Revitalize Your Church

Sometimes life seems like an exercise bicycle – we spin our wheels furiously and never seem to get anywhere. Often, we are caught up in a rat race of hectic schedules and deadlines. We become some busy with the urgent that we forget the more important things of life. Wouldn't  it be nice if everyone, including you, would stop right now and appreciate the small, but precious gifts each moment brings? Take time for them and they will deliver much joy. Take Time To Listen:  Most of us are self-centered. We need to step back from ourselves and lend a listening ear to others. God has given you two ears and one mouth. They should be used in that proportion. Take Time to Learn:  Life is a classroom always in session. Never stop learning about your world, your God, your friends and yourself. A living brain is a learning brain. Keep the “learning switch” on all day long and you will make many exciting discoveries! Take Time To Laugh:  Laughter is medicine for the soul. Show...

When I was seven years old, Woodrow Wilson took me fishing. Not the U.S. president, mind you, but my daddy's big brother, who shared the same name.  Uncle Woody, born in 1913, was named after the great commander in chief who had been inaugurated a few months prior.  Whenever we vacationed in southern Indiana, I imagined it to be a White House visit.  It felt presidential, though I never could find the Lincoln bedroom. One day, Uncle Woody, who reminded me somewhat of the rooster, Foghorn Leghorn, asked me if I liked to fish.  He was flabbergasted upon hearing that I had never cast a line.  “I declare, boy, that’s a tragedy.  Every kid needs to go fishing, and we’re going to take care of that today.” So Uncle Woody dug up some worms in a soup can, rigged a couple of poles, stuffed my brother, Timmy, and I in his Ford pickup, and drove us to the Lost River. Standing in soggy riverbank weeds, Uncle Woody, handed us poles with squiggly worms on the...

Many times, down through the years, I've quoted the following adage, "When God shuts a door, he opens a window." In fact, just this morning, I shared that pithy little statement in a Facebook message to a friend who recently experienced disappointment.  As soon as I hit the "send" button, I realized it was an unhelpful platitude. Squeezing through a window doesn't sound inviting at all. Quickly, I sent a follow-up message that said it much better:  "When God shuts a window, he opens the door."

In a 1990 sermon titled  The Wisdom of the Body , Dr. Paul Brand said, “I pray that when my time comes I may not grumble that my body has worn out too soon, but hold on to gratitude that I have been so long at the helm of the most wonderful creation the world has ever known, and look forward to meeting the designer face to face.” In flesh and blood such as ours, God silences the arguments of a noisy world. Jesus stood before the masses to show the world that our bodies and our hearts were meant to know healing. Perhaps we can be like the one leper of the ten that Jesus healed, the one who recognized the significance of the man behind the miracle. Falling on his face at Jesus’s feet, he saw the Son of God. And Jesus said to him: “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.

Some people bring relief when they arrive. Others bring relief when they go! I like to call the former, “old shoe friends.” When you have an old pair of shoes that are really comfortable, they just go along with you naturally. They’re not squeaky and they don’t pinch your toes with every step. They’re not two sizes too small. In other words, they possess a welcoming, broadness of spirit. After all, as Benjamin  Disraeli  said, “Life is too short to be little.” Old shoe friends accept you for who you are, and believe in you. You can turn to them for advice, knowing that they have your best interest in mind, and that you are not their project for “fixing.” You don’t have to wonder where you stand with these friends. You know they love you, regardless of what happens. This is not to say that old shoe friends won’t confront you if they see you making a mistake that is hurtful to yourself or others. A true friend will tell the truth, even when it hurts. “Wounds from a fri...

It was a frustrating, difficult day. Many issues clamored for my attention, my schedule was packed full of appointments, and my energy level was low. The needs around me seemed overwhelming, the phone rang off the hook, at least a half dozen people were upset with me about something, and I had a headache. Realizing that I had not yet had my quiet time with God, I decided to escape from the office for a little while and find a place for solitude. A long time ago, I learned that if my soul is not anchored, I’m not much good for anybody. I drove to a beautiful lake, and spent some time centering my mind on my Creator. It seemed as if my Heavenly Father was speaking his love, strength and peace to my troubled heart. I opened my Bible and found this wonderful verse, “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15.) What a refreshing thought! All my times are in God’s hands. My good times, My bad times, My glad times, My sad times, My stressed times, My rest times My best times – they’re all in ...

My dear friend, O. J. Philpot, once shared the following 25 ways to start living.  I appreciated this thoughts, and pass them along to you hoping they will inspire you as they did me: 1.  Seek out a forgotten friend. 2.  Help mend a quarrel. 3.  Put new trust in someone you have had difficulty trusting before. 4.  Encourage someone younger than you. 5.  Gift a soft answer to someone who is harsh to you. 6.  Write someone a kind letter 7.  Share a special "treasure" with someone. 8.  Keep a promise you have made. 9.  Forgive an enemy, and let him/her know you have forgiven. 10.  Take time to do one of those important things you have been putting off. 11.  Take time to listen to someone's sorrows. 12.  Say "I am sorry" when you are wrong. 13.  Think of someone else instead of yourself. 14.  Show appreciation 15.  Be kind, gentle and thoughtful. 16.  Laugh.  Don't tak...