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Demands and Desires
We’re told one constant in our lives is change: change in knowledge, change in styles, change in circumstances. This week a new and improved iPhone hit the market and we witnessed long lines waiting to capture this latest tech device. At the same time near Wall Street a park bulged with angry protesters demanding change, some change, almost any change.
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Love Over The Long Haul
A recent conference at The Cove in Ashville, North Carolina deeply impacted my husband and me. On the final evening Cliff Barrows, our worship leader for the conference, was joined by his longtime colleagues in ministry, George Beverly Shea and Billy Graham.
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Living Legacy
This week I received news of a friends “graduation” to heaven after the recurrence of an aggressive cancer. At times like this we often reflect not only on the brevity of this life but on the legacy we leave.
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Guaranteed returns for your 401k
In today’s economic chaos, with the stock market swinging wildly, grocery prices rising and stubborn unemployment over 9%, jobs and future economic well being are threatened. Many 401ks are shrinking and future dependence on the economy looks futile.
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Hurt or Harm
In the chaos of our world today I sometimes get confused. In the face of difficult and painful circumstances I struggle to respond rather than react. I believe one point of confusion surfaces in almost any challenging event. What do I do when my present reality is painful. Have I made a mistake? Is this indeed some “strange thing” that is happening to me? Do I focus on pain relief alone?
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The Power of Unity
Saturday we attended the “The Response” rally in Houston. Our Texas Governor, Rick Perry, invited every governor to join him to call on God on behalf of our country at this time of crisis.
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Mental Spam?
This morning I cleaned up my computer, checking all the emails caught in my “spam” filter. So much junk slows down normal operations. As I trashed hundreds of uninvited emails , it struck me that my thoughts and mind would do well to have an automatic spam filter as well.
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Transforming a Tongue
Ask most people which of the 12 disciples elicits a knowing smile and I believe the majority would cite Peter. We read of this developing disciple leaving his fishing business to follow Jesus all the way to his failure and restoration on the beach in John 21. He is lovable, loyal and bumbling and almost always too quick to speak.
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Fighting or Forbearing
In our 21st century culture it seems in every situation someone must be blamed. Someone has to “take the fall” so others can feel vindicated. Talking (read shouting) heads on television argue about who is to blame, and no one seems interested in listening to anyone else.
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Let’s Pretend….
I learned a new phrase this week, one I expect to use frequently. A friend related a personal experience as we enjoyed lunch together. She shared how someone made this remark to her with a smile, “Let’s pretend for a moment that God is in control of the world. How might this affect your thinking?”