FROM A FUNERAL SERMON: When Ralph told me about his mother’s last few months, during which she knew she was dying, I thought of the Latin phrase “ars moriendi.” The phrase means ‘the art of dying,’ and it comes from some books by that name written in the 1400’s. These books offered Biblical […]
1317) Ars Moriendi Read More »
Based on my sermon October 16, 2016: (…continued) In John chapter 16, Jesus is spending his last evening with his disciples before his crucifixion. The disciples don’t know yet what is coming, but Jesus is helping preparing them for a huge disappointment. Jesus said to them, “In a little while, you will see
1288) Hoping for Help (part three of three) Read More »
Above image: Blue Ridge Mountains; Symmes Chapel, Cleveland, South Carolina ——————— Based on my sermon October 16, 2016: (continued…) Look again at these verses from today’s Psalm, Psalm 121:1-2: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills– from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven
1287) Hoping for Help (part two of three) Read More »
Based on my October 16, 2016 sermon: “I feel much better now that I’ve given up hope.” I first saw this saying on a button several years ago and I have thought about it many times since. When I googled it today I learned that this was the title of a 1984 book
1286) Hoping for Help (part one of three) Read More »
Above: Elijah Fed by an Angel, Ferdinand Bol (1616-1680) ———————– (continued…) In I Kings 19 Elijah is depressed. Elijah stood almost alone as a true prophet of the Lord during some of Israel’s worst times. The nation was ruled by the wicked King Ahab, and the temple was dominated by
1168) Depression in the Bible (b) Read More »
I Kings 19:4 — (Elijah) went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it, and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” ————————— “I have had enough,” Elijah said.
1167) Depression in the Bible (a) Read More »
From “Don’t Force the Celebration at Funerals” by Courtney Reissig, posted March 22, 2016 at: www.Christianitytoday.com ——————————– In college, I told my friends that I wanted the Jars of Clay cover of “All My Tears” played at my funeral: “When I go don’t cry for me / In my Father’s arms I’ll be.”
1097) Celebrate or Cry? Read More »
(…continued) This difference between looking back or looking forward is the very thing that the apostle Paul describes in Philippians chapter three. Beginning with verse four Paul describes all the things in his past that molded him into the faithful Jew he had become: he was born into the people of Israel, he
1031) Past, Present, Future (b) Read More »
In his ground-breaking work on the human mind, psychologist Sigmund Freud taught that by delving deep into your past life you could learn how your early childhood experiences created the person you are today. While much of Freud’s work is no longer accepted, it is now assumed by many that what you are
1030) Past, Present, Future (a) Read More »
Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990) was a British reporter in the U.S.S.R. in the 1930’s. Here he describes two episodes which provide contrasting insights into life after the Russian Revolution. Muggeridge had initially admired the revolution; then he saw the results of two decades of communist rule. The Communists promised hope to the nation, but instead
997) Nowhere Else to Turn Read More »
