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 →
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 →
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 →
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16] “Chucky the Ducky” All the pretty ducklings were so excited about the big beauty pageant that was going to be held down by the lake. Oh, how they preened their feathers and tried on different flowers and new ways to waddle that they thought would give them the edge to win the … Continue reading →
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. [Exodus 20:12] “Daddy the Superhero” Brandon and Sean loved superheroes. They loved Superman and Batman and the Fantastic Four and dozens and dozens more. Their rooms were overflowing with action figures and comic books of all of the most amazing super heroes in the imaginary world and they knew their names and their stories to the tiniest little … Continue reading →
