All Generations
I'm trying. I really am. I'm trying to enjoy my teenage son's musical tastes. Steve's preferred style of worship music is different from what I would choose, but our goal is the same. Even though our two generations have different musical preferences at home and in church, we both share the goal of using music to praise the Lord.
How Are You Today?
Wilfred Yoder is one of the most enthusiastic Christians I know, even though he has suffered with the pain of arthritis for many years. When people greet him and inquire, "How are you today?" he cheerfully answers, "Just fine!"
Sharing The Wealth
One of the most popular TV programs in the US is Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? But the amount of money to be won is a mere pittance when compared with the amount suggested by the title of another contest: "I Wanna Be A Gazillionaire Geek." Since 1989, the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has offered a prize to students who team up to create the best plan for starting a business. And what's the incentive? Public welfare? Community service? Alleviating poverty? No, the goal is to make money simply to be rich.
From Servant To Savior
Some Bible scholars believe that Philippians 2:6-11 may have been part of an early Christian hymn. Believers praised the Son of God because He "made Himself of no reputation" (v.7) and chose to put aside His own rights and privileges to become a man. Not just any man, but a lowly servant. As a man, Jesus gave Himself to be murdered as a criminal on a Roman execution rack. How high He was, and how low He came!
Growing Old With God
Our senior years can be viewed as a pleasantly useless era when we qualify for retirement benefits, senior discounts, and have a lot of free time to do nothing. Or we can see them as a time of great opportunity to be used for God. There's so much left to do.
Our Heavenly Father
In a moment of exasperation, a father told me that if his son continued in his rebellious ways he was going to disinherit him and try to forget him. But I knew that father well. Although he was angry, hurt, and disappointed, I was sure he would never quit loving his son and longing for his conversion.
Losing To Win
While James E. Rogan was a US Representative from a district in California, he was faced with a crucial decision. He had been elected by the slimmest of margins in an area that usually voted for the other party. An extremely important public issue with immense moral implications was being considered. If he followed his conscience, it would cost him re-election. If he followed political expediency, he could be certain of another term.
Kind Criticism
Dave and his wife Sue were asked about the delicate art of constructive criticism. Sue said, "I think Christ's example in John 1:14 is helpful. That verse describes Jesus as being 'full of grace and truth.' I see a mother with her child. If the child has a dirty face, the mother doesn't scold her for having a dirty face. She does the loving thing. She gets out the washcloth, and as she is gently applying soap and water she may say, 'My, what a dirty face you have! Tell me how you got your face so dirty.' But all the time she is washing her child's face. If I'm going to be honest with Dave, I need to be sure that I'm acting in loving, gracious ways—in a sense, getting out the washcloth—even while I'm talking about the dirt."
Young Teachers
Children seem to be more comfortable using computers than their parents are. Because of this, a manufacturer trying to increase sales to adults advertised a certain computer with the slogan: "So easy, even an adult can operate it!" (And if they still have problems, they can ask their children.)
