| Keep it brief |
The Lord's Prayer in the book of Matthew in the King James Version has 66 words. The book of Luke is even shorter. The Gettysburg Address is made up of 286 words. The Declaration of Independence totals 1,322 words.
Monday, August 23, 2010 |
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| The best investments |
The Sunday newspapers give a list of financial institutions and the rates that they pay o CD accounts. The shorter the deposit time, the lower the return rate. Some banks have three month CDs, most or all have six month deposits. We guess when we buy or renew CDs. Should we buy a one, two or five year CD? What will the interest rates do in the future?
Monday, August 16, 2010 |
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| Life's important decisions |
Most adults can think of acquaintances that fit many categories. There are the good luck people, the bad luck people, the lazy bunch, the ambitious ones, the happy folk and the complainers. We could probably add many more to our list. Part of this is reality, all is perception.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 |
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| Content and contentment |
There is an old story about someone asking a very wealthy man the question How much wealth would it take to make you content? He replied, just a little more. If a runner or a golfer improves their time or score just a little, that is good enough for now.
Monday, August 02, 2010 |
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| It is not about me |
It is not the awards, educational degrees or accomplishments that count when considering from birth to forever. Yes, they are nice and satisfying, but they are not the end in themselves.
Sunday, July 25, 2010 |
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| Counting our blessings |
During the 1950s and 60s we sang an old chorus that we well might sing again. "When upon life's billows you are tempted and tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost; Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Count you many blessings, see what God has done."
Monday, July 19, 2010 |
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| A very special day |
Father's Day was a very special day. The last get together at the old homestead was even more special because all four daughters were there. Then of course, the grandchildren and great grandchildren only added to the joy of our family get together.
Monday, July 05, 2010 |
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| A different Father's Day |
This year was the 51st Father's Day at the same house for our family. We have many great memories. A variety of games including volleyball have been part of the routine. A great meal including grilled hamburgers, steak, chicken and hot dogs have been standard. Twenty-five to 30 family members usually get together. But this year was the last one.
Monday, June 28, 2010 |
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| The best gift ever! |
Giving and receiving gifts can be very enjoyable. We could each make a list of good gifts that we have received. It might be five or it might be 50. Now let us imagine that we list them from the best on down to the end. This would be quite a chore and take days, weeks or months to complete. The following are a few of mine.
Monday, June 21, 2010 |
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| Another great fish fry |
Approximately 37 years ago another couple and my first wife and I started to plan a camp up north. In 1974, we started to bulldoze and clear trees and brush for the first building. The basement block was laid and capped before winter. Now 36 years later, 20 building including 15 cabins, house Camp Dellwater on the beautiful grounds next to Dellwater Lake.
Monday, June 14, 2010 |
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| When days are heavy |
Some days and weeks are heavy. Life can be stressful. Recently, a business manager said because of the poor economy, decisions are made that are beyond his control. Sometimes these decisions made doing his job properly very difficult if not impossible. What is the answer? That is the question he asked me.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010 |
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| Thirty years of caring |
Each year all present and past food shelf volunteers are invited to the annual "food shelf volunteers appreciation dinner." Their spouses and some other guess are also invited. We also invite the three mayors from our food shelf area to attend. These include North St. Paul, Maplewood and Oakdale. The pastors and their spouses from the local churches most involved are extended an invitation also.
Sunday, May 16, 2010 |
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| Be nice now |
This is a common expression. A group of friends jokingly start cutting on each other. Someone will pop up with that expression, "Be nice now." This is usually a friendly comment. Perhaps we could all do better.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 |
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| It changes nothing |
Can God do anything? Can God make a rock so big that He cannot lift it? Most of us have been asked these kinds of questions over the years. Skeptics, agnostics, and atheists thrive on the these kinds of questions.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010 |
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| Keeping focused |
Science, engineering and technology have come a long way during the last hundred years. The first television that I ever saw was a little black and white 12 inch set. The picture was so blurred that it was hard to see the detail. That was during my early college years.
Monday, April 26, 2010 |
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| What am I doing? |
Floyd Ebby, a friend of mine was a speaker at one of our Gideon Conventions many years ago. He told a story which is sort of an analogy that says it all.
Thursday, April 22, 2010 |
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| Responding to chaos |
The president, governors, senators and house members all talk about debt and balancing the budgets. Food, clothing and housing for the poor and homeless are ever with us.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 |
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| The week after Easter |
The week before Easter we sing one kind of hymn in church. Old hymns like, "On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross." or "When I survey the wondrous cross," or "Jesus paid it all" that are appropriate.
Friday, April 09, 2010 |
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| Grateful for Easter |
Easter is a day of joy. Our Lord, our Redeemer, our church founder is alive. Christmas is a time of joy. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are days of deep devotion, but only Easter brings to focus the resurrection power of our Lord, our God and our King.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 |
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| Attitude Is It |
When it rains, it pours. We have all had times in life when it seemed like bad things would never quit happening. A young college student can have one thing after another go wrong with the car.
