www.sherryworel.com: Recent Episodes
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Not too long ago, I was doing some self-assessments. And I realized that although I spend a great deal of time in the scriptures, I am often looking for content. I am like those baleen whales that suck in tons of sea water, spit it out through their teeth and the stuff left inside is […]
The post Dependence appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
This week our nation is reeling from another terrible tragedy. And, the cacophony of voices offering solutions is loud. We definitely need legal protections for our citizens. We must address the mental health needs of our people. Ignoring or marginalizing the difficult ones among us must stop. Our children need to be protected. And I […]
The post All of You, Be Compassionate appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
From time to time, we all have serious conflict with those around us. You want your child to choose college, but they want a surfing career. Your daughter brings home the “wrong guy.” Your employer requires sensitivity training that promotes principles the Bible opposes. Your spouse wants to buy that bigger house and you want […]
The post Dealing with Tough Conversations appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Recently, Elizabeth Bonker gave the valedictorian speech at Rollins College in Florida. No doubt the audience expected the usual sophomoric enthusiasm that regularly comes from these graduations. What made her speech different is the fact that she can not talk. Elizabeth is a non-speaking autistic young woman. Using a computer, she texted her speech to […]
The post Open Wide Your Mouth appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
A couple of weeks ago, I had lunch with a dear friend who was recently given a diagnosis that suggests she only has 8 more months to live. A day or two later, I had coffee with a friend who is enduring a second round of cancer. That same day, I chatted with my buddy […]
The post The Good News appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Spring seems to have sprung in most parts of the US. Fledgling plants are peaking up through the soil, temperatures are inching up and most of us are starting to spend some time outdoors. In the Bible, spring came in the month of Nissan. And Jerusalem would get packed with visitors. They came to celebrate […]
The post Expectations appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
In the gospel of John chapter ten, Jesus states that the devil is a thief and he comes to steal, kill and destroy the lives of believers. But He contrasts that doom and gloom with this promise: “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). […]
The post Living in a Spiritual Bubble appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
It is the week after Easter, so very likely this past Sunday we all sang Charles Wesley’s famous hymn, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” It is an incredible song that reminds us all of the power and implications of Christ’s resurrection. There are some cool things to consider about Wesley. Did you know that […]
The post Alleluia! appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I have some friends who have been missionaries for 30 some years. They just recently returned from overseas and are experiencing quite the culture shock. Their estimate of what a car should cost was woefully understated in their budget. What they expected a house to cost will probably only buy them a two-car garage. They […]
The post We are Not Home Yet appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Do you remember what your first lunch box was like? Some Boomers will shout out, “We just had brown bags!” I too remember a sandwich wrapped in wax paper in a tan bag. But then the metal boxes came along. And each fall, I got to pick the theme for my new lunch box. Cinderella […]
The post What is in your Lunch Box? appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I love the British Isles. Lived there as a kid, did my senior year of high school in a boarding school north of London and have visited many times since. While I delight in the English countryside, the quaint villages, the flower pots and row houses shoved together, I really enjoy crawling through castles. Even […]
The post A Cross Shaped Vision appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I have just started teaching a new Bible study series on Heaven. And last week, we explored the penetrating question, “Are you homesick for heaven?” I started my remarks with the statement that we all were made for another world. This experience we are currently having on planet earth is a preamble for the real […]
The post Homesick for Heaven appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
One of my favorite stories about murmuring and complaining involves a monk. Apparently he “joined a monastery and took a vow of silence. After the first 10 years his superior called him in and asked, “Do you have anything to say?” The monk replied, “Food bad.” After another 10 years the monk again had opportunity […]
The post No More Grumbling appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
There is a funny little story about a little league game. It seems that an older man stopped by the field one afternoon and asked a boy in the dugout what the score was. The boy responded, “Eighteen to nothing—we’re behind.” “Boy,” said the older gentleman, “I’ll bet you’re discouraged.” “Why should I be discouraged?” […]
The post The Remarkable Power of Hope appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
When God wanted to identify Himself, He referred to Himself as Yahweh (YHWH). Consider these words from Exodus 3:15 (NLT): “God also said to Moses, say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh (YHWH), the God of your ancestors-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob-has sent me to you.” […]
The post The Name of God appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
A story is told about two frogs who fell into a tub of cream. One looked at the high sides of the tub which were too difficult to crawl over and said, “It is hopeless.” He hated to wait! So he resigned himself to death, relaxed, and sank to the bottom. The other frog determined […]
The post Godly Waiting appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Everyone has a few favorite words. Those preferred words tend to be repeated a lot. Maybe it is a new term for them and they are “trying it out.” Or maybe they just like the way it sounds. (I am definitely one of those people. Onomatopoeia words fascinate me.) Even our Bible authors had favorite […]
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Generally, we all like that phrase, “God provides.” When we find ourselves in a place of need, it’s great to be able to parrot that well-used phrase of comfort and encouragement, “God provides.” But recently I have been teaching through the book of Jonah and noticed something new about a term in that story. The […]
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I think there is a natural fascination about the final words people speak just before dying. For example, consider the thoughts of the world leader, Winston Churchill. Reportedly, his last words were, “I’m bored with it all.” Most of us have the final words of that 21-year-old patriot, Nathan Hale, memorized: “I regret that I […]
The post Last Words appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I am still thinking about Christmas things! The little Greek preposition “meta” is a cool word. We have used it in English for a long time. The basic concept is to translate it “with” and attach it to another word. For example, “meta physics” or “metamorphosis.” (Right now, it appears that Zuckerberg is using it […]
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It is that time of the year when folks invest time and effort into making resolutions. And that pursuit always makes me think of the great American Preacher, Jonathan Edwards. He is well known for many things. In the early 1700s he was a brilliant young scholar at Yale. He went on to pastor several […]
The post Make it Your Goal to Please Him appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Christmas is over. Packages have been opened. Carols sung. And way too much turkey has been eaten! Maybe it is a good time to stop and just count our blessings! I am not talking about those specific miracles or gifts that God gives to us individually. I am talking about the grace that descends from […]
The post Common Grace Blessings appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
There is an interesting “back story” to the Beatles’ hit song, “Let it Be.” It was the last song that was released before Paul announced his departure from the band. Many listeners believed that the lyrics were referring to Mary, the mother of Jesus. And today it is often sung in a context where the […]
The post Let It Be appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I recently sat on a jury. It was a criminal trial that lasted three days. When we first adjourned to the jury room for deliberations, our initial vote was 4 guilty and 8 not guilty. And the two camps seemed far apart in their opinions. As the hours went by, I began to ask the […]
The post Unity appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
“High Ho, High Ho, it’s off to work we go…” Just like the seven dwarfs, most of us are committed to work at least five days a week. We might still be in our PJs and in our home offices, but we are committed to 40 or 50 years of some kind of performance for […]
The post The Workplace appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Recently I came across some remarks that Abraham Lincoln made regarding our national Thanksgiving celebrations. His remarks caused me to pause and think. He said: “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, […]
The post Too Self Sufficient appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
