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From Daniel’s Den…

LOVE NEVER FAILS

     Eighteen-year-old D.J. was a contestant on a recent episode of American Idol. The sixth of ten children, D.J. shared how the negative, critical, and condemning manner with which her mom had treated her and her siblings made them believe and feel that they were worthless. She also reported how her mother’s abrupt departure from the family left everyone confused yet somewhat relieved.

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LOVING DIFFICULT PEOPLE

     Elbert was my friend. When I first met Elbert, he was 93 years old and his wife of 68 years had died a few weeks earlier as a result of a tragic incident involving a fire in their home. As Elbert’s pastor, I had several opportunities to deliver food to him or otherwise check on him at his home. Elbert was always ready to visit and I was the beneficiary of his unsolicited wit and wisdom that he shared free of charge.

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WHEN GOD LOVES…

     As Valentine’s Day was approaching a few years ago, my wife saw a recent college graduate – a young man who was also a newlywed – at a store carrying a handful of yet-to-be-arranged long stem roses. She told him “Good choice!” Valentine’s Day is a day well-promoted as a time to celebrate one’s love for spouse or other special people with gifts such as flowers, chocolates, and cards issuing an invitation to “Be my Valentine!”


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LOVE LIFTED ME

      I am not too familiar with quicksand. I have never encountered quicksand and I prefer to keep things that way. Granted, I have been stuck in what some folks refer to as “gumbo” mud which sucked my boots right off my feet upon my exit from the situation but quicksand is entirely different. My perspective on quicksand is limited primarily to movies that portray a character that stepped in the wrong spot, became caught and began sinking.

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GETTING DOWN TO PRAY

     As a young teenager, I attended Mississippi Baptist Youth Night at the Mississippi Coliseum on an occasion when Ken Medema was the guest musician. Medema is a blind pianist and songwriter whose influence on Christian music cannot be overstated!

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WHY PRAY?

     A member of the legal community approached me several years ago seeking assistance in addressing the topic of prayer with a friend. Apparently, the friend was questioning the necessity and value of praying inasmuch as God is aware of all of the details surrounding any situation or circumstance about which a person might pray.

Read more...

FAITHFUL PRAYING

 
      In the midst of our Convention-wide “Covering Mississippi in Prayer” focus several years ago, I was asked to facilitate a break-out session entitled “Faithful Praying” for a statewide Senior Adult retreat sponsored by the MBCB Discipleship and Family Ministry Department. My assignment led me to ask “What is faithful praying?” “Can faithful praying be identified, defined, or measured and, if so, how should faithful praying be understood?”

Read more...

ENCOURAGEMENT 101

     Arriving at her car with a cart full of groceries several months ago, my wife noticed a sticky note on the windshield. The words written on the note were, “If you ever feel like no one is proud of you…I’M PROUD of you gorgeous.” Upon arriving home, she thanked me for writing such a sweet and encouraging note.

Read more...

HINDSIGHT 2020: A YEAR IN REVIEW

     What a year 2020 has been! To borrow from President Roosevelt, 2020 is a year that “will live in infamy!” A common theme over the past several months has been “Enough already” as many people want to erase the past twelve months and embrace a new year. Speaking in golfing terms, a friend of mine declared “I want a mulligan for 2020.” In anticipation of the Daylight Saving Time coming to an end several weeks ago and “falling back” into Standard Time, a humorous comment posted on social media offered, “I’m not setting my clock back because who wants to spend another hour in 2020?”

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THE MAJESTY OF CHRISTMAS

     While our society often admires strands of twinkling lights adorning a house or tree, the majesty of Christmas is about a life-giving light that shines in the darkness (John 1:4-5) for a world filled with people walking in darkness (Isaiah 9:2a).

Read more...

LOVE NEVER FAILS

     Eighteen-year-old D.J. was a contestant on a recent episode of American Idol. The sixth of ten children, D.J. shared how the negative, critical, and condemning manner with which her mom had treated her and her siblings made them believe and feel that they were worthless. She also reported how her mother’s abrupt departure from the family left everyone confused yet somewhat relieved.

Read more...

LOVING DIFFICULT PEOPLE

     Elbert was my friend. When I first met Elbert, he was 93 years old and his wife of 68 years had died a few weeks earlier as a result of a tragic incident involving a fire in their home. As Elbert’s pastor, I had several opportunities to deliver food to him or otherwise check on him at his home. Elbert was always ready to visit and I was the beneficiary of his unsolicited wit and wisdom that he shared free of charge.

Read more...

WHEN GOD LOVES…

     As Valentine’s Day was approaching a few years ago, my wife saw a recent college graduate – a young man who was also a newlywed – at a store carrying a handful of yet-to-be-arranged long stem roses. She told him “Good choice!” Valentine’s Day is a day well-promoted as a time to celebrate one’s love for spouse or other special people with gifts such as flowers, chocolates, and cards issuing an invitation to “Be my Valentine!”


Read more...

LOVE LIFTED ME

      I am not too familiar with quicksand. I have never encountered quicksand and I prefer to keep things that way. Granted, I have been stuck in what some folks refer to as “gumbo” mud which sucked my boots right off my feet upon my exit from the situation but quicksand is entirely different. My perspective on quicksand is limited primarily to movies that portray a character that stepped in the wrong spot, became caught and began sinking.

Read more...

GETTING DOWN TO PRAY

     As a young teenager, I attended Mississippi Baptist Youth Night at the Mississippi Coliseum on an occasion when Ken Medema was the guest musician. Medema is a blind pianist and songwriter whose influence on Christian music cannot be overstated!

Read more...

WHY PRAY?

     A member of the legal community approached me several years ago seeking assistance in addressing the topic of prayer with a friend. Apparently, the friend was questioning the necessity and value of praying inasmuch as God is aware of all of the details surrounding any situation or circumstance about which a person might pray.

Read more...

FAITHFUL PRAYING

 
      In the midst of our Convention-wide “Covering Mississippi in Prayer” focus several years ago, I was asked to facilitate a break-out session entitled “Faithful Praying” for a statewide Senior Adult retreat sponsored by the MBCB Discipleship and Family Ministry Department. My assignment led me to ask “What is faithful praying?” “Can faithful praying be identified, defined, or measured and, if so, how should faithful praying be understood?”

Read more...

ENCOURAGEMENT 101

     Arriving at her car with a cart full of groceries several months ago, my wife noticed a sticky note on the windshield. The words written on the note were, “If you ever feel like no one is proud of you…I’M PROUD of you gorgeous.” Upon arriving home, she thanked me for writing such a sweet and encouraging note.

Read more...

HINDSIGHT 2020: A YEAR IN REVIEW

     What a year 2020 has been! To borrow from President Roosevelt, 2020 is a year that “will live in infamy!” A common theme over the past several months has been “Enough already” as many people want to erase the past twelve months and embrace a new year. Speaking in golfing terms, a friend of mine declared “I want a mulligan for 2020.” In anticipation of the Daylight Saving Time coming to an end several weeks ago and “falling back” into Standard Time, a humorous comment posted on social media offered, “I’m not setting my clock back because who wants to spend another hour in 2020?”

Read more...

THE MAJESTY OF CHRISTMAS

     While our society often admires strands of twinkling lights adorning a house or tree, the majesty of Christmas is about a life-giving light that shines in the darkness (John 1:4-5) for a world filled with people walking in darkness (Isaiah 9:2a).

Read more...