Monday, March 22, 2010 |
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| Shepherds and Hirelings |
The word shepherd can bring different ideas to different people. Three settings come to my mind. The first is the twenty-third Psalm. David who had been a shepherd boy himself called the Lord his good shepherd. The second is David who as a young man had killed both a lion and a bear when they came after his sheep.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 |
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| Short and fragile |
Recently a friend told me that they had four funerals in their church in one week. They were all older people. He said it goes in cycles, weeks or even months without a funeral and then four in one week. That particular church is fairly large with plenty of senior citizens in it. The thought hit me about expectations that relate to death. Regardless of our age, we likely think about future plans.
Monday, February 22, 2010 |
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| Strangers and pilgrims |
"This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through," was the closing hymn at Ray Enright's funeral. We sat in St. Mark's Lutheran Church in North St. Paul and remembered the great times with Ray.
Monday, February 15, 2010 |
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| Putting the best before the good |
One of my teachers in college had a saying that has stuck with me over the years. It went something like, "Some people are so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good." She was referring to some good church leaders and pastors.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 |
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| Ripples and waves |
We probably are all partakers of saying or doing things without thinking about consequences. Most of these little remarks or deeds have little if any consequences. Sometimes after the fact, we think about what we said or did and ask ourselves, why we said or did what we said or did.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 |
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| What if? |
If a well-known preacher or prophet were coming to the Target Center to speak about the book of Revelations, people would come in large numbers to hear him.
Monday, January 25, 2010 |
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| Just a few reminders |
Christmas and New Years can bring a load of gifts and gift certificates - Red Lobster, Perkins, Panera, McDonalds, etc. But every perfect gift comes from God above (James 1:17).
Thursday, January 14, 2010 |
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| The most important things in life |
Middle-age and older Americans often heard or thought about the "American Dream." If you planned well and worked hard, you could have the good life.
Most young people today are not acquainted with that philosophy of life. The questions and thoughts in their minds are very different.
Sunday, January 10, 2010 |
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| An excellent family activity |
Family get-togethers certainly are most common during holiday seasons. The original and number one meaning of holiday is Holy Day according to Mr. Webster. Lord willing, Thursday, Dec. 24 will be the 46th Christmas Eve with our family in the same house.
Monday, December 21, 2009 |
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| Text books, text books |
Sheryl, my oldest daughter has been a prolific reader since first grade. As a child she would walk or ride her bike down to the old North St. Paul library and bring home several books each week during the summer. She reads fast and with almost total comprehension.
Monday, December 07, 2009 |
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| How bad is it? |
The following was printed in a local newspaper recently. A movie that is rated: not rated, contains full-frontal nudity, graphic sex, strong language, drug use and violence. I can just see a group of high school or even grade school students asking where, when and how much does it cost to see.
Monday, November 30, 2009 |
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| An impressive experience |
Two large screens were filled with a group of soldiers from "The Red Bull 34th Army Division." Right there on the left side of the large frame was a dear old friend, LTC Chaplain John Morris.
Monday, November 16, 2009 |
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| Mountains and Valleys |
Many years ago our family took some trips to the West Coast by automobile. The views from the high mountains were majestic. The Bible contains a story about Jesus taking His three closest disciples up on a high mountain.
Monday, November 09, 2009 |
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| What time is it? |
Every year the Word seems more like the daily news. The news coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and several other mideast countries certainly is not reassuring. Obviously the long standing nuclear weapons of Pakistan would be a really big take for terrorist groups.
Monday, October 26, 2009 |
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| Making decisions |
Life is filled with decisions. Some are big, others are smaller. Priorities certainly play a role in the decision making process. Some of us were not careful about over scheduling during our younger years.
Monday, October 19, 2009 |
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| A great celebration |
Friday was a time of celebration for many of us. Norma and I were part of a large group who attended the ground breaking ceremony of the "Billy Graham Community Life Commons" at Northwestern College.
Thursday, October 15, 2009 |
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| Dear Children and Grandchildren: |
This short letter is just meant to serve as words of encouragement and positive reminders. Sheryl, you obviously can't remember but when you came home from the hospital as a new born baby, you were in church the following Sunday.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 |
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| What will tomorrow bring? |
People joke about looking in the obituary column before deciding what to do. If I'm not listed I'll do something today. We lay out goals and objectives for the days, weeks, months and even years ahead.
Monday, September 21, 2009 |
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| Just a reminder |
We are all aware that these are uncertain times. We never know what to expect when we turn on the news.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 |
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| Wisdom and foolishness |
If ever there was a time when each of us had felt the need for security perhaps now is the time. Wealth, power, education, position, somehow don't give us real peace, serenity or security.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 |
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