When I was a kid and the phone rang in our house, it was my job to answer it. And it went something like this: “Good morning. Worel’s residence, Sherry speaking.” And after pleasantries were exchanged, I would go on to say, “May I please say who is calling?” You see, with my dad being […]
The post Jesus Is Calling appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I love Scotland. (Truth is, I love the British Isles. Period.) I love the tea, really like the breakfasts and enjoy the weather. And I truly appreciate some of the nuances of their culture. The local pub thing (perhaps without the alcohol) is a great idea. I dig all the hedges (they make for good […]
The post Isle of Discussion appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
There is a high school in Texas that has been struggling with ugly student behaviors. The students have been particularly mean spirited lately with lots of bullying, physical fighting, name calling and skipping classes. The community met together to discuss how to increase some police presence on campus. But one of the dads interjected a […]
The post The Look appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
One of my favorite movies is “The Proposal.” “Margaret,” (the character Sandra Bullock plays) displays an amazing array of personal, selfish, obnoxious character traits. And one of her worst qualities is her inability to be told “no” and live with it. She is a Canadian and has over stayed her visa. She screams “no” in […]
The post We Don’t Do “No” appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Over the years, I have often run into folks that do not want to discuss God’s Word because they are convinced that it is chock-full of errors. I always grin when I get that response and follow up with a comment and a question: “Ok, I get it. Could we start with you showing me […]
The post The Bible Has Some Errors (NOT…) appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Buried at the end of the book of Colossians (while the credits are rolling), Paul calls out some greetings to a number of friends and fellow workers. Although there are a number of men whose names we might not be familiar with, this section strikes me as very applicable to our lives. Truth is, I […]
The post Encouragement from Others appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
A lamb may be rejected by his ewe mother for any number of reasons. Sometimes, she senses that the lamb has some kind of birth defect. Maybe they are a twin and she can only serve one new lamb. Or maybe they are rejected because she can’t feed them properly. But once they are rejected, […]
The post Bummer Lambs appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
There is a very cool story told in Bruce Larson’s book, The One and Only You (retold in Swindoll’s book, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart). It seems that a family in Alabama planned a very special summer vacation visiting the West Coast. Unfortunately, though, the dad was unable to go himself because of business. […]
The post Dad Was a Lot of Fun appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
When I first moved to Europe the summer before my senior year of high school, I thought that bread only came in the white, sliced variety. But within just a few short months, I came to understand that bread comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and textures. It can be sweet, thick, grainy, hard shelled […]
The post I Love Bread! appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Our Bible urges us to memorize God’s Word. We are told to hide it in our hearts (Ps. 119:11), to make it our delight by meditating on it day and night (Ps. 1:2) and to make sure His words do not depart from our mouths (Joshua 1:8). So how do we do that? Well, Menelik […]
The post Hide His Word in Your Heart appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
At my age, I hear quite a few conversations about how people can’t wait to retire and stop working. It’s as if they had read Bob Black’s essay in 1985 entitled “The Abolition of Work” where he argued that work is the source of nearly all the misery in the world. One friend can’t wait […]
The post The Value of Work appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I have spent most of my adult life enjoying the rhythm of life that circles around a school calendar. You know, two weeks off at Christmas, a week off at Easter and a relaxed pace during the summer. Each year, as summer draws to a close, I begin to get focused on “the new year.” […]
The post Our Achilles Heel appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
It is that time of year when parents are sending their older kids off to college. Bags are packed, boxes labeled and room decorations are purchased. Soon it’s time for that sweet note from mom or dad to be tucked away so they can read it after they get settled. The apostle Paul wrote an […]
The post Daily Life appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
With the Olympics in Japan this summer, we have all had our attention drawn to that ancient island nation. Known for its beauty and utilitarian society, it also well known for its various art forms. I heard about one recently. It is called “kintsugi.” Ceramic bowls are the medium. Apparently they are broken into various […]
The post Made Anew appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
In Acts 20, Paul is leaving Macedonia and Greece on his way to deliever an offering that the churches had taken up for the believers in Jerusalem. In verse four the text says simply, “… he was accompanied by…” and then there is a list of seven names. I got to thinking about that statement, […]
The post Accompanied appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
For me, there ae two kinds of vacation trips. There is a resting trip (think nice hotel or cruise with room service and yummy food). And there is a learning trip (think about visiting a new country, exploring the culture, visiting museums and libraries). The learning vacations usually include a lot of advanced reading. I […]
The post Link Arms with Some Missionaries appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Not too long ago, I finished teaching a series out of the Book of James. I called it “James to the Twelve.” It was the first time I had ever taught that book of the Bible and boy was it convicting. James, the half-brother of Jesus did not pull any punches. He was very practical, […]
The post Our Mouths appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
John Burroughs was an American naturalist and a nature essayist who wrote in the later part of the 19th century. At one point, he commented on the hawk. He observed that when the hawk was attacked by crows or kingbirds, the hawk does not retaliate. He makes no counterattack. Instead, the hawk just soars higher […]
The post Take the High Road appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Before the time of Socrates, there was a Greek philosopher named Empedocles. He was famous for discovering that air is a separate substance. But I think he is notable for his statement about the presence of God. He is credited with saying, “God is a circle whose center is everywhere and its circumference is NOWHERE.” […]
The post He is There! appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
The other day, I was listening to a podcast of a local pastor and heard an amazing statement. He said that we are born looking like our parents, but we die “looking like” what we worship. He was asserting the power of influence. We become like those around us. We shape our lives based on […]
The post Looking Like What We Worship appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
In business and politics, compromise might be a good concept. But in the realm of spirituality, it is not. God’s standard is that we love, worship, and obey Him 100% of the time. His expectation is comprehensive and leaves no loop holes. But you and I live in a world of compromise and concessions. The […]
The post Decide Ahead of Time appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
We Americans pride ourselves on our independence. We cherish it (appropriately most of the time) and often embrace Sinatra’s “My Way” as our personal theme song. But as I stumbled across a story in the Old Testament, I am wondering if we ought to change that up a bit. I am thinking that our theme […]
The post Not Our Way appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
For the last 14 plus months we have all been hearing a great deal about COVID and how to retard its spread. We know that maintaining physical distance between people is a good thing. Covering our mouths seems to slow down the spread of the virus. And we have heard a lot about the importance […]
The post Wash Your Hands appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I just returned from a wonderful trip to Hawaii. I was frequently asked what I was doing on my vacation and I responded each time with : “sun, fun, read, food, repeat.” It was a great trip. But unfortunately, because of COVID restrictions, I wasn’t able to visit my favorite island of Kauai. I love […]
The post Yield appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
If you had the opportunity to write your own eulogy, what would it say? What would you want to be known for? What is important to you? And how do those qualities show up in your everyday life? If we asked those same questions about the Apostle Paul, we could refer to Acts 17 for […]
The post Building a Spiritual Reputation appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I read a short story about a teacher from back east somewhere. It was recess time and she had just finished putting on the last pair of boots on her first graders. There were 32 pairs in all. The last little girl she was helping remarked, “You know what, those aren’t my boots.” Without any […]
The post Patience appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I read a cool story this week. It was about the famous American painter, Benjamin West. Apparently when he was a child, he decided to paint a picture of his sister. His mom wasn’t home, so he got the bottles of ink down himself and started his creative “masterpiece.” But things didn’t go well. Soon […]
