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Scripture:  Revelation 21:1-6 In June of 1918, the US Marines fought what up that point in their storied history was their toughest battle.  While Iwo Jima in WWII would eventually replace it as the Marines’ deadliest battle, the battle of Bellau Woods was a tough fight with a lot of casualties.  Over the course of … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Psalm 91:1-14 I do not know if this is part of your plans tonight, but given that it is Halloween I imagine a lot of people are planning to watch a scary movie.   Horror movies tend to be a love it or hate it type of thing.  The people who like them tend to … [Read more…]

Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have reinvented the way we watch TV and engage with media. When given complete control and essentially unlimited options, a curious thing happens.   There are a number of people who just keep re-watching the same thing over and over again.  While I am sure there are all kinds of … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Mark 10:46-52 The fad has long since faded away, but do you remember “magic eye” pictures?  These were a product of the 1990s which had some sort of brightly colored, bizarre patterned picture.  Allegedly if you stared at it then you could see the hidden image underneath.   I have to say allegedly because I … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Mark 10:35-45 Six years ago Dan Price, CEO of Gravity Payments a credit card processing company, took an action that turned his company upside down.  In 2015 Gravity Payments was like most companies where the priority was on profit first and the pay scale was highest at the top with the CEO and then … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Mark 10:17-31 P.T. Barnum is famously attributed to have said “There’s a sucker born every minute.”  In true grifter fashion, Barnum did not actually say his most well-known quote.  It was actually said in reference to his cons by a rival showman.  Even if Barnum did not say it, his greatest hoaxes proved it.  … [Read more…]

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16 If you are not much of an Internet person, then it is possible you are not familiar with the website Kickstarter.   However, Kickstarter was a revolutionary concept for bringing creative projects to life.  Previously for artists, writers, and designers the process to publication was an arduous one.  It required an investment by … [Read more…]

In the movie Jaws there is a scene when Chief Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider, gets his first look at the massive shark and then remarks “you’re going to need a bigger boat.”   Then there is a scene in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark there is a scene where a … [Read more…]

For a lot of people, October is their favorite month of the year.  For some of these people the appeal is not just changing colors and hoodie weather.  A lot of people love October because they consider it “Halloween” month.  In Christian circles Halloween is a bit contentious.   Some believers view it as a harmless … [Read more…]

James 3:1-12 Thirteen years ago my younger sister moved to England.  Her husband is British.  They met while he was working for a church over here.  However, after they married they went back across the Atlantic so he could attend seminary and they have been there ever since.  She has now spent over a decade … [Read more…]