ATHEIST

Saturday, November 18, 2006

When Bishop Phillips Brooks, author of “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” was recovering from illness and not seeing any visitors, Robert G. Ingersoll, the anti-Christian propagandist, called to see him. He was admitted by the bishop at once. “I appreciate this very much,” said Ingersoll, “especially when you aren’t permitting your close friends in to see you.”

“Oh,” replied the bishop, “I’m confident of seeing my friends in the next world, but this may be my last chance of seeing you.”

PAPER PILE-UP

Friday, November 17, 2006

It’s that time of the year again—at least at my house. It’s time to conquer the paper pile-up. Some of you will have no idea of what I am talking about. You stay on top of every piece of paper coming in. You sort, organize, file and store every piece of paper in your home and office. I do some of that every day or at the end of the year I would be lost someplace in my home office. But regardless of how hard I try—paper still piles up. You see, I have a hard time determining value. I think, “Don’t toss or shred that. You are going to need that information as soon as it’s gone.” At the end of the year I have a pile of this “valuable stuff.”

Every year at this time—sometime in late November or early December, I come to my senses regarding this stuff. Out it goes! It’s not a fast procedure; in fact, it sometimes takes hours—even days to complete. I read, re-read and read again. I think, “Oh, this is good. I forgot all about having it. This is very valuable.” But at this time of the year I come to my senses and out it goes.

It’s hard parting with some of this stuff but by Christmas I will have closure and move on.

CHRISTMAS IS A MIRACLE

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Christmas is a miracle. I’m not talking about the secular Christmas—the one with Christ left out. I’m not talking about Santa Claus, although I will have to admit that jolly old fellow pulls off some fantastic stuff. You know, like being here, there and everywhere at the same time. Like flying through the sky in a sled with reindeer. Pretty fantastic stuff!

But still, Santa’s stuff doesn’t compare with the miracle of God coming to earth as a baby.

And yet, many don’t see anything miraculous about what God did at Christmas. They don’t believe Christ ever did any miracles and they want him out of Christmas altogether.

C.S. Lewis said: “Do not attempt to water Christianity down. There must be no pretense that you can have it with the supernatural left out.”

That’s so true, and yet many of my friends who praise Christ the most, don’t have room in their lives for the supernatural. They believe he is a miracle and that he performed miracles but they don’t see any miracles today.

How sad! And especially right here at Christmas time.

THE WILL TO WIN

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

America should never, never have gone to war if we did not have the will to win.

It seems that we do not have the will to win!

No one believes that America lacks the power to defeat this insurgency if it wants to.

We sent our soldiers to war to hold the enemy at bay (away from America). They are dieing every day performing this job. We did not send them to kill the enemy, win the war and come home. The only way to win the war is by force—a lot of people have to die.

We should admit that if we are not going to use a lot of force, we should give up, shut up and come home.

Will the enemy then, come here and kill us? YES!

YOU CAN'T WIN AN ARGUMENT

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Wise old Ben Franklin said: “ If you argue and rankle and contradict, you may achieve a victory some times; but it will be an empty victory because you will never get your opponent’s good will.”

A Boston paper printed this:
“Here lies the body of William Jay,
Who died maintaining his right of way—
He was right, dead right, as he sped along,
But he’s just as dead as if he were wrong.”

CHRISTMAS—RENEWAL THROUGH CHRIST

Monday, November 13, 2006

The elders at the Lincoln Heights Christian Church, where I was Senior Minister for fifteen years, have asked me to teach a combined adult Bible class during the month of December. I am grateful to them and excited about this opportunity to teach. I would be thrilled to see you in the class.

CHRISTMAS—RENEWAL THROUGH CHRIST

December 3 - ON CATCHING THE WRONG BUS

December 10 - OVERCOMING EMOTIONAL DEPRESSION

December 17 - HANDLING LIFE’S SECOND BESTS

December 24 - NO MAN NEED STAY THE WAY HE IS

December 31 - PACKING UP CHRISTMAS FOR ANOTHER YEAR—CHRISTMAS IS OVER BUT LIFE IS NOT!

We will be digging into the Scriptures and centering our thoughts on how Christ gives meaning and direction to our lives.