The post The Power of our Words appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
The post The Deep Water is Getting into the Shallow Water appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
One of the strongest arguments for the authenticity of the Bible is the fact that God included the not-so-wonderful parts of the story of His people. He didn’t just present His people as perfect, He made sure that we also get to see His men and women preforming at their worst. There is a great […]
The post My Way, The Highway or His Way appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Most of our Bibles catalog Acts 15 with the title, “The Council at Jerusalem.” But I am thinking that we ought to re-title the chapter, “How to Have a Really Big Disagreement in a Very Spiritual Way.” Re-read this chapter and take a few moments to review some of the phrases Luke uses to describe […]
The post Disagreeing, Agreeably appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
If I had to define courage, I might say that it is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to trust the Lord to do what He asks us to do. That process of trusting Him in the face of serious difficulty is a tough one. And it is often made more difficult because […]
The post Change the Narrative in Your Head appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
The party aboard ship was in full swing. Speeches were being made by the captain, the crew and the quests enjoying the week-long voyage. Sitting at the head table was a seventy-year-old man who, somewhat embarrassed, was doing his best to accept the praise being poured on him. Earlier that morning a young woman had […]
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Just for a moment, let’s imagine that God is thinking about you. What do you assume He feels when you come to mind? Is He disappointed or maybe even angry over some of your choices? Is He saddened that you are His kid? Does He roll His eyes at the mention of your name? So […]
The post When God Thinks About Us appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Back in 1993, The Barna Group partnered with the Lutheran Hour Ministries to survey a wide number of issues among Christians. One of their questions had to do with sharing the gospel. At that time, 89% of those questioned responded that they do believe it is their responsibility to share the good news of Jesus […]
The post It is Still Our Job appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I recently read an article in the Biola Magazine that asked a very pertinent question, “In a time of intense polarization and provocation is there any hope for a return to civility?” The article contained a conversation that several Biola professors had about a new project called the Winsome Conviction Project and it features their […]
The post Disagreeing without Dividing appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I was reading Matthew chapter 7 this morning and was arrested by the phrase, “good gifts for your children.” Everyone wants to give their kids good stuff. This past Christmas I got a card from my god-daughter and she was regaling gifts she received over the years. She mentioned the year her grandmother and I […]
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You probably know some details about “D Day” (June 6th 1944). But do you know about “H Day?” That term stemmed from the Swedish word “hoger” which translated means “right” (as opposed to the ”left” side of things). Apparently, on September 3, 1967, the entire Swedish population woke up to a major societal shift. They […]
The post Discerning God’s Will appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
As I am writing this musing, I am sitting in the parking lot of the Department of Motor Vehicles waiting for a friend. You ought to hear some of the conversations. You can hear some amazing “advice” and thoughtful insight for living from others. The trouble is, a lot of the time, those encouraging statements […]
The post Stuff People Tell Us appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
There are some amazing examples of changed lives laid out by Luke in Acts chapter 9. Saul became Paul. Peter is becoming the natural leader of the first church in Jerusalem. Aeneas is healed and Tabitha is raised from the dead. Clearly, God was busy working in the lives of His followers. And He still […]
The post Get Up! appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I had reason this past week to do some studying into Red Letter Bibles. Back in 1899, an editor of The Christian Herald, Louis Klopsch and some others decided to print a New Testament that emphasized the words of Jesus by rendering them in red. A couple of years later, they printed a complete Bible […]
The post A Peach Colored Bible appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
If we are not careful, the incredible story of Christ’s birth can become a bit “cloudy” in our minds. We have heard it repeated so many times that the details get blurred and the wonder of the amazing story can be lost. So, I thought I might write this week’s article as a “Christmas Quiz” […]
The post A Christmas Quiz appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
It is time for true confessions. I have never enjoyed the movie, A Christmas Carol. I think I just don’t like Ebenezer Scrooge. Truth is, I just don’t like stingy, self-centered people. They make me sad and uncomfortable. On the other hand, being around a generous person instantly and significantly lifts our spirits. There is […]
The post Generous People appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Did you know that back in the 1930s when Disney began work on the movie “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the writers compiled a list of some 35 possible names for those sweet curmudgeons? That long list included Burpy, Dippy, Puffy, Shifty and others. But they settled on Doc, Bashful, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy […]
The post My Identity appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
You might not think about it much, but pesky bees are important to our ecosystem. In truth, nearly one third of the world’s crops are dependent on bees for pollination. Favorites like apples, cherries, blueberries, avocados and even broccoli would disappear if those buzzing irritants were eradicated. (In point of fact, modern pesticides are endangering […]
The post Hebrew “Bees” appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
There is a great story in Joshua 4:1-24 that I think directly relates to our 2020 Thanksgiving Week. As the children of Israel were crossing over the river Jordan into the Promised Land, the Lord told Joshua to choose 12 men, one from every tribe, and have them grab a large boulder from the bed […]
The post What Do These Stones Mean? appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
In Acts 4, Ananias and Sapphira were confused and jealous. They were jealous of all the attention Barnabas got when he sold a piece of land and brought the proceeds in to help others in the church. They were confused, because they thought their possessions were their own. Nope, that piece of land did not […]
The post It’s Not Our Stuff (So let’s quit hanging onto it so tightly!) appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
It really is quite amazing how massive buildings were erected down through the ages. I can’t hardly imagine how they moved those huge, heavy blocks into position. But one thing I do know, each ancient structure had two stones of significance, a cornerstone and a capstone. The capstone was usually the last stone placed in […]
The post Chief Cornerstone or Stumbling Block appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
As a school administrator, I have heard hundreds of kids mutter the word “sorry” as if that two- syllable utterance automatically covered a multitude of sins. Parents hear it all the time, too. One brother punches another, gets caught and flippantly declares, “Sorry Bro” and assumes that all is well. But is it? Let’s take […]
The post Being “Sorry” Isn’t Enough appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
No one likes to wait. It doesn’t matter if we are sitting in our car, standing in a line or outlasting a recording on the telephone. No one likes to wait. At our core, I think we all are convinced that our time, our lives, our positions, and our decisions are far more important than […]
The post An Active Waiting Period appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I have been learning (or re-learning) all kinds of things during the last 6 months. And perhaps the most important thing has to do with relationships. My thoughts center around that very familiar verse in Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 that starts with “two are better than one…” Truth be known, I am not a very social […]
The post Two are Better than One appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
While watching the evening news the other night, I couldn’t help but notice that NEWS by definition is NOT positive. The entire broadcast was consumed with doom and gloom until they got to the very last segment. Suddenly it was peaches and cream reporting. The “happy thought” for the evening always features someone who does […]
The post Common Courtesy appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I admire people who can just take a taste of something and stop. I have a friend who can take three small chocolate morsels out of the Nestle’s bag, drop them in her mouth and be totally satisfied with her “sweet moment.” Not me! I eat popcorn by the fistful. I am not happy unless […]
The post Let’s Be Satisfied appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Some of my dear friends used to live in Newport, Oregon. And I loved to go visit them. If the demands of life were crowding in on me and I was short on time, I would jump in my car and barrel up Interstate 5. But if I had a few extra days and needed […]
