FAMILY

Sunday, April 30, 2006

Seventy-one years ago I was born in the little town of Fletcher, Oklahoma. My family consisted of mother, father, four brothers and two sisters. When I was born my father was in a mental institution and remained there over the years until his death. Today, my mother and all my brothers and sisters are gone.

This afternoon my phone rang. On the other end was a dear brother in Christ. He was calling to share some good news. He is one of the elders at a church where I preached for almost twenty years. He was calling to tell me they had just hired a new preacher. They have been looking for a preacher for several months and knew that Charlotte and I were praying for them.

We haven’t lived in their city or been a part of that church for over sixteen years. But we still have brothers and sisters there and we share in their joy and their sorrow.

“Thanks brother for calling. It’s always a joy to hear your voice.”

It’s good to have family. Very good!

STRATEGERY

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Strategery (struh-Tee-jer-ee) is a word coined by comic Will Ferrell in a Saturday Night Live skit that portrayed George W. Bush as an endearing dimwit. Far from being offended, the president’s men adopted the term as a sort of ironic inside joke.

Bill Sammon, Senior White House correspondent for the Washington Examiner and author of three New York Times bestsellers used the word, Strategery for the title of his latest book. Rush Limbaugh commented, “A most revealing book that captures firsthand Bush’s strategy of honesty, decency, and doing what he says he’s going to do.”

I am thoroughly enjoying reading this splendid book on how George W. Bush is defeating terrorists, outwitting Democrats, and confounding the mainstream media.

Side note: I am convinced that if the President would close the borders to illegal immigrants first (today) and then worry about what to do with those that are here illegally that his favorable rating would shoot sky high.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Friday, April 28, 2006

The Great Physician’s Rx for Health & Wellness is an interesting book. In this book, Jordan Rubin, New York Times best-selling author of The Maker’s Diet gives his seven keys to unlock your health potential.

I don’t have strong opinions about Rubin’s theory that we should eat the food God smiles upon. I do know that I have never given much thought to what God thought about what I was eating when I crammed all that junk food in my mouth. Pork is one of my favorite tastes and junk food is a necessity.

Can you teach “an old dog new tricks”? Sure!

I’m going to give Rubin’s “Eat to live” plan a try. So for 49 days I will eat according to the Maker’s diet and see what happens.

Bon Appetite!

THE COST OF SIN

Thursday, April 27, 2006

My sin doesn’t just affect me, it affects many others.

The sin of an individual reaches out to others in a variety of areas: Families are affected. Sometime businesses, churches and nations are affected by the sin of an individual.

Think about the mess at Duke University that has been brought about by the sins of a few. We are told, “Boys will be boys” as if this somehow makes it right to hire a woman to take off her clothes and dance. If these “men” hadn’t done this it wouldn’t have been so easy to accuse them of rape.

The young lady down in Aruba might not be missing if she had not been out drinking and if she had not left in a car with three young men. Is it a sin to leave in a car with three strange men? No. But is sure is stupid. Is it a sin to drink alcohol? It probably isn’t a sin to drink alcohol but it is a sin to get drunk and lose your ability to reason.

We all sin but we should try not to. We not only have to pay the price of sin ourselves others get caught in the backwash and they are hurt too.

In today’s culture it is not considered polite to tell somebody that what they are doing is wrong. It may not be polite but it may save somebody from terrible consequences. It may save a life. But most of all—it may save a soul!

ATTITUDE

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” William James

Bad news, difficult people, disappointment, are things we all have to deal with.

The tendency is to overreact, blow things out of proportion and end up having a bad day—or maybe even having a bad life.

Richard Carlson, PH.D. has written an excellent book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff in which he talks about simple ways to keep the little things from taking over your life.

He wrote the book in 1997. I only wish he had written it sooner. I needed it. I’m ashamed of the fact that although I have been a student of the Bible for most of my life, I didn’t always have the attitude of Jesus.

I’m making a plea for simpler living. I want to learn to live in the moment and not be stressed out by the little things of life.

H A V E A G O O D D A Y !

