Expressions When we go to church, it’s a good first step in showing our love for God. But the Bible instructs us to praise and worship Him. Here’s our opportunity! Praise is defined, “express warm approval or admiration.” Worship: “express reverence or adoration.”...
Identity Drama One of the best parts of knowing Jesus? It doesn’t require a user name and password. Living in the culture? Different story. I thought I was proof of my birth, but no. I need a user name. “Mike Harper?” Wrong! Not good enough. “You need a different...
Joy in ‘23! Easier said than done? Absolutely! Painful stuff happens. Some self imposed, some not. No one is immune. Yet, the Bible says rejoice. It says it again, rejoice! It says the joy of the Lord is our strength. It says today’s the day the Lord has made!...
Best Christmas When was your best Christmas? How do you measure it? We all wish each other a “merry” one. So, what makes it merry? What happens? Do you get everything you want? Not just stuff, but your plans and hopes. Did they fall through? Does that make it “less...
The “Undeserving” I saw a young man by the side of a busy Tyler intersection. Let’s call him Nate. He held a guitar and a sign saying “I Just Need A Little Help.” Maybe it was his first day on the curb, but he appeared anxious. He shifted his weight back and forth. He...
Thanksgiving Miracle Lois can do many things. But occasionally she needs help. Unfortunately, if it involves fixing anything, she’s married to an extremely limited man. So when I get an opportunity to squish a bug, lift something heavy, or pick up something from the...
Weather You Like It Or Not Everybody talks about the weather, a convenient go-to during a conversation lull. Schedules are affected by it. Moods change with it. Many love to complain about it. It’s an easy target. It’s too hot, too cold, too rainy, too dry. And what...
Not? Perhaps you’re in the middle of a quandary. An impasse. A calamity. If so, you may think, “Easy for you, Mr. Big Pants!” Understandable. First of all, I wear a 34 waist. Secondly, I have problems, too. I don’t share a lot of them because, like you, I can say...
It’d been a long couple of days. Lois had hip replacement surgery with stellar results. Doctors exclaimed, “Couldn’t have gone better!” The most important thing. Sure there were challenges. Long hours in the lobby. A lengthy overnight stay, complete with pokes, prods,...
There’s a percussionist at our church. Chimes, shakers, cymbals, and congas all designed to accent the what the drummer is doing. He puts his whole being into it. He has a flare for the dramatic. There may be half the song when he doesn’t play at all, but the whole...
Normal Church. Our pastor opened the service by saying, “We don’t want this to be a “normal service.” First of all: What’s a normal service? We did pretty much the same thing we do every week. We opened in praise and worship, as usual. We had our monthly communion,...
Sincerely, Mike? Best way to start a letter is to end it. When you end a letter with “Sincerely,” what do you mean? Are you sincere simply about the specific message, or are you sincere about … everything? If asked, most of us would say we’re sincere. Certainly...
Hacked! If you’ve ever had this experience you know. Somebody gets hold of your account and sends out bogus messages claiming to be you. What they hope to gain is another matter. Suffice to say the result is at least a colossal hassle, at worst an identity theft,...
I took a long vacation. A vacation not only of the job but of the mind. The goal? “Don’t worry.” One thing I tried not to worry about was money and work. Wait, that’s two things. And family. Okay, I tried not to worry about a few things. Jesus is teaching me about...
Lots of people complain about other drivers. “I can’t believe these people. Nobody knows how to drive. Fast lane, slow lane, no signal, he cut me off! Make up your mind! Go! It’s green already!” When I drive I feel like I’m in the way. “Sorry, am I bothering you? I’m...
Someone recently called me vain. My response? “I’m not vain, I’m very humble. In fact, I’m probably the most humble person you know. Nobody’s more humble than me. I’m very proud of my humility.” Another told me I was “tight” with money. I know there’s some truth...
Lord, I’m wondering why my situation’s still unresolved. I’ve prayed. I’ve behaved. I’ve read the Bible. I know you’re faithful. So whats the hold up? “I’m workin’ on it.” Father, I see more and more hatred, confusion, and depression in the news and in the country....
Mr. T had a point. Foolishness is pitiful. The problem is, like us, he’s assuming it’s somebody else. Nobody would admit to being a fool. Yet the Book of Wisdom describes foolishness at length with multiple verses, implying fools do indeed exist. Adjectives like...
I know of a man on his death bed who begged God for healing. He was spared, even given 15 more years. He was shown mercy, yet sadly, still struggled with pride. He continued to value self-sufficiency, people, and things over God, and his legacy suffered for it. Pride...
We know life is short. So why does a one minute traffic light feel like eternity? Give a kid a $5 toy and watch her yawn. Watch her brother want it and suddenly its value soars! Everybody thinks the best music is from the year they were 13. There comes a point where...
There are plenty of problems. You know the big ones. Whatever solutions we can offer, any approach that doesn’t start with seeking God’s wisdom will be temporary if not a failure. We can also point to many people we feel aren’t seeking said wisdom. This wisdom is...