The post The Scenic Route appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Probably everyone who has had the joy (and challenge) of trying to raise a child has employed the use of a timeout as a means to help the child achieve some self-discipline. A timeout (when utilized properly) gives a kid a chance to self-correct. It’s an opportunity to disrupt some undesirable behavior and realign their […]
The post A God Given Timeout appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
If you have been reading my musings for a while, you know that I am a sports enthusiast. That world often highlights Biblical principles for me to consider. And last week, there was another one. Golf is back…and the big tournament, the PGA was recently played. The competition was fierce. At one point, I think […]
The post Insulting God appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I recently had a wonderful vacation with some friends. We went “glamping” in an RV and trailer to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. And we had a great time. But when I got home, I slowly started sliding into a bit of a funk. I had to cancel some other travel plans, my favorite restaurants closed […]
The post It’s Time for Some Celebrations appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
A week or two ago, Disneyland had a big anniversary. It was 65 years ago (on July 18th) that the magical land of the talking mouse opened its doors to the public. There is a cool story associated with its first day of operations. It seems that David McPherson, a local college student was determined […]
The post Our Salvation Anniversary appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
As Christ set out to feed some 5000 men, plus women and children in Matthew 14, He asked His friends to participate, “How many loaves do you have?” He asked that same question again when He fed the four thousand later on in His ministry. As I thought about that question and the motive behind […]
The post How Many Loaves Do You Have? appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
It occurs to me that you and I are presently stuck in some significant “in-between times.” We are languishing in the midst of a pandemic. We are immersed in societal unrest. We are in the midst of two differing political perspectives. In many ways, it feels like we are wedged between a rock and a […]
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The post Be Patient with the Person in the Mirror appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Occasionally, there is frustration as we encounter God’s Word in our own language. As wonderful as our modern English translations are, sometimes they confuse us. I encountered one of those occasions this past week. I was looking at the term “gentleness” or “meekness” found in Matt. 11:29 and Gal. 5:22. That Greek term begs a […]
The post Gentleness appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
High school and college graduations have been so different this year. There have been celebrations at home, some schools have hand delivered the diplomas, some showed videos of all the graduates or invited famous speakers to give the address online. A school in Indianapolis used the famous speedway for its ceremony. Families got to drive […]
The post After Graduation appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I was reading my copy of the latest Biola magazine this last week and came across some incredibly insightful remarks. A Biola grad, Cassidy Ray, wrote an article entitled, “When Tragedy Hit, So Did a Cascade of Grace.” She was sharing how hard it has been since the tragic loss of her husband. She remarked, […]
The post And appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Our world needs to kneel in prayer. We need, desperately need, to be immersed in prayer. We need to be in the midst of a flowing conversation with our heavenly Father. We need to talk to Him, talk about Him and sit still long enough for Him to talk to us. We need prayer. We […]
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I love history. And a story about a 14th century Duke of Belgium recently caught my eye. It seems that Raynald III was in a violent quarrel with his younger brother, Edward. Eventually, Edward won the struggle and captured Raynard. But Edward was a smart guy. He knew that if he treated his brother poorly, […]
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I am a multi-tasker. I brag about being able to juggle more than one thing at a time. And I am not unusual. Many in our culture feel the same way. We like being able to spin lots of plates. In fact, we value that skill above many others. It makes us feel important. And […]
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Years ago, when I was trying (unsuccessfully) to learn how to play the piano, my teacher remarked that she could hear the notes, but there was no music coming forth. Well, I found a story this week that reflects that same sentiment. It seems that a husband decided he wanted to surprise his wife and […]
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I am a huge fan of Steven Curtis Chapman. Years ago, he had a concert in Anaheim and I loved it. His music has always spoken to both my mind and my heart. But that night he also introduced his audience to a peculiar little man. His name was Mincaye. I was deeply impacted by […]
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Do you think Jesus laughed while He was on this earth? Do you think He sat around the fire pit in the evening with His disciples and chuckled about silly things that happened that day? What do you think His laughter sounded like? Can you imagine Him going along with a joke at Peter’s expense? […]
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I have noticed it in my own heart, maybe you have too. There is an occasional sense of discontent, a flash of disgruntlement. And, during this time of quarantine, I am whining a bit about what I don’t have. I don’t have my usual routine (and I am definitely a routine gal). I don’t have […]
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Have you ever been in a room when someone really important walked in? I once had an audience with the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai. I definitely snapped to attention when he walked in the room. In college, I was having Thanksgiving dinner at the headquarters of NATO in Brussels, Belgium. When the commanding general […]
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Commenting on our present Covid-19 circumstances, Jon Bon Jovi is quoted as saying, “You can’t do what you do, you do what you can.” That phrase, “You do what you can” has been bouncing in my mind for the last few days. It made me think of some missionaries who served in the early 1800’s. […]
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There are a number of specific routine activities that doctors and care facilities assess to make sure people are able to care for themselves. These daily routines fall into a few categories like, personal hygiene, dressing, eating, mobility and so on. In the past, every time I would get thrown into the hospital for asthma […]
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About a year ago, I visited Oxford, England and made a point to go show my friend one of the local pubs, The Eagle and Child. It is a very non-descript little hangout with a few booths where people can meet and discuss the affairs of the day. Some 72 years ago, C.S. Lewis hung […]
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Even a casual “Sunday School attender” knows that God led the children of Israel through the desert by a cloud and a pillar. The cloud led them during the day, and the pillar of fire led them at night. There was light and direction for their journey-day and night. But did you know that the […]
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According to at least one site, the number one video that went viral in 2019 was a 17 second clip that showed a dad dragging his daughter through an airport. He had a grip on the hood of her little pink jacket and she was just lying flat, gliding across the floor. No crying. Just […]
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Last week, I got to have lunch with my God-daughter. We both had reason to be in San Francisco and arranged for a fun lunch at the Ferry Building. As we were driving over there, she reminded her grandmother and I that she had to take a conference call during our lunch time. I had […]
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As I have been recently teaching through the book of Ephesians, I have noticed how important the subject of unity is to the apostle Paul. In point of fact, the entire focus of this epistle is Paul’s deep desire that the Jews and Gentiles be united as they lived out their church life together. He […]
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I love trees. It is one of the reasons I love to travel so much. There are trees everywhere…tall trees, leafy trees, huge shade trees, and trees that can hold big tire swings! So last summer, I took a trip up the heart of our state to visit some redwood trees. I found out a […]
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Stacy Creech, a missionary in Senegal wrote about “Goats and Goodbyes” in a recent Ethnos360 newsletter. Apparently, there was a move in her future and it was causing some anxiety in her heart. Change can do that. She wrote, “I was standing in our bedroom, folding clothes as we prepared to leave our third ‘home’ […]
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Earlier this month, Christianity Today reported on the “Top 50 Countries Where it is Hardest to be a Christian.” Apparently, martyrdoms are dropping in number in Nigeria but soaring in Burkina Faso. North Korea tops the list, with Afghanistan and Somalia right behind them. And sadly, India entered the top ten list for the first […]
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I read a story this week that reflected on some early missionary efforts in the Africa bush. Apparently, some of the young converts were very earnest and regular in their personal devotional life. “Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the […]
