Author: Dr. Mark

THE DAY AFTER

ByDr. Mark April 7, 2025 3 Comments
“As Ezra read from the scroll, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites went among the peopleand explained the meaning of the passage that was being read. All the people began sobbing when they heard the commands of the law. Then Ezra the priest, and I as governor, and the Levites who were assisting me said...

PERSISTENT INVITATION OR PERSONAL INTENTION?

ByDr. Mark April 6, 2025 0 Comments
“I want to be a follower of Christ. I want to be one of his disciples. I want to live in the newness of life. Just let me be a follower of Christ.” (Published in 2012 by J.W. Harris) The lyrics above are sung Sunday after Sunday in churches around the country, usually at the time adjacent to when the preacher is presenting an invitation to discipleship. When you sing it, do you take it as a...

DEALING WITH FAILINGS

ByDr. Mark April 5, 2025 0 Comments
“Failure is delay but not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead-end street.” (Quote from William Arthur Ward) Some of you have certainly heard me repeat this axiom, an actual truth on more than one occasion: “We have failings, but we are not failures.” I base this truism on the following scriptures. (1) “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard...

THE POST-IT NOTE

ByDr. Mark April 4, 2025 2 Comments
 “Love is patient, love is kind.” (I Corinthians 13:4a NIV) As I sat waiting for the hospital representative to schedule my next annual visit, I observed about 8-9 small, multi-colored, Post-It Notes on her in-and-out basket. I read all of them while I patiently waited. Just as a side note, I do not have to go back and ask the representative to forgive me for holding out the patience she...

THERE IS A TIME TO COMMEND

ByDr. Mark April 3, 2025 0 Comments
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV) Surely you have been in a situation where someone shared an accurate thought from a scripture. It might have been in a class, a ministry meeting, or a conversation with another. If you have not been in such a situation, you will. Let me share a few thoughts that will help you in such...

THE SYMPHONIA OF YOUR LIFE

ByDr. Mark April 2, 2025 0 Comments
Music appreciation was a required course for individuals seeking a Bachelor of Arts during my college days. We listened to many of the greats, Mozart, Beethoven, Hayden, and several others. For relaxation and to rest my ears from the typical music that is filled with words, especially when the religious station is devoting time to talking with callers about local, state, and national politics, I...

IT WAS IN “THE BOOK” FIRST!

ByDr. Mark April 1, 2025 2 Comments
In my professional career in Human Resources, I was exposed to a lot of Leadership Principles, and the cost to my employer was no small amount. The training usually was good, sometimes very exceptional. However, in my other career as a pastor for 35 years, I have discovered that much of what people have trademarked and copyrighted as their principle or theory is not really original. It was in...

GET IN THE GAME!

ByDr. Mark March 31, 2025 0 Comments
This is your Monday Short meditation, inspired by Pastor M.R. King in Sunday School yesterday. In basketball, only five players can be on the floor for your team at one time. In baseball, you can field nine players at a time. In football, the defense is allowed to have 11 players on the field at the same time. The same is true for the offense in football. In volleyball you are allowed six...

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!

ByDr. Mark March 30, 2025 0 Comments
In the mid-1970’s American Express started using the phrase, “Don’t leave home without it,” in reference to their credit card. It’s not Monday and I am not challenged to write a short meditation to meet my customary goal for Monday mornings, but I’m going to be brief today. The message this morning is short, but it is something you will do, if you are smart! Here is the message, a...

GUESS WHO’S CALLING?

ByDr. Mark March 29, 2025 1 Comment
“The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel....