Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. [1 Peter 2:13-14] “A Raven Named Marvin” “Hannah, come outside.” Hannah’s best friend Betty called up to her. Hannah slipped downstairs. “What is it? It’s the middle of the night.” Hannah said shivering a bit from the cool night … Continue reading →
The following speech, delivered by Beth Chapman during a “Stand Up for America Rally” hosted by the Shelby County Alabama Legislative Delegation, resulted in five standing ovations… I’m here tonight because men and women of the United States military have given their lives for my freedom. I am not here tonight because Sheryl Crowe, Rosie O’Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me. If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie … Continue reading →
In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. [Ephesians 4:26-27] “Dorothy and the Dolphin” “Oh yeah, well you are the stupidest sister in the world!” Angelo yelled at his sister Dorothy so loud his voice began to crack. “I am not stupid, Angelo!” Dorothy shouted back her face red with anger. “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.” And she … Continue reading →
You shall not steal. [Exodus 20:19] “Is it Sin if You Didn’t Know?” Susan and Janie and Heather loved to go to the mall. If they had a little money to spend, that was extra fun but even if they didn’t they loved to just look at things and get treats at the food court and meet friends from school and church and just be kids for a while. Susan’s mother felt sure the mall was safe because the girls … Continue reading →
Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. [Mark 16:15] “The Window in Time” Belinda liked doing chores with her mom during the summer. Because she was out of school, there was lots of time to learn to cook, clean, mend clothes, all the things she will need to know when she becomes an adult and has a family and house of her own. This week mommy announced they were going to go in the … Continue reading →
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but … Continue reading →
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? [1 John 3:17] “Baby Polar Bears” The one thing Pudgy and the older baby polar bears he played with loved to do is explore. Sometimes their moms and dads let them go out in a pack and explore the many coves and hills that made up their beautiful polar world. They made sure to … Continue reading →
Today, we too rarely practice good manners… When we neglect to require our children to say “thank you’ when someone gives them a gift or does something for them, we are raising ungrateful children who are highly unlikely to be happy. Without gratitude, happiness is a rare thing. With gratitude, the odds go up dramatically that happiness will be the result. A classic example of the validity of gratitude in action is the story of Roy Rogers. After he starred … Continue reading →
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. [Hebrews 11:17-19] “Abe and Zack” Note: The following is a modern rendition of when God commanded Abraham to … Continue reading →
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And … Continue reading →
