Back in the early Pleistocene era when I was a lad, road crews would mark out construction zones with bowling-ball sized canisters filled with kerosene and topped by a large wick. When lit with a match, they would burn all night long, warning motorists away from broken pavement.I grew up with ... Continue reading
Lost in a moral fog, Part 1
Capt. John Cota is a veteran pilot with years of experience guiding giant ships in and out of San Francisco Bay. On the morning of November 7 in dense fog, he was on the bridge of the 65,000 ton container ship Cosco Busan instructing the ship's captain and helmsman so they could safely navigate ... Continue reading
This vulnerable fortress
[T]hrow off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, ... Continue reading
Mistaken for gods
In Acts 14:8-18, Paul and Barnabas were in the city of Lystra preaching the Gospel when Paul heals a man who was crippled. The crowd was astonished and began to think they were in the presence of a couple of demi-gods. Pandemonium broke out. Grown men were falling to the ground in worship, animals ... Continue reading
My secret life
We need to see that universal sickness, that innumerable throng of men and women laden down with their secrets, laden down with their fears, their sufferings, their sorrows, their disappointments, and their guilt. We need to understand how tragically alone they find themselves. They may take part in ... Continue reading
Liar, liar, pants on fire
Familiarity breeds contempt. How accurate that is. The reason we hold the truth in such respect is because we have so little opportunity to get familiar with it. —Mark Twain Hi. My name is Charlie, and I'm a recovering liar. (Group: "Hi, Charlie.")I started out like everyone does, just telling ... Continue reading