“For several minutes, we both sat silently watching the gulls soar overhead, listening to the surf break on the beach. Then Jones began to gather the empty cans and place them in the plastic bag. Standing, he extended his hand and helped me to my feet. ‘Incidentally,’ he said with a smile, ‘you ate sardines and Vienna sausages in the sand. I dined on surf and turf with an ocean view.’ He slapped me on the back. ‘It’s all about perspective.’” The text above is an excerpt from one of the most Continue Reading
Comparison – Joy and Purpose Killer {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
A story is told about a king who went into his royal garden one morning, only to find every tree and plant withering and dying. He approached the oak tree and asked what its trouble was. The oak tree said it was tired of life and decided it wanted to die, since it could never be as tall as the pine tree. The pine tree felt discouraged and withered because it could never bear fruit like the grapevine. The grapevine was determined to die because it could never stand tall and bear large fruit like Continue Reading
What if the Trial You Face Isn’t About You? {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
Our children sat at the other end of the table, giggling as teenagers do, oblivious to the seriousness of our conversation. As my girlfriends and I bowed down to pray, it didn’t matter that we were in a busy restaurant at lunchtime. My friends had spent the past couple of hours sharing their burdens, seeking advice and wisdom, and we knew that only God could truly give them direction, help and meaning to their valley. As I prayed for each of them, it dawned on me — I was once more able to Continue Reading
Procrastination: Delaying God’s Best {Atlanta Journal Constitutional Column}
An interesting story is told of Col. Joahnn Gottlieb Rall, commander of the Hessian troops in Trenton, New Jersey, during the Revolutionary War. It is reported that the colonel was playing chess when a courier brought a letter containing an urgent message stating that Gen. George Washington was crossing the Delaware River. Rall, engrossed by his game, put the missive in his pocket, choosing to read it at a later time. His procrastination, however, proved to be his doom. When Washington Continue Reading
What If God Has a Blueprint for Us? (Weekend Column for the AJC)
“Deep within the universe, inside a large spiral galaxy, hidden among its billions stars, there exists a dwarf star named ‘Sol’. It is a fiery furnace in the center of a beautiful solar system… a Solar System with 8 amazing planets, 5 dwarf planets, 176 moons and billions of comets and asteroids. A place where a small blue planet may be the most special world in all universe.” These words accompanied the most compelling four-minute video that I have watched in a long, long time. The Continue Reading
