the thermostat on... more »
Posted in Excerpts From Books
Building Up or Breaking Down
Posted on July 23
When I was Pastor at Frazer during one of the construction projects, a big 40 ton crane was moved onto the church property. It had an 80 foot boom on it stretching up to the sky. It was to be used to put the second story beams in place for the new building. I don’t know where the crane was used before it was brought to Frazer, but when it arrived it had those large... more »
Posted in Excerpts From Books
Hand-Made vs Heaven-Made
Posted on May 4
When something is hand-made, it usually has more value. It indicates creativity and craftsmanship. Hand-made is an asset in temporal terms, but a liability in eternal terms. Paul said, “When this earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (II Corinthians 5: 1) On August 13,1995, there were some notably different approaches to life and death. The Panama City paper carried the stories of... more »
Posted in Excerpts From Books
Investments
Posted on April 27
(I wrote the following article 11 years ago. It was relevant then, but far more relevant today!! It can be found on page 110 of my book Extra Effort.)How can you really invest for the future? Are there any guarantees? Most folks have a mindset that the economic system of America is a place you can put your faith. That has been shaken somewhat by what has happened in the stock market and in the... more »
Posted in Excerpts From Books
Spread The Word
Posted on April 20
When is peanut butter not peanut butter? The Federal Government answered that question recently when the Food and Drug Administration said peanut butter had to be at least 90% peanuts and must meet certain nutritional requirements. Products which don’t meet that standard will have to have new names. At this time, on a voluntary basis, manufacturers can sell peanut products similar to peanut butter with any amount of peanuts, but they will have to be... more »
Posted in Excerpts From Books
Oops! What Happened To Easter?
Posted on April 8
A good Baptist pastor friend shared with me a terrible omission made by the Southern Baptist Convention’s 1996-1997 calendar of activities. It failed to designate March 30, 1997, as Easter Sunday! The calendar is actually a 16-month September-December long-range planning calendar used by church leaders and produced by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee. It was simply an omission. Ernest Mosely, the Convention Executive Vice President, said, “The omission does not represent official action of... more »
Posted in Excerpts From Books
How To Deal With Death
Posted on April 7
About 1500 funeral directors attended the Death Care World Expo 99. Much of it had to do with introducing new concepts for funerals as demanded by baby boomers. People were told that boomers are opting for shorter, less costly services, eulogies with poems and personal memories, and even post funeral parties. Some want to be buried with their pets. Many are choosing environmentally friendly options such as plain pine boxes or leaning toward cremation. Celestis... more »
