I don’t remember what grade I was in at the time, but I remember the details of what happened very well. Let me first say that, in my younger years, I was somewhat different from what I am now. Back then I was a rather timid individual. I was not nearly so competitive as I am now. Anyway, I was at the Opryland Amusement Park. It sat where the Opryland shopping mall now stands. There was a ride there that was the first of its kind. It was a double-looping rollercoaster that attained the necessary speed for the two loops on a downhill run that was as fast as any coaster of its time. I wanted to try this coaster, but, alas, I was a bit nervous. I walked slowly toward the ride all the while gazing at what might be my final destiny. I hesitated a few times. I wanted to turn back all the time. Just when I thought I might lose my last bit of courage, a boy, many years my junior, pushed his way past me running up to the starting gate.

We never know when we will draw our last breath, or how we will die. We must always be prepared. Friend, brother, sister, are you ready to die right now? Do you know where you will spend eternity? Christian, do you look forward to going to your eternal home? Are there some things you need to get right before the time comes?

A couple of weeks ago, we thought about conviction and what it does for us. We imagined having a faith that was totally convicted and what that would do for us. It will cause us to act in ways that move us closer to God. Then, it will give us the ability to state that assurance.

Matthew 22 records a day when Jesus encountered the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Scribes all of whom were determined to catch Him and trip Him up. These three groups represented the leadership of the Jewish people. The Pharisees were the “law guys.” They were the ones who knew what the law said and called the people to follow them. Jesus, though, gave this warning, “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say and do not do.” (Matthew 23:3).

A jury is handed an case after a 3-week trial.  More than 50 witnesses have taken the stand, some for the defense and some for the prosecution.  They have heard testimony from a few expert witnesses who are known their expertise in one or more facets of the case.  Now, it is their turn to consider all that they heard and return a verdict.

There is nothing more natural than relationships between people.  We are born into a family relationship.  We grow up in a community relationship.  We engage in friend relationships.  We find our own marriage relationship.  We have team relationships, work relationships, professional relationships, and, in this time, online relationships.  These have their own unique dynamic and their own demands.

“He who glories let him glory in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 1:31).  This verse addresses one of the main problems that all humans seem to face at one time or another.  We get too full of ourselves.  We become enchanted with our accomplishments without recognizing the real source of our power.

For what do you long?  There are many people who are lonely and long for someone to connect with them.  Some people long for a good meal because they are without what they need.  Others have lost a loved one to death and long to see them again.  These are heart-felt, deep longings.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians instructing them to “learn in us not to think beyond what is written…” (I Corinthians 4:6).  What was he telling them that we need to hear today?  It seems to me that he was giving the key to proper Bible study.  As we try to understand what God says in Scripture and how it applies to us today, we need to have a proper methodology for ascertaining consistently what He is saying.

Providence is defined as, “Divine guidance or care; God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny.” We often say that the providence of God is best seen looking in the rearview mirror rather than through the windshield.

I remember well “The Miracle on Ice”.  It occurred during the 1980 Winter Olympics.  It was a hockey game between the USA and Russia in the semifinals of the Gold Medal division.  The winner would go on to play in the gold medal game.  The game was bigger than what was happening in that ice rink.  This was a battle between two nations stuck in a state of détente’.

The body image of the Church teaches great lessons.  God used that analogy probably because each one of us has a body and we understand the concept so well.  One of the powerful truths about the body is its ability to speak without the mouth saying anything.  It is called body language.

Courage pushes people past their limits to face seemingly insurmountable odds.  Discouragement drowns people in hopelessness so that they cannot even face the smallest of challenges.  Courage elevates; discouragement deflates.  Courage drives people forward.  Discouragement drags people backward.  There is nothing that kills good work done by good workers more swiftly than discouragement.

(This was many years before I was born, for those who thought differently.)  What was going on 75 years ago?  What 75th anniversaries are being celebrated in 2026?  Where were you and what were you doing?  Here are some facts I found about 75th anniversaries and the year 1951.

Submission is difficult for everyone.  Our entire childhood years were devoted to finding our own way and gaining our independence.  It started from the moment we pulled our hands away from mom or dad to strike out on our own walking by ourselves.  That first expression of independence was a sign of our desire to be on our own and not under anyone else.

If you ever wrote a paper in college the night before it was due, raise your hand.  If your school habit was pulling all-nighters before test day, raise your hand.  If you ever put something off telling yourself that you will do it another time and then forgot all about it, raise your hand.  If tomorrow is your favorite project day, you are a procrastinator.

I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day;
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved and yielded at my will.
 
I came again when days were past,
 The form I gave it still it bore.
And as my fingers pressed it still,
I could change that form no more.
 
I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power and art,
A young child's soft and yielding heart.
 
I came again when days were gone;
It was a man I looked upon,
He still that early impress bore,
And I could change it never more.

In the sports world, is Tom Brady the greatest football player of all time?  Is Michael Jordan the greatest basketball player of all time?  Is it Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus who is the greatest golfer of all time?  Is it Wayne Gretzky in hockey, Babe Ruth in baseball, and Pele in soccer?

“Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:21-22).  Jesus had called Peter and Andrew to be with Him and then He called James and John who were “mending their nets.”