Above: Malachy McCourt  (1931- 2024) —————————–    (…continued)   What saved Malachy McCourt from himself was the opportunity to help someone else– the chance to be a Good Samaritan.  His first marriage lasted only long enough to produce two children, which he seldom saw.  His second marriage survived his drinking, but just barely, marred again by […]
1189) A Reluctant Good Samaritan (c) Read More »
Above:Â Malachy McCourt in The Molly Maguires, 1970 ————— Â Â Â (…continued) Â I will illustrate the message of this parable by telling the story of a man who spent much of his life being the very opposite of a Good Samaritan; and then, how his life improved when he became a Good Samaritan. Â Â
1188) A Reluctant Good Samaritan (b) Read More »
Above: The Good Samaritan, 1890, Vincent van Gogh  (1853-1890) Luke 10:25-37:    On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”    “What is written in the Law?” he replied.  “How do you read it?”    He
1187) A Reluctant Good Samaritan (a) Read More »
The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey from Aesop’s Fables:    A man and his son were once going with their donkey to market.  As they were walking along by the donkey’s side, a countryman passed them and said: “You fools, what is a donkey for but to ride upon?”  So the man put
1162) Waiting for the Lord to Judge Read More »
   (…continued)  Leo Tolstoy wrote Martin the Cobbler in 1885.  In 1895 English author Henry Van Dyke wrote The Story of the Other Wise Man with the same objective in mind.  Artaban is the name van Dyke gives to his fictional character, a fourth Wise Man, who was planning to go with his three friends on the long journey
1086) Visits From Jesus (part two of two) Read More »
   Ruth kept looking at the envelope that had just arrived in a most unusual way.  She was having her morning coffee at the kitchen table.  Her husband had gone to work and the children were at school.  She had the day off from her job, so she would be home alone for
1085) Visits From Jesus (part one of two) Read More »
Image above:Â American B-24 hit by anti-aircraft flak, 1944 ——————— Â Â Â Among the great heroes of World War II were the men who flew the bombers and fighter planes in thousands of dangerous missions over Europe. Â One of the keys to stopping the German army on the field was to destroy the factories
   (…continued)  This is not an uncommon situation.  It happens all the time.  A while back an old friend was telling me about the stresses he was having at work.  “Sure,” he said, “I’m making more money that I ever thought I would, but it’s killing me.”  He said he’s been thinking back to
900) A Story of Faith (b) Read More »
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. –Hebrews 11:1 —————————————- Â Â Â Hebrews 11:1 is the classic Biblical definition of faith. Â In the rest of that chapter, the writer goes on to more fully explain, define, and describe faith. Â How does he do that?
899) A Story of Faith (a) Read More »
From Let Me Tell You a Story, by Tony Campolo, copyright 2000, page 91 Â Â Â The story is told by M. Scott Peck, the famous psychologist and author, of a woman patient who was suffering from extreme depression. Â One day, when she was due for an appointment with him, she called on the telephone
864) Helping Yourself by Helping Others Read More »
