THE ART OF DELEGATING

“Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller...

THE TWO SIDES OF ADVICE

“The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” Moses answered him, “Because the people come to...

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR LAST NERVE

“One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days...

DIŌKŌ

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 NIV) If you saw the title and immediately thought, “That’s Greek to me,” then you were absolutely accurate.  The word diōkō  is a Greek word, expressed in the verse above as “press on.”  The late Reverend Michael Maxis who years ago headed up...

THAT DON’T MAKE NO SENSE!

“Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (I Kings 18:21 NIV) On numerous occasions in our childhood days, we were on the receiving end of the highly charged statement,“That don’t make no sense!” I had not heard it for a long time, but as I was standing in the crowded...

RESILIENCE

“After the death of Moses the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua, Moses’ assistant: “Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River,...

CHURCH TALK

“Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.” (Colossians 4:5-6 MSG) The prologue: Earlier this week I was talking with a pastor friend of mine who had called to tell me he had finally opened up his...

SO PUT ON A HAPPY FACE!

“A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. (Proverbs 15:13 NASB) The holiday weekend is about to begin.  Some of you probably got a head start way back at the end of last year because your seniority allowed you to schedule a day or two off before your company’s July 4th holiday.  Look at you! You are already smiling.  And...

THE TRUTH IS, “GOD GOT DOWN!”

“But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left. So the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians...” (Exodus 14:29-30a NASB) Taking a break one afternoon, I came across a TV Channel where scientists were attempting to explain how the Israelites, led by Moses, were able to...

PAST ME NOT????

“Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. (Philippians 3:13 NASB) At some point in time, I know that I have shared my 2nd or 3rdth grade story with you, describing how I did not get part of the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic right, singing “as true as...