Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 200
Thinking about the character of God, we all see God through our own eyes, and more specifically, through our experiences. Many of these experiences are negative. The great American Poet, Robert Frost, who is the closest thing to Poet Lauriat our country has ever known, described God’s character in tens if not hundreds of poems in many different and subtle ways. Always with reverence and respect; this is not true of not a few in our own culture. Perception is part of the problem, so we must search for the truth. Monica in the Free to Thrive v...
Being accused, “You don’t listen,” hurts. One unexpected result of the Internet and the Cell Phone age is that people are conditioned into impatience. Why is this? It is the incessant bells and whistles going off to condition us to look at our Cell phone. Youth are being misled. As adults we are expected to be temperate, patient, listen, and to be straightforward. However, adults, too, miss the mark. I’m not alone in calling these times, “The age of great distraction.” Friend, I want to ask you to look deeper. Do you listen to God given longi...
Bob’s childhood was very difficult, certainly unexpected, considering that his parents were part of a ministry organization that traveled around the world preaching the saving grace of Jesus. But at home: intemperateness. Bob’s father was absent in many respects, and during those important developmental years, the boy wilted under hurtful insults and outbursts of anger directed at him by his father. For years the young man lived in fear and worse, internal strife. He developed several health issues, including acute obsessive-compulsive dis...
Monica’s first story is one of balance tragic. At 22 she brimmed with life. Her fiancée and she planned to go into ministry. Then suddenly he broke the engagement, and the rejection sent her into a spin. Having grown up a quiet girl and mostly introverted, uncomfortable around strangers, she withdrew and turned to comfort in alcohol. She met a man in the party scene, attempting to cope with past rejection—a manipulative predator. He took advantage of alcohol and her youth. Then abandoned her. For months her human prison of despair, dark...
Once upon a time, Americans agreed that to THRIVE every individual went the short route by identifying what we longed for and what we craved. It was agreeable and married people, especially married old couples, learned the secrets and they were precious. Christian marriage had been proved. It wasn’t something to argue over, Why was this? Well, from conception to early years, a mother and father slaved and sacrificed everything for their children. Why? For what? For food, shelter, clothing, and, yes, for love. Today, it’s still clear, we are...
We are created by God with natural longings. Some of these longings are honorable and pleasant within the safe boundaries taught in the Bible. Other longings are harmful, even destructive to ourselves or others as warned against in the Bible. Author and speaker, Ben Bennett states “Failure to address legitimate longings is often behind our unhealthy thoughts and destructive behaviors.” Ben founded the Resolution Movement- a global movement helping people overcome hurts and struggles to thrive in life, check out this initiative at res...
Our friends at Merriam-Websters define thrive as: to FLOURISH, or to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances. With spring in full swing, I’ve noticed the dandelions thriving. I’ll be treating them real soon. Most of us want to thrive in our businesses, but, more than this, we want to progress, it’s human nature. On the other hand, reality teaches us that we do not always get what we want. No one is promised the world. Many circumstances are beyond our control, especially when other people are brought into the m...
I’ve heard literally thousands of sermons in my 52 years. As a pastor, I’ve preached hundreds of sermons over the past 35 years. One common expression a pastor often uses when wrapping up their message includes “in closing.” That’s generally a hint that they are almost done speaking, maybe? Many a time a preacher failed to conclude. Pastor and professor at my Seminary, David Jones said, “Land the plane future preachers. Don’t say you’re coming in for the landing and then take off again.” I’ve heard his message many times in my head when I’m sp...
Our topics today, hardship and discipline, weave together, watch for them. Who doesn’t feel for an individual or, for that matter, a people enduring hardship and suffering? Perhaps you recall watching the movie classic The Grapes of Wrath, the translation of the John Steinbeck novel of the same name? Henry Fonda and his instantly recognizable voice—he was young when it was filmed. Discipline, on the other hand, has multiple connotations all depending upon the context. We view discipline negatively if it entails emotional and/or physical abu...
As technology has advanced, I’ll be the first to admit distrusting the so-called “Cloud”, the online system that saves my pictures, documents, and more on a server in Butte, Bozeman, Seattle, Washington, Sacramento, California, or Dillon, just to make the point. A friend of mine recently told me that he deleted some files on his computer, not knowing that everything was deleted on his entire cloud account—a major hassle. I’m all for files being saved; however, I’m a yard leery of others, namely hackers, getting my personal data and information...
To recognize exceptionality, the Pro Hall of Fame was constructed in Canton, Ohio in 1963 to recognize franchise owners, officials, front-office personnel, coaches, and players for their sweat and devotion. Since then, other endeavors have followed suit. If you fly, well, there’s the hall for Aviation. Ditto, military, theater, medicine, automotive, music, and gymnastics. I’m thinking that somewhere there is a Hall of Fame titled The International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center. (There is, it is famous in Baraboo, Wisconsin, well, acc...
For word history, the Cambridge Dictionary shines as one of the best, and those folks say that Endurance is “The ability to keep doing something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a long period of time.” I’m betting, immediately, you’re thinking of a time when you worked tirelessly. You felt the urgent motivation to endure. I want you to ponder that thought for a moment. Several years ago, I was snowmobiling with a friend in the windy mountains outside Libby, Montana. After a morning of some fun in the snow we made a poor decision to run...