LIE DOWN WITH STRIPPERS, WAKE UP WITH PLEAS

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Columnist Ann Coulter wrote an interesting article with the title, “Lie Down with Strippers, Wake up with Pleas.” She said the following:

“You can severely reduce your chances of having a false accusation of rape leveled against you if you don’t hire strange women to come to your house and take their clothes off for money. Also, you can severely reduce your chances of being raped if you do not go to strange men’s houses and take your clothes off for money.”

Appearing on Sean Hannity’s ABC Radio show, Coulter expanded her theory: “If you’re in Aruba, don’t go off in a car with strange men,” referring to the Holloway case. “If you’re in New York and you’re a single woman, you shouldn’t be drinking out alone by yourself,” which is how St.Guillen met her murderer in February. I mean, obviously, these people don’t deserve to die for a mistake,” Coulter explained, “Or be raped for a mistake, or be accused of rape for a mistake. But how about warning people not to make mistakes like this?”

AMEN!

PARKS AND PICNICS

Monday, April 24, 2006

For some strange reason I find myself thinking about picnics today. I don’t know why, because I’m not going on a picnic and don’t even want to.

But I really liked to go on picnics when I was a kid. It seems to me picnics have been crowded out by other things. And some parks have become dangerous. Well, the parks are not dangerous, but the people who go there are. Families have been pushed out by gangs and dirty old men. There are still some nice parks around with nice people in them, but not as many as when I was a kid.

It was exciting to plan a picnic and then get friends and relatives together in the park. Sometime it would be fried chicken, potato salad, etc. and other days it would be sandwiches, chips and soda pop. In my youth we had back yards but not patios. Now, almost everybody has a patio where friends gather for food and fellowship.

I don’t really miss going to the park. It’s just a pleasant memory of days gone by. Things need to change. Change is good. The thing I don’t want to lose is the desire to get together with relatives and friends. And I have to admit there are days, many of them, when I had rather think about getting up from my “easy” chair than actually doing it.

Come to think of it, having a little picnic right in front of the T.V. is not all that bad!

A LAZY SUNDAY

Sunday, April 23, 2006

We rolled out of bed at six this morning, ate a bowl of cereal, showered and shined and then headed off for our Sunday morning enrichment class, Christian Ethics.

Today was Missions Sunday at Scottsdale Bible Church and there were over forty missionaries from all over the world at the three morning assemblies and the two evening services. International evangelist, Luis Palau was the main speaker at the morning services and his son, Andrew spoke at the two evening services.

Charlotte is busy cooking hamburgers right now. Many times I cook them outside on the grill but today I am just too tired. This afternoon I worked extremely hard jumping back and forth between channels 3 and channel 15 watching basketball and baseball. I work the remote control with my right hand and that is also the hand I flip burgers with.

I really do like hamburgers. I like them a lot. I once wrote a blog about the burgers I like in the Phoenix area. I like a lot of them but the ones I like the best are the ones made at home.

Sundays are good!

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN WORSHIP

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Dick Soule writes good stuff. His recent article on Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs got me to thinking about “church music” again.

For many years I preached for and worshipped with the Churches of Christ. We did not use instrumental music in our worship. Our singing was always a cappella. The sad thing is that we believed and taught that those who did worship with instruments were sinning.

For the past sixteen years I have worshipped with instrumental music and do not believe it is wrong. However, I want to say loud and clear that if I was still preaching for a Church of Christ that I would not want to bring instruments into the service and disrupt the tradition. However, I would want to feel free not to condemn those who use instruments in their worship and I would want to allow instruments at weddings and other “special” occasions.

I know of a lady who plays absolutely beautiful piano music that lifts your heart toward God. I am listening to her music right now. She is truly blessed of God to be able to play like this and she did not have any lessons. She just started playing. If a person is gifted of God to learn and play instruments they should use these gifts to his glory.

You will find Dick Soule’s words on Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs very interesting. Why not check it out at http://www.peculiarpress.com/index_main.htm Click on Ekklesia Then and Now.