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In Acts chapter 20, Luke records for us some words of farewell that Paul gave to the elders of the church in Ephesus. In a whole list of things, he urged them to remember, he remarks in verse 28, “Keep watch over yourselves and the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” […]
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I recently read about some missionaries in Eastern Europe who are employing a creative method to start conversations about the gospel. Using social media, they have posted a single question referenced in the story about blind Bartimaeus in the book of Mark (10:51). In that account, Jesus interacts with him and asks this question: “What […]
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Right around the new year, most of us start to think about resolutions, personal organization, self-discipline issues and the like. In that context, I got to thinking about how many more years, days or hours I have left here on earth. That kind of focus caused me to do a little math problem. With a […]
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One of my favorite things to do with the children in our school is to go from class to class with cans of whipped cream in my hand. I make sure none of them are allergic or anything and then I fill their mouths with that creamy sweet treat! We giggle and laugh with the […]
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In order to clarify God’s plan for his life, Gideon asked for a sign from the Lord. (You may remember that he used some rotating wet and dry carpets.) Well, the Christmas story has some “sign seekers” too. One group was the “wisemen” who followed the star and came to worship the new born baby, […]
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The pastor and author, Warren Wiersbe has remarked that “The trouble with too many of us is that we think God called us to be manufacturers when He really called us to be distributors.” He was making the point that all too often we begin to think that everything depends on US! Particularly during the […]
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A week or so ago, LA County held a ceremony at a Boyle Heights cemetery. It was to honor the 1457 individuals who were cremated by the county in 2016 but whose remains have gone unclaimed for these past three years. The men, women and children who died back then went unclaimed for lots of […]
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Yesterday was the first Sunday in the Advent season. The next four weeks are an important part of the liturgical calendar. That “church” calendar includes feast days, spiritual celebrations and some denominational specifics like themes and colors. My particular spiritual heritage hasn’t paid much attention to things like an Advent calendar. Probably the closest I […]
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Our staff does devotions together twice a week and this morning one of the teachers was sharing out of I Samuel 9. The primary focus of that story is Samuel anointing Saul as King. But that chapter has so much more to say to the busy, distracted, weary hearts of men and women scurrying around […]
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Been thinking some about my own walk with the Lord. I long for a closeness with my Savior. And I came across an old teaching outline of mine that discussed some circles of intimacy outlined in both the Old Testament. It was instructive. So, I pass some thoughts along… In the book of Exodus, we […]
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In just a few weeks, we will all be eating my favorite meal of the year. It doesn’t get any better than turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, corn, and pumpkin pie! But Thanksgiving starts the “holidays” and they are difficult for many people. With such a focus on family, our relationships in all their fractured glory […]
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As I am writing this article, I can hear an old hymn running through my mind. In part it says, “Look and live, my brother live. Look to Jesus now and live. It’s recorded in His word hallelujah, it is only that you look and live.” That hymn reflects a story about the Israelites that […]
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I am often encouraged in my Christian walk with the stories of folks who have gone before us. George Mueller is one of my favorites. He was born in 1805 in Prussia but moved to England as a young man. The story goes that he lived a pretty godless life until he was suddenly converted […]
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Seasoned believers are familiar with the seminal verse found in Galatians chapter two: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” The […]
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In the New Testament, Jude (the half-brother of Jesus) urged us to “build yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God…” To keep ourselves immersed in the love of God is challenging. We live in a busy, complex and rather random world. Traffic […]
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I recently read an article about helping children become young evangelists (Thank you Jen Wilken). But instead of emphasizing a whole list of verses that they ought to memorize, the author suggested that there are five kinds of words that our God honoring kids ought to be taught. Those words then become the basis of […]
The post Our Words appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Did you know that there is a layer of dense fat that surrounds all the nerve fibers running through our central nervous system? That supportive layer is called myelin. It acts as a coating or covering for the nerves, much like the rubber or plastic coating we find wound around electrical wiring. It prevents the […]
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As I write this musing, I have a lizard in a cage sitting on my desk. Perhaps that seems a bit strange to you, but it is part of my attempt to deal with a life time phobia of those silly little creatures. I grew up in Hawaii and they were everywhere (including my bed). […]
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When pastors or spiritual leaders of Christian organizations battle with moral failure or get divorced or struggle with their teenagers, we often are perplexed. Aren’t they supposed to be different? Don’t they have a “PH.D.” in Godly living?” Aren’t they immune to disappointments, depression or other mental illnesses? Of course, the answer to that question […]
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Robert Fulghum tells a story about his daughter, a few childhood “treasures” and a paper bag. It seems that one morning, his little girl handed Robert two bags as he was about to leave the house. One was his lunch, and she called the second bag, “something else.” He just grabbed them both and went […]
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David’s life is so instructive for ours! Those stories about Saul’s jealousy, Jonathan’s friendship and David’s faithful service are applicable in so many ways. Life principles abound in I Samuel. And that is especially true in the account where Jonathan clarifies Saul’s intent to kill David (I Samuel 19-20). The story climaxes with a reference […]
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Most people turn over their new leaves and do all their planning around the first of January. But I have always used the start of a new school year as a time for personal reflection and course adjustments. (The Bible calls these courses adjustments, “repentance.” It is the idea of turning completely around and heading […]
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The older I get, the more I think about the importance of being an influencer. As I am coming up on my 50th spiritual birthday (anniversary of my decision to follow Christ wholeheartedly) and my 70th regular birthday, I have been considering questions like “In whom or what am I investing this last stage of […]
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Sadly, it seems that we can’t read or hear any news without encountering an account of a major shooting. And the discussion then spins towards finding the cause. One group starts shouting about gun control; another mentions that guns don’t kill, people do. Some will ascribe blame to a particular group of immigrants or maybe […]
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A few months ago, my iPad started giving me daily updates about my screen time. It even remarked when I spent less or more time on my device. I wasn’t sure how I appreciated that feature. Just like everyone else, I am concerned about how technology impacts my life. So, it made me smile a […]
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Towards the end of I Samuel chapter 12, we read the astonishing statement: “For the sake of His great name, the Lord will not reject His people, because the Lord was pleased to make you His own.” “Pleased to make us His own…” what an extraordinary announcement. God chooses to make us (sinful, rebellious, self-centered […]
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A few years ago, I found myself in the Canadian Rockies on a late summer afternoon. The sun was starting to dip behind some of the taller peaks and the pace of life had started to diminish. It was one of those cherished “ahhhhh” moments. When all of a sudden, my world exploded. Lightning lit […]
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Being such a fan of books, I often get asked for a summer reading list. And every year, at the top of that list I always put The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Not only are the stories compelling for any age, the spiritual “parallel” truths that accompany the saga are amazing. In […]
