A Spiritual Home Security System
10/20/10 09:31
We must be ever vigilant and faithful in protecting what God has entrusted to us. The Devil will try to lull us into a false sense of security, blind us to obvious spiritual threats and get us to slacken off. He’ll distract us from prayer, preoccupy us with worldly thoughts, and catch us unaware. Read More...
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The Wicked Vinedressers
06/01/09 12:23
“What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.” (Mark 12: 1-12)
There are obvious parallels between today’s parable about the wicked vinedressers and the latest news reports about ex-homeowners trashing their foreclosed homes. Some bitter residents have stripped their homes of light fixtures, plumbing and appliances, removed the carpeting and ripped out cabinets and doors before complying with the eviction notice. In fact, roughly half of all foreclosed homes have been trashed, according to a survey of 1,500 real estate agents. Read More...
There are obvious parallels between today’s parable about the wicked vinedressers and the latest news reports about ex-homeowners trashing their foreclosed homes. Some bitter residents have stripped their homes of light fixtures, plumbing and appliances, removed the carpeting and ripped out cabinets and doors before complying with the eviction notice. In fact, roughly half of all foreclosed homes have been trashed, according to a survey of 1,500 real estate agents. Read More...
Prophet Without Honor
08/01/08 12:49
“Is not this the carpenter's son?” (Matthew 13: 54-58
My wife and I enjoy watching TV shows on home decorating; there is even one called "Divine Design." But the homes featured in those shows seldom have a place of honor for Jesus. It's as if the welcome mat has been pulled out from under Him.
Yet our homes are meant to be a sanctuary, a place of refuge where we retreat from the cares of the world to find peace, harmony and comfort. In order to nurture the spirit, our home must be a haven, a sacred space for soul work.
Still, there is something to be said for the way those designers transform a home.
They begin by removing all the clutter, the unimportant geegaws and nicknacks, the dust collectors and doodads that distract from a home's harmony. (One thing you never see in a designer-decorated home is a nagging wall clock.)
Next, they rearrange the existing furniture so the rooms look more inviting and cozy. They paint the rooms in warm, serene colors that make you feel like the walls are hugging you. Then, they install soft lighting to put you in the mood to read, listen to music, journal and reflect.
When the makeover is complete, you can almost smell the scent of aromatic candles, hear the crackle of the wood burning fireplace. All that's missing from the scene is a Bible.
It seems to me that it should be possible to adapt some of the decorators’ ideas in creating an honored space for Jesus in the home.
My wife and I enjoy watching TV shows on home decorating; there is even one called "Divine Design." But the homes featured in those shows seldom have a place of honor for Jesus. It's as if the welcome mat has been pulled out from under Him.
Yet our homes are meant to be a sanctuary, a place of refuge where we retreat from the cares of the world to find peace, harmony and comfort. In order to nurture the spirit, our home must be a haven, a sacred space for soul work.
Still, there is something to be said for the way those designers transform a home.
They begin by removing all the clutter, the unimportant geegaws and nicknacks, the dust collectors and doodads that distract from a home's harmony. (One thing you never see in a designer-decorated home is a nagging wall clock.)
Next, they rearrange the existing furniture so the rooms look more inviting and cozy. They paint the rooms in warm, serene colors that make you feel like the walls are hugging you. Then, they install soft lighting to put you in the mood to read, listen to music, journal and reflect.
When the makeover is complete, you can almost smell the scent of aromatic candles, hear the crackle of the wood burning fireplace. All that's missing from the scene is a Bible.
It seems to me that it should be possible to adapt some of the decorators’ ideas in creating an honored space for Jesus in the home.