THE SUN SHINES MOST OF THE TIME

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Singing about L.A., one of my favorite singers, Neil Diamond belts out, "Sun shines most of the time..."

And he's right. It does. L.A.'s fine!

The same is true in these parts---Phoenix, Scottsdale, all over Arizona.

Yes, yes, I know, you heard. Thunder storms, lightening, rain---even a tornado paid Arizona a visit.

But that kind of thing is rare around here, and it didn't last long.

The sun is out bright and beautiful today. There is a slight touch of fall in the air.

Charlotte and I will be spending a little time at the gym this morning. She is getting in shape for a great Caribbean cruise she is going on with a bunch of Christian women. At least she said it is a group of women.

And me, I'm getting ready............Hey, I'm getting ready to be LEFT BEHIND!

Oh well, if one has to be left behind, there's no better place than sunny Arizona!

Charlotte and I have been married fifty-two years. She needs a break from me.

And after a few days at sea with all those women, she will come running back to these lovin' arms!

Running that is, if she gets in shape at the gym

KEEP COMING BACK

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Speaking at an A.A. meeting, Philip Yancy tells about his friend George. I think the church could learn some valuable lessons from George.

Here is what Yancy said:

"Several times in my writing I've referred to my alcoholic friend George, who happens to be here tonight. He told me that when he first stumbled into an A.A. meeting on a bitterly cold night some twenty years ago a group of total strangers welcomed him with open arms and told him to "Keep coming back." George had hit bottom, his life was a mess, and since nobody else was telling him that in those days, he accepted their invitation.


George sometimes gets a different response from his church friends. "Aren't you done with that issue yet?" they ask. And this is what George says: 'I realize that for the rest of my life, I can go to A.A. meetings and nobody will ask me, 'Aren't you finished with all this talk about your alcoholism?' They will just say, 'Keep coming back--glad you could make it.'"

BOOKS,BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

STACKED BY MY READING CHAIR:

THREE I'M READING AGAIN:

WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?  By Philip Yancy


THE MYSTERY of GOD'S WILL   By Charles Swindoll


THE HOLINESS OF GOD  By R.C. Spoul

THREE I WILL BE READING FOR THE FIRST TIME:

BONHOFFER--PASTOR, MARTYR, PROPHET,SPY  By Eric Metaxas


THE ORANGE REVOLUTION --HOW ONE GREAT TEAM CAN TRANSFORM AN ENTIRE ORGANIZATION   by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton


EVERYTHING CHRISTMAS  (Celebrate the Joy of the Advent Season with the Best of Christmas, Past & Present)

Now I'm off to the gym but when I return I better get to reading!!

BOOK REVIEW

Monday, October 04, 2010

THE CHURCH AWAKENING
AN URGENT CALL FOR RENEWAL
By Charles Swindoll

OVERVIEW: The Church Awakening is primarily for two groups of people:  First, for serious, clear-thinking, tough-minded churchgoers, who know there is a better way and are courageous enough to stand against the swelling tide of postmodernism; Second, for pastors, especially those on the fence, who need permission to buck the tide and put the preaching of the Word of God back in its central place in the church's worship, where it belongs.

AUTHOR: Charles R. Swindoll is Senior Pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. He is also president of Dallas Theological Seminary and host of the internationally syndicated radio program Insight for Living. He is a prolific author with many best-selling books. His practical application of the Bible to everyday living makes God's truths a reality to hurting people.

MY REVIEW: Charles Swindoll is one of my favorite writers and preachers. I have many of his books and have listened to him preach on the radio and in person.This new book, which is an urgent call for church renewal, is one of his most important books. My review copy is an advance reading copy so I cannot quote from it. Please take my word for it---this book is packed with needed and valuable information. Swindoll points out that biblical ignorance is intensifying, even in the church. He also points out that in spite of this Christ will be triumphant in the end, and those of us who stand with Him and live for Him will be victorious. That's good news! And that's the foundational message of this powerful book. I recommend this valuable book to all church members and those who preach.

(I received this advance reading copy from FaithWorks a division of Hachette Book Group)

TRY TO BE A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDING

Friday, October 01, 2010

Being patient and understanding of others has never been one of my strong points.

I appreciate what Barbara Brown Taylor said in her book, A Geography of Faith-- AN ALTAR in the World.

She is describing a practice of hers when riding the subway.

"I study the particular human beings sitting around me: the girl with the fussy baby, the guy with the house paint all over his jeans, the couple holding hands, the teenager keeping time with both knees while he listens to music so loud it leaks from his headphones. Every one of these people has come from somewhere and is going somewhere, the same way I am. (Emphasis mine) While I am sitting here thinking I am at the center of this subway scene and they are on the edges, they are sitting there at the center of their own scene with me on their edges. Every one of them is dealing with something, the same way I am. (Emphasis mine) We are breathing the same air, for this little time at least. Sometimes I say the Lord's Prayer under my breath while I look from one of them to the next, but this is optional. Paying attention to them has already shifted my equilibrium. For all I know, one of them is practicing reverence on me."

STAYIN' ALIVE

Can you hear me singing? "Stayin' Alive, stayin' alive, Ah, ha,ha,ha, staying' alive, stayin' alive, Ah ha,ha,ha, stayin' alive."

Yesterday when I joined 24 Hour Fitness Health Club, they asked, "What are your goals?"

My answer: "Stayin' alive, stayin' alive, Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive."

The health club is open 24 hours a day. Needless to say I will not be exercising 24 hours a day. But I will be trying to stay alive!

Now I have got to go. I'm off to my Tai Chi class.