Life’s roller coaster of peaks and valleys

Have you ever heard the term, “The rhythm of life”?  It is a phrase that sums up life on this side of the grave since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden.  The Bible puts it this way: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and […]

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Kicking against the goads?: The meaning and message

“It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” What exactly does that phrase mean? “Kicking against the goads” is not something we hear often in our day-to-day conversation! And yet, in Acts 26:14, the master Teacher delivers a powerful life lesson in His exquisite, parabolic style, which is simple, straightforward, self-explanatory, and is designed to sanctify every blood-bought saint. Let’s examine this verse with the goal of gleaning two powerful truths: the meaning and the message of the oxgoad. Truth #1 – The meaning of the oxgoad First, the oxgoad is a long pole or stick with a […]

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What’s your treasure?

The adventure film National Treasure has been a favorite of mine since I first saw it in 2004.  It is loosely based on the myth of a secret code inscribed on the back of the Declaration of Independence by its signers.  The deciphering of this secret code would lead the treasure hunters, led by Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage), to the discovery of a fantastic collection of treasure that, for centuries, had been protected and passed down by the Knights Templar and Freemasons.  I am convinced that films like National Treasure and the hugely successful Indiana Jones series are so popular […]

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Living by F.A.I.T.H.

“The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17) is the Scripture that many historians say was the pivotal verse in the life of Martin Luther, whom God used to launch the Protestant Reformation. This is a verse that packs some punch! But what exactly does it mean? I periodically ask audiences what it means to live by faith; here are a few of the typical responses : To trust To believe To not walk by sight To have faith in God These thoughts attempt to capture what Paul meant when he said Christians are to live by faith, yet they […]

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Jesus owns you!

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” was a #1 pop hit in the late 1980s.  And why not?  Everyone wants to be happy!  Those who are not happy do everything within their power to stifle their feelings of discontent.  Many go the way of materialism.  Some pour themselves into climbing the career ladder.  Others numb their senses and emotions with alcohol or drugs.  Still others step outside the boundary of marriage and misuse and abuse God’s gift of sexual intimacy.  Sadly, it is not only unbelievers who engage in these activities, but also the blood-bought members of the body of Christ.  Such […]

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The true towering tomb

(Scroll down to leave a comment on what Christ’s tomb means to you) The oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza, has amazed and astonished experts to this day.  Rising over 450 feet into the air and constructed on a base whose area is more than 750 square feet, the pyramid covers an area of over 12 acres with nearly 2 ½ million blocks of stone, each weighing over 2 ½ tons.  The total mass of the pyramid is estimated at 5.9 million tons.  Based on these estimates, building this structure in 20 […]

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God will part the Red Seas in your life

Let’s take a moment together to examine one of the most instructive and inspiring verses in all of sacred Scripture: “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13). Having been freed from more than 400 years of bondage in Egypt, the Israelites find themselves seemingly trapped between the Red Sea and the pursuing Egyptian army. Their fear is great, their cry is loud and their hope is lost. Until God shows up! God parts the Red Sea! The Israelites did not find themselves trapped between Pharaoh’s approaching chariots and the Red Sea because Moses made a wrong […]

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Power talk!

Before God called me into Life, I spent more than two decades training athletes and working as an exercise physiologist. A considerable portion of that time included studying and applying mental preparation strategies to help create peak performance states. That study included the area of self or “power” talk. Power talk includes “trigger phrases” such as “I can do it,” “Be the ball,” and “Focus, focus, focus.” It also uses mood words like “drive,” “explode” and “hustle.” When said with appropriate emphasis, these terms tend to generate a positive emotional and physiological response. Examples of power talk If you spend […]

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How different do you want 2010 to be?

Michael Buffer may be the most well known ring announcer in history for his booming cry at the beginning of boxing matches: “Ladies and gentlemen, l-l-lets get ready to rumbl-l-le!” Dozens of sports franchises have invited Mr. Buffer to utter his trademarked call before a game, to fire up the home fans. We’ll come back to rumbling in a moment. As we embark on yet another year of life given us by the hand of our loving Lord, let me ask you two questions: In looking back over the past year, how did you do? In looking forward into the […]

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The two greatest stories ever told!

(Scroll down to leave a comment on how your stories are intertwined with Jesus’) If you are a regular reader of the Good News in South Florida you are probably familiar with The Greatest Story Ever Told.  If you are not, let me encourage you to read through the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  The Greatest Story Ever Told is the divine revelation of Jesus Christ set forth in sacred Scripture from His arrival as a baby in a manger to His ascension back into heaven as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  In fact, […]

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