Scatter shooting while wondering why Alabama’s mascot is an elephant, but the team is called The Crimson Tide. Perhaps C. B. Scott can enlighten us.
We should strive to be good stewards in both life and death. Every adult should have a will. Your state Baptist foundation or the Southern Baptist Foundation can advise you and point you to a Christian attorney. Beyond that, you can designate that a percentage of your life insurance or retirement account be given to a church, Christian organization, or institution. For example, my wife and I have designated that 10 percent of our Guidestone accounts will go to the International Mission Board when we die. Thus, we can tithe in death as we have in life. All you have to do is change your beneficiary card. Each of our two children will receive 45 percent of our accounts when we die, and the IMB will receive 10 percent.
I like the new rules implemented by Major League Baseball. The games are shorter now, and it seems they move along more quickly. The only new rule I don’t like is that now the National League has designated hitters. That change has taken a lot of the strategy out of the game.
The full college football season begins this weekend (Sept 2). Will William Thornton’s beloved Georgia Bulldogs achieve a “three-peat”? Will Uga (Georgia’s bulldog mascot) awaken to see a game? Will Alabama storm back into football glory? There are lots of interesting story lines, and I’m eager to see them play out. My prediction is that Alabama will make a comeback and displace Georgia as national champion. One way or another the Southeastern Conference will reign supreme.
Here are Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s comments on John 15:5—“Apart from the Lord Jesus we know we cannot be holy. But joined to him, we can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. And we walk in garments unspotted by the world. We read that the fruit of the Spirit is ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control’ (Gal 5:22-23). We cannot produce this fruit ourselves, and yet by faith we say with Paul, ‘I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me’ (Phi 4:13).”
Thom Rainer asked pastors to share their most difficult ministry experience, and he published twenty of those submitted. My most difficult experience was dealing with the adultery of a dear pastor friend. I refused to believe the reports until undeniable proof was presented to me. I still grieve over that experience and the loss to the Kingdom. What was your most difficult ministry experience?
As retired missionaries to Southeast Asia, my wife and I love to eat Asian food. Most Asian eateries here in the USA bring a fortune cookie at the end of the meal. The last three times her fortune cookie was empty. There was no fortune slip inside. We are struggling to understand what this means. Do you know?
Here is a good word for my retired friends. I read an article, “Don’t Feel Guilty about Being Lazy” by Maressa Brown, on Yahoo last week. This is my favorite part:
“Loafing isn’t only a way to step back from work to rest and recharge. In moderation, it’s also an opportunity to enjoy a variety of psychological benefits, points out Sanam Hafeez, a licensed psychologist.
Several perks of taking time to cuddle up and catch up on your favorite show:
Enhanced creativity
“Rest and relaxation allow your brain to wander and make new connections,” explains Hafeez. “This can foster creativity and innovative thinking.” For example, in a 2022 study, watching nature videos was associated with the promotion of alpha brain waves, which are linked to relaxation, daydreaming and creativity.
Heightened brainpower
A 2020 study published in the journal Psychology and Aging found that older adults who spent more time sitting excelled at knowledge-based activities like vocabulary, reading comprehension and reasoning tasks. The researchers concluded that this may be owed to the fact that sedentary time is often also time spent on brain-stimulating activities, whether that’s reading a nonfiction book or doing a crossword puzzle.
Bolstered relationships
Whether you’re carving out time to get caught up on And Just Like That… or that buzzy new celebrity autobiography, you’ll benefit from chilling out in a way that ultimately fuels connection with others, whether in real-time or down the road.”
Years ago, I read an interview with Billy Graham in his last years. The reporter asked, “Do you have any regrets about your life and ministry?” As I recall, Billy Graham mentioned three. First, he said he regretted spending too much time away from home when his children were young. Second, he said that he regretted not studying at a seminary. He stated, “I should have gotten more training.” Last, he said he regretted getting involved with politicians. He said, “I was naïve, and they used me.” Some pastors could learn a lesson from Billy Graham. I believe pastors should stay out of politics. When I was a pastor, I never endorsed a candidate. I did make voting guides from Kentucky Right to Life available to my members. I did encourage them to vote, but I did not get involved in politics.
