Roger

I couldn’t help but laugh at a clever cartoon, which depicted a very nervous chicken walking in front of a Kentucky Fried Restaurant.  The caption read, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Psalm 23:4 captures my attention every time I read this beloved Psalm.   As a hospice chaplain, I quote this verse often when dealing with those close to death.   Shadows have always intrigued me.   When the electricity went out, my siblings and I created shadow animals in the glow of candlelight.   My brothers and I would also shadowbox.   No matter how hard I punched my shadow, I never knocked him out!   While walking home toward dusk, large maple trees cast shadows on the road and I imagined them to be aliens from another world.   My feet could not get me home fast enough! And perhaps you remember the late 1960’s afternoon television soap entitled “Dark Shadows, which featured a vampire named Barnab...

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Once in a while verses in the Bible like the one above are partially misquoted or interpreted.   For the most part, such quoting renders harmless the original writer’s intentions, but still, we who handle the Word of God need to strive toward biblical accuracy.   Another verse that we often quote wrongly proves my point as well.   Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not turn from it.”   Most preaching suggests that children who are raised in the ways of the Lord never depart from their faith.   However, this application does not remain time tested.   Many who have been raised to love and serve the Lord stray from their original teachings in adulthood.   Such an application leaves godly parents bewildered and wondering, “Where did I go wrong?” Much guilt associated with ch...

Calling all dreamers! An obscure verse found in Genesis 37:5 says, “And Joseph had a dream.”   This full color, ambiguous, two-part dream launched him toward his life’s work.   His dream provides a backdrop for dreamers today.   It has the makings of a made-for-television movie!   Before I continue, however, let me define the word “dream,” as seen in Joseph’s life.   A “dream” is an assignment from the Throne of God.   It may or may not occur in your sleep! Dreamers “see” before they see!   Disneyland Park is the first of two Walt Disney theme parks built in the United States.   Located in Anaheim, California, Disneyland Park opened July 17, 1955 and is the only theme park directly built under the supervision of Walt Disney.   Today, millions travel annually to his second American theme park located just outside of Orlando, Florida. Walt Disney passed away in 1968, before his second park was constructed. Mrs. Walt Disney was present at t...

Imagine sitting on a Mediterranean beach sometime around 766 B.C.  Suddenly, as you’re watching the waves pounding the shore, a whale comes within close sight and projectile vomits out “something.”  Later, you discover it’s “someone” – a seaweed-covered, wrinkled man.  It’s a disgusting spectacle, but one for the books. Jonah and the whale is one of my favorite Old Testament stories.   As a boy, I marveled at the run-away preacher who got swallowed by a great fish.   As an adult, I marvel at the imagery and suspense of the whole story. These four chapters are fast moving and action packed.   Many who renounce the literal interpretation of the Bible struggle with the idea that a man could possibly survive in the belly of a great fish (whale) for three days.   However, our Savior recognized Jonah as an actual historical figure, so that’s good enough for me.   If Jesus confirmed the story, it has to be true! Prior to His crucifixion, Jesu...