There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of my dad. He was one of a kind! When Dad was fun…he was fun!When he was serious, he was very serious. When he was upset….run! With that in mind, we, kids, really tried to watch our p's and q's knowing it was always better to be good and accountable than to have done something wrong and face the wrath later. It seems before I could tell him what I had done wrong, Dad was already taking me aside to address it. Because of this uncanny ability, I tried to always be up front and honest with him.
Well, there was just one situation that happened that I hesitated to address. Ooooh…I tried to weigh it out….what is safer at this time?
Well, there was just one situation that happened that I hesitated to address. Ooooh…I tried to weigh it out….what is safer at this time?
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."John 13:35
The lifestyle of the Babemba Tribe in South Africa was featured a number of years ago in a television documentary on Apartheid. Within that community, antisocial or criminal behavior is rare. However, when it does occur the Bambemba have an interesting and beautifully creative way of dealing with it….
If a member of the tribe acts irresponsibly, he or she is placed in the center of the village. Work stops, and every man, woman and child in the village gathers around the accused in a large circle. One at a time, each individual, including the children, call out all the good things the person in the center of the ring has done previously. All the positive attributes and the kind acts are recited carefully and at length. No one is permitted to exaggerate or be facetious. It's serious business!
The lifestyle of the Babemba Tribe in South Africa was featured a number of years ago in a television documentary on Apartheid. Within that community, antisocial or criminal behavior is rare. However, when it does occur the Bambemba have an interesting and beautifully creative way of dealing with it….
If a member of the tribe acts irresponsibly, he or she is placed in the center of the village. Work stops, and every man, woman and child in the village gathers around the accused in a large circle. One at a time, each individual, including the children, call out all the good things the person in the center of the ring has done previously. All the positive attributes and the kind acts are recited carefully and at length. No one is permitted to exaggerate or be facetious. It's serious business!
As some of you may already know, I spend a lot of time on booking our itinerary of services. Due to the advance calendar planning that churches do, I usually have to call and book about six months to one year ahead of time in order to be included on a church's schedule. When talking to the pastor of a given church, I always describe what our ministry is all about. A few weeks ago, I had made a phone call and explained to a pastor that we would be coming through his area in a year. I told him that we provide music and altar calls, and that our total purpose is to see people come to Christ...
Larry shares about an experience which saved them from sending the bus into oblivion. He talks about how each day he sees lost souls heading into hell aimlessly, not knowing what their lack of action is doing and how it prods him and Gloria on and on!
Have you ever tuned in to a television program to see the perfect woman? She crawls out of bed looking like she walked out of a beauty ad, hair in place, makeup perfect, and dressed as if to meet the ambassador. They show us her All-American $500,000 white-pillared home, sprawled over acres of carefully groomed grounds, flower gardens, tennis courts and swimming pool. The home has countless extravagantly decorated rooms and furnishings, winding staircases, plus a personal butler and maid to take care of all of it.
"Honor my father….you've got to be kidding! He doesn't contact us. He doesn't care about us. You say honor? Not on my life!"
Have you ever been mistreated, lied to, or taken advantage of? Have you ever hurt so much emotionally that you just limped through life? You could be one of the walking wounded I've written about...
Could it be that difficult? I simply wanted to run to the laundromat and quickly wash my clothes that were desperately needing to be washed...
"Why God, why God?" I wept as I stood by the coffin of a very dear friend of our family. I looked down at Donna...
Shattering experiences come in many forms and disguises...