Here Today – Gone Tomorrow
Hidden Treasures in Plain Sight
Merry Christmas!
Underinsured?
Insurance is a billion dollar industry. People take out insurance on almost everything – property, automobiles, their lives, health and on and on, in the hope of being sufficiently covered in case of an accident, crisis or emergency.
Looking Forward
I will be leaving for a trip to England this week with my only son. It is a trip we have been planning for a long time. It is something that we have been looking forward to for quite a while. It’s his early graduation present and my belated 50th birthday present. It is something that I’m sure we will remember for the rest of our lives. An opportunity to bond together through a unique experience. Something he will hopefully look back on one day with great fondness.
Being born and raised in South Africa, the game of rugby is running through my veins. I played it in school and college and I follow it religiously. And I’m still a huge supporter of the South African rugby side called the Springbokke. Next time you see the license plate on my minivan, you will understand that Bokke is simply short for Springbokke. It has been many years since I have seen the Springbokke play an international match. Right now the Rugby World Cup, which happens every four years, is taking place in England. So during our trip we will be attending the match between South Africa (the Springbokke) and Scotland in Newcastle. We will also be going to the match between the Springbokke and the United States Eagles at the Olympic Stadium in London. Read more…
How We Come To Church
How would you respond if you could have a personal meeting with the President of the United States this Saturday at 9:00 a.m.?
You would probably be excited and nervous at the same time. You might go out and buy a new outfit for the occasion. You might make a list of questions you want to ask him. You might get a haircut or have your hair done for the event. You might have a hard time sleeping the previous night. You will definitely set your alarm so you can get up early and make sure you are there on time. You would definitely not want to miss such an important occasion. It would be silly to squander such a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Having a meeting with the president will obviously be a very special occasion, no doubt. But have you ever thought about the fact that you have the opportunity to meet with the President of the Universe, the Creator of everything, the Almighty God every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.? There is no one more important than him. And yet we often treat this meeting as something that is of no importance at all. Read more…
Why I Love Going to Church
There is the old joke about a mother who went to wake her son for church one Sunday morning. When she knocked on his door, he said, “I’m not going!” “Why not?” asked his mother. “I’ll give you two good reasons,” he said. “One, they don’t like me. Two, I don’t like them.” His mother replied, “I’ll give you two good reasons why YOU WILL go to church. One, you’re 50 years old. Two, you’re the pastor!”
It is a reality that a lot of families today are struggling to go to church, and the desire to sleep in on Sunday morning is certainly only one of the challenges they face. The hour of worship is competing with sports activities for the children and catching up with responsibilities at home and recreation and all sorts of things.
My wife and I have made it our commitment to go to church on Sundays a long time ago, and that’s what we do as a family. My kids know that for as long as they are staying under our roof, church attendance on Sunday is a non-negotiable. Unless there are unusual circumstances, of course. But because it is so easy to fall out of habit when it comes to attending worship, absence on Sundays is the rare exception for us, rather than the norm. Read more…