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For Wilshire Baptist Church

Somewhere in my boxes of stuff that need to be sorted through and thrown away, I have a red campaign-style button that says “WIN.” It’s a souvenir from the 1970s and the Ford Administration when economic inflation was out of control. The letters on the button were an acronym for “Whip Inflation Now,” the hope being that people would pin the button to their shirts and be motivated to help get things in balance through personal savings and disciplined spending. Skeptics suggested the buttons should be turned upside down to spell “NIM” – “No Immediate Miracles.”

Continue reading “Waiting on Miracles”

Christmas Day

Originally posted Saturday, December 25, 2010

Last night at the Christmas Eve service, the student choir sang a beautiful piece called “A Star,” with the line: “a star of heavenly design, revealing hope to mankind.” Afterward, they came down out of the choir loft and dispersed into the pews. Later when it was time to walk down to the front of the church for communion, I noticed that the students weren’t clumped together as they usually are. On this night, they walked down with their families – sons and daughters united with mothers and fathers. 

I saw in that moment a vision of heaven, where loved ones are reunited at the table of the Lord. That, my friends, is the hope, peace, joy and love of Christmas – the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Eve

From Wilshire Advent Devotions 2014

Romans 12:14-18 – Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, buttake thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

I’ve never been persecuted. Not by another person. Not really. I’ve felt pressured, taken advantage of, unappreciated and overlooked, but that’s not persecution. The only person I’ve ever had a physical tussle with is my brother, and the last time that happened was at least 50 years ago. That wasn’t persecution either; it was just brothers being brothers. 

Continue reading “Peace Begets Peace”