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Here is a fun fact: our California coastal redwood trees can soar to heights of well over 300 feet. And they are gorgeous! (I once went RVing near Santa Cruz in the winter. I wanted to see some of those big trees up close and personal. I almost froze to death!) What is amazing about […]
The post Our Root Systems appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Almost eleven years ago today, I wrote a musing entitled “Bad Day.” Well, today is another one of those “bad days.” A dear friend just went home to be with Jesus. I know she is dancing around in her new body but I am struggling with deep sadness for her wonderful family. Since writing a […]
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I have been studying the words of the Jewish “Shema” lately. In part, Deuteronomy 6:4-9 commands us to “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord our God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Jesus was a good Jewish boy and […]
The post Our Heart appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
In the last few weeks, I have had personal contact with several families dealing with their precious loved ones who suffer from some sort of mental illness. For most of my life, people just did not share stories about relatives who had mental or emotional struggles. And they certainly did not open themselves up for […]
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There are lots of stories in the Bible that teach us to live by faith. Over and over again, we see examples of real people trusting God to work on their behalf. Consider Abraham as he trekked towards Mount Moriah. In obedience to God’s instructions, he planned to offer his only son as a physical […]
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On my recent trip to Great Britain, I noticed that London was filled with huge cranes. High rise buildings were under construction everywhere! And around each of those structures was a labyrinth of steel platforms and piping. Clearly the engineers wanted to make sure that the workers had maximum safety conditions in which to do […]
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I just got back from an extended trip to England, Scotland and Ireland. And as the Irish would say, “It was grand!” And I came away with a number of spiritual observations. The most significant of which revolved around a sign I saw on the side of a city bus in Edinburgh. It read, “Try […]
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Sadly, Christianity in the U.S. has a pretty poor reputation and might be typified as rather “soft.” We have earned that reputation and reinforce it routinely as we sit on soft chairs in our air-conditioned auditoriums, sipping good coffee and nibbling on a tasty doughnut! Generally, we don’t want to be there longer than an […]
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I have zero musical talent and offer two personal stories as proof. As my 8th grade year drew to a close, our Catholic school did a special mass presentation. As the nun began our preparation, she was passing out the song books and paused in front of me. “No, I don’t think you will need […]
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As you read this musing, I will most likely be touring around England (hopefully on the correct side of the road). I do enjoy reading things from English history and so I paid particular attention to an interesting section I recently found in John Ortberg’s book Who is this Man? (By the by, it is […]
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Last week was Easter. It is the high point on the Christian calendar. On Friday our attention was on the sacrificial death of Christ. The cross and our Savior’s crucifixion represent the payment that was paid in full for our sin debt. Mercy was extended to us on Friday, and we are grateful. And then […]
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John wrote to the church at Laodicea and gave them the injunction, “…so be zealous and repent.” That word “zealous” is a pretty old-fashioned term. Today we might substitute in the word “fanatical.” But in our culture, being a fanatic isn’t generally regarded as a good thing. But wait a second, turn on a television […]
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There is a cool story about a little boy who wanted to meet God. Apparently, he knew that God lived a long way away, so he packed his suitcase with cookies and some root beer and took off. After three blocks or so, he met an old lady in the park. She was just sitting […]
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Somewhere towards the end of his life, David inserted Psalm 61 into his “song book.” In addition to the words, he included some notes for the director and gave some direction to the stringed instruments. But the part that caught my eye was the direct appeal to God. David lets the Lord know that he […]
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All around us marriages are dissolving, friendships are falling apart, businesses are closing and ministries are ending. There are all kinds of reasons for such a society-wide moment of dysfunction. But I might suggest that at the core of it all, is a resistance to repent. No one wants to admit they are wrong. I […]
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Years ago, I read about a child who was disfigured. He had a huge red mark splattered across his face. But he wasn’t challenged by it at all. In fact, he wore it as a badge of honor. You see, when he was a young boy, his father started telling him that those marks were […]
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When emergency personnel want to quickly evaluate the mental condition of someone struggling, they do a quick assessment called “Oriented Times Three.” They ask the person a series of easy questions. They want to know if the man or woman in question knows who they are, where they are and what day it is. If […]
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Every day when you and I head out the door of our room, apartment or house we take with us whatever we think we will need for the day. We might carry things in a purse, a briefcase, a satchel or maybe just our pockets. But for sure, we “pack for the day’s journey.” I […]
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I just finished teaching a series on the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6/Luke 11). My last lesson featured the words of the doxology that finishes off that section of scripture: “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever more. Amen” (Now I realize that sentence does not appear in some translations […]
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Brenda Jones is a 69 year-old great-grandmother from Texas. She spent over a year on the donor wait list hoping for a new liver. And then the wonderful phone call came; they had a viable liver for her. But just down the road a bit, a 23 year-old named Abigail Flores was struggling with a […]
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This week I had the opportunity to speak to a room full of millennial moms. I started my talk this way… “Once upon a time, in a land right around the corner lived a whole community filled with very loving and well-intended mothers. These moms waited and chose to have their children a bit later […]
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Recently, I was teaching some students about Corrie Ten Boom (the Dutch woman who survived the concentration camp at Ravensbruck and had an amazing ministry afterwards). While researching some details, I came across a neat story about Corrie and her sister, Betsie. It is called “Betsie and the Fleas.” Let me share it with you… […]
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I am a skimmer by nature. I am all about getting to the goal at hand, the quicker the better. And boy does it get me in trouble from time to time. Twice this past week, I skimmed through some material, took an action and it was wrong. I had to double back and fix […]
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Like most everyone else from California, I am rooting for the LA Rams in the Super Bowl this year. The sports news is filled with details about their preparation for the big game. I was particularly interested in a small article about a “Get Back Coach” that the head coach, Sean McVay relies on. Apparently […]
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What is the most significant acquisition you have ever made? Has any purchase fundamentally change in your life? Well, I have a story to share. Back in the summer of 1969 (sounds like the lyrics to a great Motown song!), I bought an inexpensive Bible for $1.65 and that purchase profoundly changed my life. And […]
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Like most people, I prefer things to be predictable, orderly, well thought out in advance and well communicated. I am the same way when it comes to spiritual challenges. I know that God is ultimately in control, but I would love it if He would allow me to give some more input about where, when […]
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If you read the front page of the newspaper (or more likely, the lead article in your news feed), you will become convinced that 2019 may be one of the worst years in a long time. Recession talk abounds. Immigration issues are overwhelming our government. Jobs are threatened. And, terrorism keeps us uneasy. With that […]
The post Our Best Year Yet appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Some 49 years ago, I began my spiritual journey with Christ. And like most journeys, there have been a number of “seasons” associated with my growth. As I look back, I think my “favorite” might have been the season when it first dawned on me that God eagerly expected me to praise and worship, really […]
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It is amazing how differently Christmas is celebrated all around the world. In many places on the continent of Africa, families do not have resources with which to give gifts. So they gather together for marathon length nativity plays. They start with creation and end with the story of Herod killing off the babies. The […]