If you attend the Bible Lectureship at Pepperdine University in Malibu in May you will sing a cappella and the worship will be wonderful. If in June you move on to the North American Christian Convention in Louisville, you will worship with singing and instrumental music and you will feel blessed to be there.

EVERYTHING WE DO SHOULD BE DONE TO THE GLORY OF GOD! EVERYTHING WE DO TO THE GLORY OF GOD IS WORSHIP!

TIME

Friday, April 21, 2006

Once upon a time I knew what I was supposed to be doing almost every minute of every day. From the time I took my first job (after school) until two years ago, when I retired from years of ministry, I knew I was either going to school or working. There was little time for trying to figure out what to do next.

Will Rogers once said, “Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life to save.”

I think Will may have been right.

Solomon wrote, “For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”

I am now asking, “What does God want me to do next?”

How about you? Is He directing your life or are you rushing forward or drifting backward or just sitting idle?

Is that you yelling, “H E L P”?

Go ahead and let it out. He will hear you. He will help you!

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE

Thursday, April 20, 2006

There it was high on the wall in bold, black letters.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…

What I liked most of all, the words, “under God” were not missing!

The Chandler mall is huge, beautiful and has just about anything you would want.

When we walked into the food court one day this week, I did not expect to see the Pledge of Allegiance displayed so prominently on the wall.

I LIKED IT. I LIKED IT A LOT!

I HOPE NOBODY TRIES TO MAKE THEM REMOVE IT!

DIRTY HARRY

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Is Dirty Harry the answer?

I guess not. At least my wife says so. She says that having to face Dirty Harry for any and every crime is just too much.

I’m sure she’s right. She usually is.

But come on……………………………………………….when are we going to get serious, I mean really serious about wrong doing?

We live in a world of total indifference to what is right.

I’m sick and tired of it.

Ok! Ok! I get it! There are a lot of “little” crimes you shouldn’t be shot for.

WHAT REMAINS

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

What Remains
A Memoir of Fate, Friendship & Love is a splendid book written by Carole Radziwill.

My eyes were so filled with tears I had to stop reading. I could barely make out the words---sad words, words that made me cry. It was page 254, next to the last page. The story was almost told and it was breaking my heart.

Carole Radziwill’s story is part fairy tale. She married a prince. He was the nephew of President John F. Kennedy. Her dearest friends were John Kennedy, her husband’s cousin and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

Her dear friends, John and Carolyn die when their small plane plunges into the ocean. Three weeks later her husband dies of cancer.

The night before her husband’s funeral her mother-in-law gives her a small box from Tiffany. Inside was a diamond pendant cross on a thin platinum chain. Her husband, though very ill and dying had bought it for her birthday. “To my Peanut,” it says on the gift card. “Happy Birthday.”

The next day, the day of the funeral, Carolyn’s mother gives her something and says, “She would want you to have this.” It is Carolyn’s amethyst ring, inscribed with her initials in front of Carole Radziwill’s initials and the words, friends forever.

The book ends with words she had written about the beginning: “He was handsome and serious, bent over scripts in a hotel room, and then he stood and reached for my hand.”

STROLLING INTO SUMMER

Monday, April 17, 2006

Spring has sprung. Easter has come and gone. Spring breaks are now memories.

It’s now time to stroll on into summer.

It’s time to put the sweats up on the top shelf and move the shorts and swim suits down.

In May, members of the Churches of Christ from all over the world will assemble on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California for the Bible Lectureship. Charlotte and I have been attending this annual event for almost fifty years. I was the Senior Minister at the Central Church of Christ in Stockton, California for almost twenty years. During that time we took large groups to the lectureship. For several years we filled a complete dorm. We were the only congregation to do that. That was quite an accomplishment and should have received more attention than it did. Having over fifty people to take their vacation time, take off work, leave their children and other responsibilities and attend lectures on the Bible is no small thing. It didn’t just happen. It had to be promoted. Like almost everything worth while, it takes promotion.

