Bryant, my newest nephew, you were born in relative obscurity a few weeks ago. At your birth, you were known only to your family, friends, hospital staff, and God. Even the Vital Statistics Office was not informed of your arrival until a few days thereafter. But my prayer is that your seemingly obscure birth is part of God’s plan to bring about a reformation in our churches.
Asked why, Victoria says, "Because that's the rules."
That's how this teenager responded when asked if she would identify the culprit of a violent crime. These 'rules' are the new, dangerous and sad code of our streets. It's a world where not only right is wrong and wrong is right but where thinking people actually believe that this is the way it should be. In this world Judas is the hero, Jesus the chump, the gospel is crap and the church a joke.
Reading is indispensable. I remember when I was in seminary and how often I was required to read books which I otherwise would not find any interest. Those of us who have had the pleasure (and distress :-) of being in class with Dr. Frank James will testify to the large stack of books and extensive reading assignments Dr. James would require. Dr. James reminded us that RTS was not our mother's seminary. We had work to do. We had reading to do. I recall once looking over the reading assignments for one of James' class and saying to myself, "I can't wait to get out of seminary so I can read what I want to read."
127. That’s the number so far. And despite a plethora of forums to address it the chances are that by the end of the year Philadelphia’s homicide rate will meet or exceed 400. Our best minds, best intentions and best efforts are utterly impotent to stop this plague from overwhelming our communities. Sadly, Philly isn’t unique among large cities in this regard. Most of our major cities are suffering from a rash of irrational murders and violence with no end in sight.
Did I ever tell you about the time I got saved? No? Well let me tell you the story. I think I was in the fifth or sixth grade. There I was minding my own business when for some reason I aroused the ire of a certain very big and very mean high school student.
Those in my generation might recall the campaign RIF or Reading is Fundamental. It was the governments way of encouraging young and old people in the erstwhile pursuit of reading. It insisted that at the heart of a well rounded education was the desire, even the love, for reading. We can all agree that the old Uncle Sam got this one right. Reading is fundamental. And it is no where more fundamental than in the gospel ministry.
A number of years ago several houses in a Philadelphia neighborhood experienced a problem. It seems they were actually sinking. After the usual investigation by the city it was determined that these particular homes weren’t built on solid foundation. Over the years they began to sink and would soon have to be vacated. Those houses highlighted the necessity of a strong, solid foundation. For no matter how nice it looks and no matter how well it’s maintained a house built on a faulty foundation will never be able to fulfill its primary purpose.
Those in my generation might recall the campaign RIF or Reading is Fundamental. It was the governments way of encouraging young and old people in the erstwhile pursuit of reading. It insisted that at the heart of a well rounded education was the desire, even the love, for reading. We can all agree that the old Uncle Sam got this one right. Reading is fundamental. And it is no where more fundamental than in the gospel ministry.
Where do you want to go today… a mind is a terrible thing to waste… be prepared… good to the last drop… we love to fly and it shows… what‘s in your wallet… America runs on Dunkin. . . For Christ, the Church and the Truth. Are any of your favorite mottos listed above?