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It’s the Christmas season and there is wonderful music wafting all around us. The song, “Little Drummer Boy” was playing in my car the other day so I stopped and listened to the words. The phrase, “our finest gifts we bring” caught my attention. I began asking myself some questions. What are my “finest gifts?” […]
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There is such power in those three little words, “I am here.” Imagine for a moment a young elementary student with a part in the school play. Those three lines he or she has to deliver are some of the most important sentences ever spoken. But maybe dad has been traveling all week for work. […]
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Like most people who work with children and young people, I wish the Bible had more specific things to say about child rearing. A detailed check off list would be nice. An alliterated acrostic for each season of a child’s life would help. Even a few more details about how Jesus grew up would be […]
The post I Believe in Child Labor appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I wasn’t quite sure how I wanted to spend Thanksgiving vacation this year. I love the holiday, the chance to focus on remembering and of course the food, but I was unsure about travel plans. And then I got the brilliant idea to fly up to Alaska and see the Northern Lights. Viewing that phenomenon […]
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During my first (of five) knee replacement surgeries, I had a period when I was awake and aware of what was going on around me. I heard the saw, felt the hammer and I distinctly remember hearing the surgeon remarking to his assistant, “Yep, that’s about right.” About right? You can imagine the discussion I […]
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Recently an Australian bride confessed to some pretty selfish acts. Apparently, as the wedding preparations began, she sized up her wedding party and decided she needed to make a few adjustments. Specifically, she was concerned that her own sisters might look too radiant as the bridesmaids and overshadow her at the wedding. So, she […]
The post The Star of the Wedding appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I know it’s weird, but I recently had reason to take a look at the Australian Coat of Arms (perhaps Harry and Meghan’s visit had something to do with it…). If you take a look, you will notice that the crest contains two animals, the emu and the kangaroo. Yes, both are indigenous to Australia, […]
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In 2013, there was a terrible airplane crash up in San Francisco. Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was in bound from Korea. The pilots misjudged the altitude of the plane and hit the seawall upon their descent. There were 291 people on board that plane and 187 of them were injured, 49 seriously. And three people […]
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During my recent five-week RV trip around the U.S., I made a special stop at Gettysburg. I have been there several times and I love hearing the stories of the individuals who fought so valiantly on both sides that fateful July 1863. One of my favorite stories involves the commander of the Union forces up […]
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Back in 1828, Webster’s dictionary defined an “excuse” as an allowance for a shortcoming or an attempt to vindicate. It sure seems like the folks in our society are experts at expressing classic excuses. If we are late for an activity or meeting, we blame it on traffic (not on our lack of organization or […]
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I was reading an article awhile back and a racing athlete referred to a stress fracture as a “type two adventure.” He defined it as something that seems fun only when you look back at it, but not while you are doing it. I suspicion that there are hundreds of “type-two fun” experiences in all […]
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I just got back from a five-week trip across country. I retired as Head of School in June and wanted to give my successor every opportunity for a fresh start as school began in September. So I grabbed my best friend, jumped into my RV and took off on a grand adventure. I endured 6200 […]
The post 6200 Miles of Thinking appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I love this quote: “When I am silent the noise of the world fades and I hear the echoes of Eden in my soul, a desire stirs only God can fulfill” (Skye Jethani). It is very similar to the thought Augustine had some 2500 years ago, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and […]
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I am told that the period after the Civil War, leading up to the end of that century was a very colorful time in American history. War always makes manufacturers wealthy. And there were quick fortunes to be made in railroads, oil exploration and even real estate. All that “new money” created a new level […]
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I remember when my sandwich at lunch was covered by folded wax paper. And then mom discovered Tupperware and heaven help you if you didn’t bring home the precious plastic box. Today, we stuff sandwiches (and everything else) in zip lock bags (preferably the water proof kind). As I was tiptoeing down that memory lane, […]
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On the news the other night, they had a report about an autistic young man who had a remarkable experience in a grocery store. As his family did their shopping, the teenager became fascinated with a store clerk as he was stocking shelves. The store clerk stepped to the side and allowed the teenager to […]
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Years ago I attended a seminar called “Basic Youth Conflicts,” and it changed my life. I was so young in my faith, so rough around the spiritual edges that I needed a totally new way of thinking about life. And the material in those sessions certainly struck a chord that continues to reverberate in my […]
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When I lived in England, I loved sitting in those massive train stations and listening to all the announcements. I can still hear pronouncements like “The 4:15 non-stop to Manchester is now departing on track number six. All aboard!” rolling around in my memory banks. The term “departure” is an interesting word in scripture. In […]
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Apparently in the Australian outback, ranchers have two strategies for dealing with wandering cattle. Some build miles and miles of high, tight fences to ensure that the cows stay in and the wolves stay out! The other strategy calls for digging a deep, sweet well that produces delicious, cool water. This approach works to attract […]
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Summer is a time for splashing around in some water. And I recently read about a mama duck doing just that on a lake in Minnesota. It seems that she and her family were making quite a racket as then paddled around the lake. She is a Merganser and they are large, long bodied ducks […]
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I know it is the middle of the summer and our kids are in full scale ‘lazy mode.’ But lots of them still need to be chauffeured everywhere and that means many of us are spending tons of time in a car. This week might be a great opportunity to use that “car time” as […]
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A few months ago, a Southwest pilot, Tammie Jo Shults heroically landed flight #1380 in Philadelphia after a midflight engine failure. This 56-year-old Texan mother worked with her co-pilot and safely landed the plane after a 20,000-foot drop in some six minutes. Once on the ground, Tammie Jo walked down the middle aisle hugging the […]
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The scripture tells us that there were three groups of Jews who returned from exile in Babylon. Zerubbabel led the first and largest group (about 49,000) in 539-537 BC. He was focused on rebuilding the temple. Ezra led a smaller group of just 1754 people. They traveled in 458 BC and focused on the spiritual […]
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This is one of my favorite illustrations. It is the transcript of an actual radio conversation between a U. S. naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision. Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees […]
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This week our country celebrates our Declaration of Independence, the birth of the United States of America. But actually, the declaration was declared two days earlier on the second of July. On the fourth, they just finally agreed on all the edits and changes. It took them months to get all the signatures on the […]
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I like the musical group, Abba (probably showing my age with that comment). One of their songs is entitled, “Money, Money, Money.” And that chorus has been rolling through my mind this last week or so. In case it’s not at the tip of you memory, it goes like this: “Money, money, money, must be […]
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Recently, I have been teaching a series on leadership insights that can be gained from the book of Nehemiah. And right in the middle of the exciting part (the rebuilding of the wall), Nehemiah faces a boatload of criticism. The complainers were local civil leaders who were likely to lose some power and influence if […]
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Currently, the most popular course at Yale University is called PSYC 157: Psychology and the Good Life and it teaches students how to be happy. It is a response to the fact that we live in a world filled with overwhelmed, stressed, anxious and depressed people. According to a recent survey by the American College […]