In June the Ditmores from all over the country will gather in San Antonio, Texas for a family reunion. This is an annual event but my immediate family has only been able to attend one. We went to the one in Monrovia, California two years ago. These are fun events and I hope all of those who bear your name, whatever it is, will do something similar.

Immediately after the Ditmore reunion in Texas the North American Christian Convention will take place in Louisville, Kentucky. We attended a convention in that same city a few years ago and it was wonderful. It was of special interest to my family because that is where my mother and father were from. We enjoyed visiting distant relatives and wandering through cemeteries.

Yes, summer is coming but it is not here yet. It’s too cool to jump into the pool and too early to start packing for trips in May and June.

Maybe I’ll just take a nap!

RESURRECTION

Sunday, April 16, 2006

The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Resurrection is not just a word for today----Easter.

Resurrection is what gives meaning to life.

Hopefully even after today is over, we will continue to meditate, think, read and study about Christ, the cross and resurrection.

Let me suggest to you:

THE RESURRECTION OF THE SON OF GOD by N.T. Wright
Richard N. Ostling, Associated Press calls this, “The most monumental defense of the Easter heritage in decades…The Resurrection of the Son of God marches through a clearly organized case that confronts every major doubt about Easter, ancient and modern.”

THE MESSAGE OF THE RESURRECTION by Paul Beasley-Murray

ONCE UPON A TREE by Calvin Miller

THE CROSS OF CHRIST by John R.W. Stott

Resurrection is what I am thinking about today. I hope I will be thinking about it every day until this time next year when we say once again,” The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!”

“He is risen indeed!”

GRACE

Saturday, April 15, 2006

It seems to me, you can’t think of the cross without thinking about grace. In a recent Christianity Today article, David Neff talked about how the old hymns capture our condition. I love the old hymns. Some days an old hymn will come to mind and then for several minutes I will sing one after another. I love the new contemporary music (some of it) but I miss singing the old hymns. The church we attend still sings hymns, but not as many as I would like.

The following hymns help us to center on God’s grace: “Rock of Ages,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Just as I Am.”

These hymns help us to see that:

*We are unable to contribute anything to our salvation.

*God initiates the saving encounter of grace.

*Jesus’ dying in our place is the price of grace.

Grace is a good word. It is one of those words I like to say to myself. It makes me feel good. G R A C E! Oh, how we need it.

THE GLORY OF THE CROSS

Friday, April 14, 2006

Calvin Miller wrote, "Our God is no masochist with an odd need to suffer. He tasted death not to enjoy it but to stare it down. The glory of the Cross, as Henri Nouwen pointed out, is that Jesus was a wounded healer. He does not heal by waving a magic wand above the hurting. Nor does he traffic in prayer cloths. His healing power derives from his own pain, from having iron spikes driven through his body. Wounds become a loving God. Only with such triumph can he offer the world his healing life."

JUST PLAIN SILLY

Thursday, April 13, 2006

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

I'm not a complete idiot; some parts are missing.

Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools.

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

I took an IQ test and the results were negative.

It's lonely at the top, but you eat better.

Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.

Consciousness: that annoying time between naps.

Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

WHY THE RESURRECTION MATTERS

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

The following was taken from PreachingNow.

Near the end of his monumental work The Resurrection of the Son of God (Fortress), N.T. Wright says, "History matters because human beings matter; human beings matter because creation matters; creation matters because the creator matters. And the creator, according to some of the most ancient Jewish beliefs, grieved so much over creation gone wrong, over humankind in rebellion, over thorns and thistles and dust and death, that he planned from the beginning the way by which he would rescue his world, his creation, his history, from its tragic corruption and decay; the way, therefore, by which he would rescue his image-bearing creatures, the muddled and rebellious human beings, from their doubly tragic fate . . .
"The story of Jesus of Nazareth which we find in the New Testament offers itself, as Jesus himself had offered his public work and words, his body and blood, as the answer to this multiple problem: the arrival of God's kingdom precisely in the world of space, time and matter, the world of injustice and tyranny, of empire and crucifixions. This world is where the kingdom must come, on earth as it is in heaven. What view of creation, what view of justice, would be served by the offer merely of a new spirituality and a one-way ticket out of trouble, an escape from the real world?
"No wonder the Herods, the Caesars and the Sadducees of this world, ancient and modern, were and are eager to rule out all possibility of actual resurrection. They are, after all, staking a counter-claim on the real world. It is the real world that the tyrants and bullies (including intellectual and cultural tyrants and bullies) try to rule by force, only to discover that in order to do so they have to quash all rumors of resurrection, rumors that would imply that their greatest weapons, death and deconstruction, are not after all omnipotent."

