God

Cast Off that Corpse and Take Up Your Cross!

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).   How are you coming on those New Year’s resolutions? What did you promise yourself you were going to stop doing this year? Eating too much? Spending too much idle time? Running up too much debt? How about the things you resolved to start doing . . . or do more of? Exercising regularly? Maintaining a consistent devotional time? Getting out of debt?  We all do it every year; we promise ourselves we are going to make changes. And that’s […]

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Hero Maker

Recently I overheard someone say, “you are not a hero maker.” The comment immediately got my attention for many reasons. I was curious what a hero maker was and what it took to make one? I was also intrigued by what standards one was measured by to determine if he/she was a hero maker? I sensed there was something worthwhile hidden within the comment, perhaps a secret prize of some sort.   We all love heroes, and they do, indeed, come in all shapes and sizes. The most notorious heroes are those men and women that stand up for the […]

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Kick-Start a New Beginning

Let me be honest; I love to eat.  When I was growing up, my family enjoyed gathering around the table and sharing memories over great dishes. Our quality time at home largely consisted of cooking and eating together. Today, it brings me joy to be creative in the kitchen. Trying new recipes and going to new restaurants are some of my favorite pastimes. Even now, when my family travels across the United States and around the world, we can’t wait to try new types of cuisine available to us.    Fasting in the new year Due to this, the spiritual […]

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The Power of Self Control for 2023

Are you excited about the coming 2023 new year? Thousands and thousands of people will gather all around the world to celebrate this moment, whether in Sydney, Australia, or in New York at the New Year’s Eve Times Square countdown. This tradition has been around for as long as I can remember. Caught in the frame of our hearts and mind, it is almost like a Disney moment.  Self control for 2023 We wait so long for this one-minute countdown, and it goes by so quickly. People often go back to doing what they had been doing before, back to […]

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Heaven

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). We live in a world where an increasing number of people do not believe in an eternal hell, a place of everlasting punishment. A frequently asked question is “How could a loving God allow anyone to go to hell?” My problem has always been just the opposite. By that I mean, I have no problem believing in hell. But how could there be such a wonderful place like heaven? How could the love and grace of God be so […]

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The Season of Giving

As the year ends and we begin celebrating the holiday season, there is a cultural phrase that sticks out to me the most this time of year: “the season of giving.” This usually is in reference to the fact that this time of year is when we tend to give gifts to our friends, families, neighbors, co-workers or loved ones to show the appreciation and gratitude we have for them. As much as I love this time of year – music, food, weather (even though South Florida fall weather is just a less scorching summer with random cold fronts, it’s […]

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I love you Bono

I was introduced to the music of U2 back in high school, and I have remained a fan ever since. Bono, the lead singer has been open about his faith in Christ, and though unconventional in his expression, I don’t doubt it. Recently I had the opportunity, with Lisa, to see his one-person presentation entitled, “Stories of Surrender,” a two-hour depiction of his life story based on his recently published book by the same name. The experience was exceptional and profound. I was drawn into the experience and noted how he used emotion, intellect, cadence, art, movement, music and silence […]

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