Seems today that we sit more and more. Our jobs, of course, are the culprits; and for youth, particularly boys (but increasingly girls too) gaming occupies us. Then, there is office administration, taxi services, computer programing. In the past generation, schooling has become longer and longer, increasing sitting. Then there are occupations that require physical exertion and strength, such as the construction arts, athletics, delivery services and much more. For those in the later style of work it would be frowned upon to constantly sit on...
Are you into details? Maybe you know an aproned tart whose apple pie recipe is to die for? A mechanic so honest he loves making old cars hum? A cabinet builder whose biggest thrill: seeing the happiness in the customer’s eyes when first she sees the new kitchen? Then there are those artists who paint with breathtaking precision. I’m married to a woman who is an aficionado perfecto; organization is her cup of tea. Are you familiar with the old proverb “The devil is in the details?” After some research, I discovered that Gary Martin points...
As spring approaches many individuals have an itch, it's time to start mucking through possessions. My friends and I helped another person in need of this kind of service, sifting through a lifetime of collections. Our community benefited from this as we set up an event to give back needed clothing items for free. I would venture to guess many readers have made some type of spring-cleaning plans. Letting go of items can be challenging for some but this often is necessary. Letting go of unnecessary traditions or practices can also be...
Who in the world is Melchizedek and why does this matter? Well, in only three books of the Bible, a very big book that happens to have been edited over 10,000 times, more than any other book in the World, this side of eternity, do we find Melchizedek mentioned—Genesis 14, Psalms 110, and Hebrews 5-7. Melchizedek is controversial, should I say. I will say, I probably won’t be settling the matter. However, this specific debate gets us sidetracked from the entire premise presented throughout the Epistle of Hebrews; Jesus is the greatest and hig...
The Epistle of Hebrews demands attention from serious people in search of, God, eternity, and truth. Jesus is more than a Jewish invention of conflict. In fact, Jesus is given a distinction that surpasses anyone in history—high priest forever. In chapter six the author also describes Jesus as “our forerunner.” The Greek word prodromos best translates, I’m told to our “reconnaissance man,” a term that entered the conversation during the Napoleonic wars. In essence, Jesus goes before us so that we in turn can follow him: “We have this hope as...
Has someone made you a promise and failed to follow through? Have you ever broken a promise? If we are honest I would presume all of us can answer “yes” to both questions. The simple truth is we are broken people living in a broken world; however, we have hope. Perseverance and grit are Christ-like characteristics to develop throughout the course of our life. Although we have no way to know exactly, most reckoning suggests that by the time this letter was penned, the larger following of Jesus was already in the thousands. In this document con...
Have you ever had a frank and candid talk with someone that you had to prepare for? Perhaps it fell to you to bring something to a friend’s attention, and you did not know how your friend would react. Well, in the Letter to the Hebrews, I kind of think that the author’s name was “Frank.” LOL. Hebrews has had more than its share of attention over the past decades, even centuries. While the entire theological community is in upheaval, it’s clear the author delivers multiple warnings regarding persevering in one’s faith. He obviously has their t...
Debate among Christians can be healthy and useful. Of course, staying within the fundamental structure of core Christian doctrine is essential, including the deity of Jesus Christ, the fall of mankind, salvation through repentance and grace, and biblical authority. In addition, I recognize flexibility with practices and teachings that do not compromise core truths: views regarding the return of Christ, methods of water baptism, and physical healing, to list a few. The Letter to Hebrews is not only a rich study of Old Testament law and practice...
Theological debates have long been part of church history. Some scholars and even amateur scholars are well acquainted, prepared, and ready to battle different viewpoints within Christianity while others sit on the sidelines and ask “is this even necessary?” I simply contend that we must be Biblically balanced, recognizing our own personal opinions or presumptions with a key provision: God’s Word is the final authority and our theology must fall in line with the proper understanding and context. We should never try to force the Bible into...
Have you ever had a break in your train of thought? I’m not referring to one of those forgetful moments either, those occur for a variety of reasons. I’m talking about a moment when you pause from your line of reasoning by taking a short Segway to communicate another valuable thought. Well, Bible authors have written in a similar fashion often, all for an important purpose. We find this to be the case in the later verses of Hebrews 5 continuing into chapter 6. “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you becau...
Priesthood order has long been part of church history, dating directly back to the family line of Aaron (Exodus 28). The Old Testament is marked by a rich history of Levitical Law, customs, and traditions which hold true to this day for Jewish and other religious observers. “Priests” are generally understood to be one who is an agent between humans and God; they often perform certain rites and administer specific sacraments. The Epistle of Hebrews takes an in-depth view of the priesthood order and customs, one which is worth our con...
Christian organizations and city government, both businesses that I know best, strengthen their purpose by reviewing, and at times rewriting, their mission statement. From this then flows, among other things, planning, then long-term goals and disbursements. At times entities can get off mission. It might seem an oversimplification, but drawing back to the Bible, and Christ’s very simplicity has helped the church not just a few times. I’m a strong proponent of Biblical values and find that the Epistle of Hebrews makes a firm case for per...
Have you ever complimented someone for being a great person? What about speaking to others highly about another individual? We all have a certain person we admire, which is fairly standard. Dating back for centuries the Jewish people have looked up to Moses as one of the greatest leaders of all time. “Moshe Rabbeinu,” Moses, our teacher is their title for him. Known for standing up to Pharaoh and demanding he let the Jewish people go, he is revered for parting the Red Sea and securing their escape. Is there anyone greater? The author of Heb...