A SMALL EASTER DISPLAY REMOVED

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

The following was taken from PreachingNow (3-28-06


I'm guessing there'll be nothing in Tyrone Terrill's Easter basket this year.
A March 24 Associated Press story reports that a small Easter display -- a cloth Easter bunny, pastel-colored eggs and a sign with the words "Happy Easter" -- was removed from the St. Paul, Minn., City Hall lobby last week out of concern that it would offend non-Christians. The display was put up by a City Council secretary with no city money involved.
Tyrone Terrill, the city's human rights director, apparently decided the bunny and eggs might offend non-Christians, and asked that the decorations be removed. Terrill said no citizen had complained to him.
Council Member Dave Thune called it a shame, saying, "This has just gone too far. We can't celebrate spring with bunnies and fake grass?"
No word so far as to whether St. Paul's non-Christians are feeling affirmed by the bunny-banning at City Hall.

SITTIN’ ON THE CORNER

Monday, April 10, 2006

In the “old” days when Saturday afternoon rolled around, you headed for town. Town was the place to be on Saturday afternoon. When I say town -- I don’t mean city. There is a difference if you’re from Oklahoma. Town was an exciting place, was it? Nope, not much going on. Well, why on earth did you want to go there?

WE WENT THERE TO SIT IN THE CAR AND WATCH THE PEOPLE GO BY!

I didn’t always sit inside the car. In fact, I didn’t like sitting in the car at all. I liked sitting on one of the front fenders. It was a great parade. You didn’t have to sit there long until you had seen just about everybody in town. Of course, if the truth be told, you wanted to be seen more than see.

Saturday afternoon Charlotte and I went to Kierland Commons --our town. I went to the book store and she went to Sur la Table. Walking back from the book store I found her sitting on a bench on the corner. I sat down and for awhile we watched the people go by.
Weather wise it was a fantastic day. The Commons is a splendid place to spend a Saturday afternoon. There were a lot of people out. Occasionally a man walked by but almost 9 out of 10 of the people strolling by were women. Well, let me be honest, I had much rather watch women walk by than men. Coming or going they look better.

This reminded me of a line from the song, “Take It Easy” made famous by the Eagles in 1972. In 1970 a life-sized bronze statue depicting a man standing on a corner was unveiled in Winslow, Arizona. The Eagles first hit single made this statue and Winslow famous. “Well I’m standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see; It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatback Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me.”

How about that? A girl, slowin’ down to look at this guy. How about that?

PALM SUNDAY

Sunday, April 09, 2006

It was Saturday morning and as usual, I was at the church building going over my sermon for Sunday. Also as usual, before leaving for home, I went upstairs to the sanctuary and looked around. Don’t ask me why, it was just something I always did.

On the way out, I walked through the foyer. I noticed a large stack of palm branches piled high on an old pew left over from the old, downtown, first church. “Ah yes, tomorrow is Palm Sunday. The children will be marching through the sanctuary waving those palm branches.” I smiled as I closed the door and locked it.

Sunday morning I went into the sanctuary to look around. Don’t ask me why, it was just something I always did. I was met by the choir director. She ask me, “Clif, do you know where the palm branches are?” I responded with a smile, “Yea, they’re on the old pew in the foyer.” “No, I just looked there and they have been moved.”

We looked high and low. We looked upstairs, downstairs and in every room. They were not in the library. They were not in the choir room. Everybody we asked just shrugged their shoulders and gave us a blank look.

PALM SUNDAY, BUT NO PALM BRANCHES TO WAVE!

