Good morning everyone: “This is BIG!” announced a sale flyer in today’s newspaper. The ad went on and on promising massive savings with minimal exclusions. But have you noticed how often heavily hyped sales are disappointing, while the truly worthwhile ones are quietly passed along by word of mouth. They don’t need huge fonts and…
Good morning everyone: “I’m ashamed.” When was the last time you heard someone admit that? When did you last say it? It’s not a popular thing to acknowledge. Even when someone is obviously at fault, shame is rarely expressed. Instead, a person may become defensive and assert their right to do whatever they like. Someone…
Good morning everyone: “Door-buster specials! Mega Sales! Unbelievable deals! You Can’t Miss This One!” By now you’ve heard these and many other extravagant claims designed to motivate you to purchase everything from socks to new cars. Did the advertising work? Were you up and waiting at the door by the time the store opened at…
Good morning everyone: “Here, take this pill. You’ll feel better.” Would you pop it in your mouth and wash it down with a glass of water? It would depend on who was speaking, wouldn’t it? If it were a stranger on a street corner downtown, you wouldn’t even consider it. The person might be offering…
Good morning everyone: If you have ever been on a commercial airline flight you have heard the preflight safety instructions given by the flight attendants before takeoff. But do you remember what those instructions were? Could you carry them out if there ever were an emergency midflight? Perhaps not. If you’re like most passengers you…
Good morning everyone: Have you noticed how much time is spent in “searching” at this time of year? We search through the Sunday ads, online catalogs, and the aisles of the mall for just the right gifts for the people on our list. We dig through closets and garages for lights and other decorations. We…
Good morning everyone: “THE END IS NEAR” states the cover of the latest TIME magazine. It is, of course, speaking of the end of the long, drawn-out presidential campaign which concludes with next Tuesday’s general election. Are you relieved, apprehensive, ready? To be prepared we need to be informed of the issues and candidates, so…
Good morning everyone: Tell someone, “This is a special weekend,” and they may quickly agree, “It sure is; it’s Halloween!” The sales of costumes, masks, and party supplies have skyrocketed in recent years. Halloween has never been more popular. Yet for us, there is another, much more important event which makes this a special weekend—the…
Good morning everyone: In the next four years there will be good-paying jobs for everyone. A college education will be free. America will be great again. Our borders will be secure. Terrorism will be defeated. Healthcare will be affordable and available to all. We have heard all these promises and many more over and over…
Good morning everyone: Last night my wife and I watched a movie in which one character, a young teacher, at a time of great personal crisis, poured out her heart to her father saying, “Jesus seems a million miles away!” Just when she needed Him most, He seemed to be disinterested and out of reach….