Watches

My parents gave me the cute, trendy watch on the right last year for my birthday, so it has sentimental value. Despite a brand new battery, the watch cannot keep time. 

Two life lessons come to mind: a) it doesn't matter if you're cute, you must work, and b) find your purpose in life and do it, or some might consider you worthless.

Remember how Jesus felt about the fig tree that didn't have fruit? It's time for us to do more to help the hurting, the hungry and the lost.

So many are counting on us to be the watch that fulfills its purpose. Are you on time?

Grace

We think and talk a lot about grace as Easter approaches. This quote reminds me that we must value this tremendous, eternal gift...

"Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate."
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein."

-- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

God Answers Prayers

The second grade teacher, Mrs. Johnson, went around the room. "If you could buy anything you wanted at the dime store, what would it be?" Most of my classmates liked the idea of a Hershey's bar. Even though I was already a chocoholic, I had a different answer: "A Big Chief tablet so I could start writing my book!"

It's been a long time since second grade, but God finally answered the call He put on my heart to write a book. The circumstances that got this book published are not normal. Someday, I may share that story, but for now, I am thrilled to have this book designed to encourage Christ-followers. Please consider buying it for yourself, for your church library, for your women's small group study or Bible class... or bring me into speak on this new topic.

You can order the book through www.WinePressBooks.com or www.Amazon.com or through me!

The book is comprised of 52 short essays, suitable for a quick read or a devotional. One church in Texas is using it for a Bible class, so I've developed questions to ask at the end of each chapter. You have to get those from me.

Now, I'm off to find a Big Chief tablet so I can start my next book...

The Blessing of a Cat

A strange-looking cat showed up at my parents' place in the country about a year ago. They thought it was wild until it came up and rubbed against their legs. He could leap up on the roof or a treetop in a single bound. He looked hungry, so Mom kept putting food out. He would eat and eat and eat and never gain an ounce.

Soon the mystery was solved. He was a Bengal Cat, bred to look like a Leopard. He's beautiful, with burnt orange fur and black spots. He's affectionate. He looks hungry because these cats are longer and leaner than a normal house cat.

Mom was afraid he was someone's pet. So she got him to the vet's (there is only one vet in their town) to see if anyone was missing such a special animal. No, said the vet, but let's see if he has a microchip. No chip, so he became a member of the family and got a name: Tigger.

Mom and I are allergic to most cats, but not to Tigger. He's earning his keep by killing plenty of rodents. The Schnauzer, Muffin, Does Not Like Tigger. She was having a hysterical barking fit at him, and Tigger just went up and rubbed against her. Muffin became barkless. Isn't that a great lesson for us all? When our mere presence incites wrath, we can just go offer love.

May blessings like Tigger wander into your life unexpectedly and bring you love and affection.

Running the Marathon

Last month, I asked you to help me celebrate my birthday by figuratively running the Cowtown marathon with me. It was a humid day, a hilly course, and I was coming down with a stomach bug! But I finished, and thanks to all of you, raised about $900 for YouthHaven.

Why Preachers Shouldn't Talk Too Long

When I was a kid, we belonged to a non-demoninational Christian tradition. My dad was thrilled when the preacher didn’t take too long with the sermon. Dad would say, “Now we can beat the Baptists to lunch.”

A few years ago, I worked at the North American Mission Board and was required to attend a Southern Baptist Church. In the hallways, I would hear folks say, “I hope the pastor doesn’t go too long today. We want to beat the Methodists to lunch.”

The Methodists have always been so gracious to let me come to speak to their Sunday school classes… and in churches where some people went to early services, I was advised, “Don’t go over your time limit. We need to beat the Presbyterians to lunch.”

That tells me we are all more alike than different. We all like to eat lunch!