The time passed quickly and I found myself sitting on a front pew worshipping. The parents and grandparents were sitting up front on this Sunday. I was sad for them when I looked at my worship bulletin and saw it was time for the children to come in. Just at the right time, the doors at the back of the sanctuary opened and in marched the children---WAVING PALM BRANCHES!

Later, talking to the choir director, I asked, “Where did they get those branches?” “You’ll never believe this, she said. We looked everywhere and finally decided they couldn’t be found. Somebody went out to the garbage dumpster for some reason and there they were.”

The janitors had come in early to clean and thinking the branches had been piled in one place for them to pick up, they took them to the dumpster.

“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:13)

BASEBALL

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Do you have a favorite picture of yourself? Proabably not. Most people are not vain enough to look at a picture of theirself and say, "Nice! I like that." Well, I do have a favorite. It's a picture of me (Age 5) standing in the front yard with a big catcher's mitt on my hand and a baseball cap on my head. I have looked at that picture and wondered what I was thinking on that day. I wonder who I thought I was going to grow up to be. I don't even know who was playing baseball in 1939. I need to look that up someday.

Well, it's 2006 and baseball in back for the summer. The Diamondbacks have played four games and have a 500 record. They have won two and lost two. It's almost time for today's game to start on TV so I had better bring this to a close.

PLAYBALL!

JESUS OR JUDAS?

Friday, April 07, 2006

A headline on the front of today’s Arizona Republic asks: JUDAS A HERO? It continues, “Text authenticated by UA scientists says Jesus asked his apostle to hand him to Romans.”

MY QUESTION IS NOT WHAT DO YOU THINK OF JUDAS, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK OF JESUS?

Is this text known as the Gospel of Judas authentic? I don’t know!

I know one thing. It certainly is interesting. I will continue to read about it and be interested in its discovery, age, and authenticity. Will it change my view about what the scriptures say about Judas? Probably not.

I know what the scriptures say about Jesus and I’m always excited about that.

The number one thing for all of us is: What do you think about Jesus?

RED DEVIL PIZZA

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Being a retired minister you wouldn't think that I would like Devil anything. Usually I don't. But I do love Red Devil Pizza.

On November 30, 2005 my blog was On Loving Pizza. I said in that blog that I thought Red Devil Pizza was the best in Phoenix. I believed that then and I believe it now.

Last week my daughter gave me a gift. It was a cap with a red devil on it and the words Red Devil Italian Restaurant. Last night I wore the cap to the restaurant to pick up a pizza. As I approached the pick-up window it flew open and a man looked out and said, "Look at you." All the guys in the kitchen stopped making pizza and looked up smiling. As I started to leave the guy said, "You are awesome."

The hats are sold around front where you enter the restaurant. Do you suppose those fellows had never seen one? That's probably their secret to great pizza. Everybody is focused! Go in the back door. Go directly to the kitchen. MAKE PIZZA! Don't go messing around up front with the waitresses and get distracted.

Yep. I'm sure that's it. Stay focused. Make pizza.

Man, that pizza's good!

THE LOONEY LEFT

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

THE LOONEY LEFT IS MAKING ME LOONEY TOO (LOONEY TUNES).

THE LEFT IS LOONEY ON EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z.

ARMY

ENVIRONMENT

GUN CONTROL

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

TOO MANY ISSUES TO NAME THEM ALL…….IT’S CRAZY!

WAR

ZEALOTRY

READ THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER. LISTEN TO THE NEWS.

THIS IS NOT THE WORLD I GREW UP IN AND THAT IS OK.
I AM NOT AGAINST CHANGE. CHANGE CAN BE GOOD. BUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THOSE ON THE LEFT RIGHT NOW IS CRAZY. WE ARE GOING TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET!

IT’S LOONEY I TELL YOU---L O O N E Y!

RUNNING IN WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS RUNNING OUT

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

The following was taken from Preaching Now,Vol.5, No.13.

