Today’s Thought “Indigenously Awkward” G. Ward

“I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord. “I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord. Amos 4:10-11

Disproportionately, inherited wealth is the largest contributor for the affluent in America. The top 1% of wealthy Americans have amassed so much wealth nationally that it spurs great inequality, stagnating  income growth potential for many like you and me. My concern is for those (transcendent to the 1%’s) who have become sufficient on their own material prosperity. Have they not witnessed the rich dying? Have they not viewed the rise and fall of these economic giants emotionally and physically? Moreover, rarely heard are the testimonials from the fiscally sound about a potential and needed common denominator to man; Jesus Christ as LORD (Master, Owner) to their lives. While there is nothing wrong with wealth (as there is being poor), it’s yet a bigger responsibility amidst an American culture overwhelmingly aspiring wealth to share dependency on Holy God vs. things (cf. Phil.2:10-11)…

Happy Monday!

Today’s Thought “Fad Purchasing” G. Ward

“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 11:18-19

PF Flyers was as comparable a sneaker as Nike’s Air Jordan is today. This sneaker of old had great promotion via a television commercial featuring Hanna-Barbara’s cartoon champion Jonny Quest. Prior to that, the Boston Celtics premier point guard Bob Cousy was its greatest promoter. The entire campaign imposed an idea for every boy or girl to "run faster and jump higher.” My horrible parents failed miserably in not purchasing my siblings and me these outstanding shoes (I’ve never forgiven them – LOL.).

The fashion fad (for the 20^th century and this one also) transcends clothing and shoes. This cultural genre is captivating, involving everyone. Perhaps your area in guilty is categorically less, but any is somewhat unsettling. It promotes more insatiability in man than contentment (cf. Phil.3:11-12). Maturity demands return unto foundational matters (Mal.3:7). A basic provision given every man that lessens the strife of indecision is the eternal journal authored by Holy God (2 Ti.3:16-17). It keeps giving…

Happy Friday!

Today’s Thought “Green Acres” G. Ward

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23

Uncle “Doo-Dat” is a 94 year old uneducated farmer living in South Georgia. When he was younger, purchasing hundreds of acres in land was his only consideration (sharecropping, an unfair practice, was a loophole of slavery for 20^th century agriculturalists). That generation more contemplated legacy building than personal riches through land acquisition. “Doo-Dat” and his wife personally constructed a very modest home while simultaneously insistent in designating a sector of land for a local church to be built. As typical, his children sought higher education, abhorring the hard work farming offered. I’ve had many opportunities to sit in the presence of this vivacious senior adult. His movement is slower, but his mind is sharp and marvels at the hurried behavior of so many. I believe the secret to his successful perspective is something he echoes for others to think on periodically. Uncle “Doo-Dat” said, “I have sat on the front row at funerals of many who tried to work me to death!”

Happy Thursday!

Today’s Thought “Stress Kills” G. Ward

“Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165

Trouble will/can often reveal a need to turn back the hand of time to submit to proven leadership. It vows to never repeat the offense. It begs for rescue with great appeal, utilizing monologue that says, “If I get out of this one…”

The entirety of this is likely attributable to our abusive perception of Who God is. Our lack in consideration of His omniscience supposes He doesn’t desire us to suffer one singular moment (cf. Jas.1:2-3). He is not the rich uncle who bails us out of fiscal impropriety. Moreover, there is greater contingency in Knowing Him than copying and pasting slogans about His sufficiency (cf. Gal.6:7). Ordinarily, this wouldn’t be a second point in contemplation for many viewed as irrelevant,  in that songs like, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” would resonate immediately. This generation, on the other hand prefers songs like, “God Has A Blessing With Yo Name On It!”

Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Thought “Pressing Through” G. Ward

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”  Proverbs 4:25-27

So what prayer and bible readings have been ruled unconstitutional in schools! That’s been 52 years ago and we’re still whining? Believers of the 1^st century didn’t allow the Roman Empire’s celebration of false deities to instruct their kids on how to pray. They understood outsourcing parental responsibility to lead and exemplify what prayer and bible study should represent is ordained by Holy God (Deut.6:4-7), and not to be given another. Allowing an atheistic movement’s dictation of what was never a denial of our children to either pause to pray or assemble in the same, is the perpetuation of the modern-day believer’s refusal to do the WORK required in knowing God (1 Jn.5:3).

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s Thought “Lethargy, A Silent Killer” G. Ward

“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11

For many, being the church is short lived after service time is over (cf. Ezek.33:30-33). The preoccupation with selfish desires immediately takes hold; particularly so if the preacher was a little lengthy. Very little preparation is given the day before allowing enough rest enabling anticipation of worship. Therefore, exhaustion will soon miniscule the message. Moreover, awakening in just enough time for departure unto worship services disallows breakfast, so by mid-service I’m famished, precluding the sermon from being heard. Personal review of the Word of God taught isn’t necessary because he was coming “straight from the word” (as if the Devil can’t – Mt.4:1-11).

Ultimately, we’ll wonder why it is the world is so regressive. The answer is that too many are presumptive in “mustard seed” faith vs. personal growth.

Happy Monday!

Today’s Thought “Sacred Journey” G. Ward

“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

President Jimmy Carter was recently given a very grim prognosis. Cancer is now said to have metastasized unto portions of his brain and liver and for a 90 year old, treatment most certainly may be somewhat futile.

In recent years, two men from our church (who were also my personal friends) approached me with such news. I marveled at their reception towards a final calling to fulfill. Without hesitance, my care didn’t lay claimants on recovery; substantiating, “Nothing is too difficult for our Lord,” it inquired of treatment and final preparation. Spiritual matters were first addressed, baptizing both (very difficult with both as one brother had very little breathing capacity and the other with brittle bone structure), and then family wishes were conveyed (via prayers and dialogue). This process culminated with me preaching their funerals.

We’ve been taught to place claimants (by faith) on recovery, delineating death (in earth) as something Holy God didn’t propose from the beginning (cf. Isa. 53:1-5, Phil.1:21). The actuality of life given demands our attention (*only practicing believers) about earth being a strange land and heaven as home. Why is truth avoided (Col.2:8)?

Happy Friday!  *Ro.6:4, 2 Cor.5:17