We senior type people should never be without the idea of making each day as productive and influential as possible.  In the past three articles we have considered eight goals we need to work towards to help us make the most of our life stage, and there are two final ones I would like to call to our attention in this series. These last two are essentials for us if we are ever to achieve success in the previous eight we have considered. Read more…

People love sports; there can be no arguing this fact. No matter where you find yourself within the four corners of our great nation, you can be sure you’re among diehard sports fans. Every region has their different taste of athletics; some sports are more prevalent, some teams are more popular. I had the unique privilege of growing up in North Carolina. Our colleges participated in most sports, but only one really mattered—basketball.

There are two primary college basketball teams in our state, the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils. These two teams have shared a fierce rivalry for many years, as their college campuses are only about fifteen miles apart. My dad is a Tar Heel, his dad is a Tar Heel; therefore, I have Carolina Blue running through my veins. I’ll allow the reader to decide which of these two teams is better; but I will tell you this small, unbiased detail: North Carolina has beaten Duke more times head-to-head.

Over the years of cheering for the Heels, I’ve been asked this same question countless times, “What is a Tar Heel anyway?” Although the exact etymology of this term is unknown, the legend of the Tar Heels is quite interesting. During the US Civil War, North Carolina was considered Read more…

Have you ever told someone that was under your authority to do something and they didn’t mind you? I have. For example, two years ago God blessed Elizabeth and me with a beautiful baby girl. Fast-forward two years…that girl is still beautiful but she is no longer a baby! She has a mind of her own. Being the parent of a two year old keeps you on your toes and at times it is imperative that my daughter heed my words because they will keep her safe.

We have a pool in our backyard and I am constantly warning Sophia to stay away from it. Last week Elizabeth and I were engaged in a conversation for a moment and not paying attention. We turned around to find her sitting on the edge of the pool dangling her feet in the water! It scared us both to death and we “got onto her” about it. We were upset to say the least. Why? Because it can bring great harm to her if she goes near it without me. It’s not that I don’t want her to enjoy the pool – it’s that I want to keep her safe.

My daughter constantly reminds me of my relationship with God. You and I are under His authority and He has every expectation that we pay attention to His voice – not just hear it but obey it. Consider the following verse:

Zechariah 7:13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts:

It is interesting to note the direct correlation between what we hear and what God hears. There is a principle in this verse that we would all be wise to pay attention to. It could be stated this way: When our ears are open, the ears of God are open – when our ears are closed, so too are the ears of God. Read more…

Recently I was using my trusty GPS (global positioning system) to navigate me through some unfamiliar territory. I was making surprisingly good time; with each look at my ETA (estimated time of arrival), I had gained at least a minute or two! Unfortunately, I was navigated to a “dead end” road. The last words spoken by that GPS were, “arriving at destination” where no destination could be found. How frustrating it was to make great time in getting to the wrong place. Somewhere between the configuration of my GPS and my current trip, someone had apparently dropped the ball. How devastating would it be if the gospel were treated this lightly? “Arriving at destination” when no destination is in sight!

Ignatius was one of the early church fathers who lived during the first century. He was condemned to die for his faith in Christ and was ordered to be thrown among wild beasts that would devour him. Shortly before his final breath, Read more…