The film Ladder 49 is about average, everyday fireman Jack Morrison (Jaoquin Phoenix). He has a wife, kids, close friends, doubts about the risks he takes, but ready to be courageous when duty calls and lives are in danger.
Jack Morrison's wife, Linda, is observing her kids as they watch TV and laugh. She notices a red car pull up and two men get out. She realizes what this means, puts her hand in front of her mouth, and begins to cry.
The scene immediately switches to the funeral in a large church. The camera pans Jack's family as well as his fellow firefighters. His captain, Mike Kennedy (John Travolta) is standing in the pulpit saying the eulogy:
"It's never an easy thing, saying good bye to a brother firefighter. It's not. And this time particularly is difficult for me because I watched Jack grow into a, well, into one of the finest firefighters I've ever known. He joined this department because he wanted to help people. Who knows how many homes are still standing because Jack was there, or how many lives were spared? He gave his life for that cause. We'll never forget you, Jack. And we're better for having known you. But I make you this one promise: Tomorrow, when the bell rings, we will be back on the truck because you were the bravest of the brave. People are always asking me, how is it that firefighters run into a burning building when everyone else is running out? Well, Jack, you answered that question by saving another man's life. Your courage is the answer."
(submitted by Jerry De Luca; DVD Time: Scene 12 "Saying Good bye". 1:42:56 to 1:45:06. Jerry has a free website featuring illustrations from movies and other sources; you can visit at http://deluca77.tripod.com)

THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN

Monday, April 03, 2006

Last night as I went scrolling merrily along through the television channels, I came upon the old movie, The Unsinkable Molly Brown. It was about half over so, although I had seen it before, I decided to watch the last part. I’m glad I did.

There is much not to like about this movie. It’s a little crude in spots but overall it is great!

What I like about it---really like, is Molly’s unsinkable spirit.

“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”

I loved her attitude, “I’m not down yet.”

That’ a girl Molly. Don’t let the __________get you down!

SCHOLARS

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Dr. Wayne Grudem is Research Professor of Bible and Theology at Phoenix Seminary. He is also my Sunday morning Bible Class teacher. It is a joy and a pleasure to sit at his feet every Sunday and learn from the Word of God. Dr. Michael Mobley is a Professor of Physics at Arizona State University in Tempe. Michael is also a student in my Sunday morning Bible Class. Every Sunday he comes to the class and learns just like all the rest of us. Today was different. Today he taught about forty minutes of the class.

I am grateful to God for scholars who are men and women of faith and who are willing to share with others.

Lee Strobel is a journalist who was an atheist because he was convinced that God was outmoded. His journey from atheism to faith has been documented in the Gold Medallion—winning books The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith. His newest book is The Case for a Creator. In this book he investigates scientific evidence that points to God.

I mention Strobel’s books because in them he interviews and quotes from many of today’s greatest scholars. It is true that there are many professors in our great universities that do not have faith or believe in God and Christ. Today I am thankful for the many scholars who are men/women of faith and who do believe in God and Christ. My faith is stronger today because of the help I have received from these people God has blessed with great knowledge.

COMMENTS

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Every day I read Mike Cope’s Blog and I can’t help but notice that he always has dozens of comments about what he writes. Some days he has a hundred or more. Sure, he preaches for a congregation of thousands, teaches at Abilene Christian University and preached at another large, college church before moving to Abilene. He has friends all over the world. So his blog generates a lot of comments.

Am I jealous? Maybe. Do I understand why he gets a lot of comments and I don’t? Maybe. Does his writing make people want to reply? Maybe. Is he smarter, better looking and nicer than I am? Maybe. Ok! Ok! Ok! It’s not maybe---yes, he is!

Still, you think that I would get one or two comments a day. Oh, my friends Connie Pratt and Bobbie Covey make comments occasionally. I’m thankful for them. By the way, they both should be writing blogs of their own. There are people all over the country that would like to know what they are thinking about every day. I know I would read their blogs and I would comment.

Comments are not difficult to make. You click on comment and then when the page comes up you just let it rip. You could just say, “Hi, I’m still alive.”

I just want to know you are still there and able to comment. Will I reply to your comment? Maybe.