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Randy Alcorn’s Eternal Perspective Ministries recently published an article chronicling an Iranian woman’s journey of faith. It was entitled, “I Couldn’t Call God Father.” I think it is worth sharing part of her story with you this week. “In Islam there are 99 names for Allah. Not one of them is ‘father.’ To Muslims, God […]
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I read an illustration recently about the very nature of God. Not sure I can substantiate its veracity, but sure makes for a cool thought. It seems that a 4-year old named Shea had a baby brother born. She started begging her parents to spend some time alone with the baby. Finally they allowed her […]
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A few days ago was Mother’s Day and appropriately most of us heard a Bible lesson that day on the incredible value of our mothers. There is no doubt that God had a special role for them to play in all our lives. But I got to thinking about the Gebirah. The Gebirah was an […]
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For the last few weeks, I have been teaching through the most beloved Psalm of all time, Psalm 23. That song ends with the statement that “Surely GOODNESS and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Think about the phrase, “GOODNESS […]
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On the second Monday of October, we celebrate Columbus Day. Everyone can recite the ditty: “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” But did you know that he actually made four separate trips to the new world and never stepped on North American soil? In his quest for a westerly sea route to Asia, he […]
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What should we do when we fall prey to some self-induced pressure and stress? I asked myself that question recently and was drawn to that well known passage in Matthew 11: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from […]
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In church last Sunday, we started our worship time with a song that was new to me. It was Matt Redman’s “Gracefully Broken.” The entire song is incredibly powerful, but the chorus has been reverberating through my mind and heart for days. It says: “Here I am, God. Arms wide open. Pouring out my life. […]
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It’s tax time and as part of that process I gather all my giving statements and review my donations to my favorite Christian organizations. It’s a time to reflect on my involvement and the level of my gifts. That reflection is just one way to help me “ measure” my spiritual growth. I believe that […]
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I just finished teaching a six-week series in Bible study on the topic of having margins in our lives. I worked my way through Richard Swenson’s book, Margins. The later part of that study had a great deal to do with resources and finances. And frankly it provoked the question, “What is enough?” Maybe it […]
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Yesterday was Easter Sunday. That day is so very theologically significant. If ever there was a message of encouragement, it is the story of the risen Savior. He rose from the grave victorious and in that victory made a way for our overcoming sin as well. That message is heavy with spiritual importance. But I […]
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In my illustration book, I have a story that was retold by Alice Gray. It seems that a young man named Bill dropped by church one Sunday morning. He had wild hair, wore a torn t-shirt and no shoes. He had become a Christian when he was in college and across the street from the […]
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I have been in many meetings where Christians gather and often someone opens that meeting in prayer. That’s a good thing. But more often than not, the guy praying begins to ask God to be present in the room. Sometimes, it almost sounds like we are begging Him to join us. When that happens, my […]
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At some point during the administration of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, he decided to anoint himself as dictator. And he went a step further and gave himself a new title. He called himself, “The Awesome.” Now with a bit of flippancy, I can see where all of us might want to ascribe for ourselves such a […]
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I love Godly illustrations out of the world of sports. A great one recently happened during a men’s basketball game between the University of Iowa and Northwestern University. With just a couple of minutes remaining in the hard fought game, the Iowa team was trying to protect a slim lead. A kid by the name […]
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Last weekend, the current Marvel action hero movie grossed over $400 million in just the first few days of its release. It struck me that our culture is extremely hungry for heroes to admire and emulate. This week, I would like to offer up three modern spiritual heroes that could easily go up on my […]
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In the last few months or so, I have been “bumping into” a lot of death and dying issues. I lost a good friend to a sudden heart attack. Been spending quite a bit of time with a friend who is in a “stage 4” battle with cancer. Encouraged a friend who lost their mom. […]
The post Heaven Bound appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I love sports. I love the Super Bowl. I especially loved hearing the comments from the winning team last week. First up was the coach who declared that all the credit for their success went to his Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Then the current quarterback acknowledged that all his blessings came directly from God. […]
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Jesus is the ideal example of a person committed to prayer. He modeled for us how to go to our secret place and speak with our heavenly father. Jesus showed us how to worship first and then make requests. He taught us that it is a personal thing. And by His example, He assured us […]
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For 35 years it has been my privilege to walk beside south county families as they encounter all the aspects of normal living. On the positive side, I have seen babies born, I have attended tons of graduation parties, I love going to the weddings and reunions and it is wonderful to be included in […]
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A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call that a dear friend of mine had passed away quite suddenly of a heart attack. Her name was Pat, but I always called her “PD” (her initials). We met in church back in the early 70’s. I had just come to a saving knowledge of […]
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In 1989, Stephen Covey wrote his acclaimed book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. That book sold over 20 million copies and has influenced untold thousands of executives all around the world (including me). Almost ten years later, a Christian author and broadcaster, Chris Fabry wrote a humorous “reflection” of […]
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Repurpose. Reconsider. Reevaluate. Regenerate. At the start of a new year, there are so many “re” words and concepts to consider. But one of them in particular has been on my mind all week: Redeem. The dictionary definition says it means to buy or pay off, to recover something or to obtain a release for […]
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I have a friend who rather regularly bemoans the fact that her family’s household income isn’t as great as that of others in our area. I did a little checking and it does seem that the real median income in 2016 for a household in the US was a bit over $59,000. Compare that with […]
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Last spring, I had the great privilege of leading a group to Israel. We visited many of the traditional sites that I had seen before. But because the political situation was very calm, we had the special treat of visiting Bethlehem in the West Bank. The Church of the Nativity is believed to have been […]
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John the Baptist is an amazing figure in the New Testament. His birth was miraculous. Both of his parents (Zacharias and Elizabeth) were too old to bear children. Regardless, the angel Gabriel announced that he would be born, filled with the Holy Spirit before his birth and bring back many of the people of Israel […]
The post What Should We Do? appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
There are many things in our culture that suggest the need to give. Sad faces of malnourished dogs and cats motivate many to donate. Graphic videos of storm-ravaged villages move folks to support relief agencies. But perhaps the most notable image that provokes giving is the sight of one of those Salvation Army red kettles […]
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It is amazing how many Biblical phrases we have embedded in our everyday language. Just for fun, take a look at the list in the next paragraph and decide whether or not you think they came from the Bible. (I will use phrases out of the King James Version.) The phrases: Drop in the Bucket, […]
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We are entering the season of Christmas and those wonderful old hymns are all around us. You have to grin a bit when you realize that our very secular world is playing Christ honoring music. Everyday, the message that the Messiah has come (in the form of a baby in the manger) is being subliminally […]
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In the age of fad diets, I thought I might focus our attention this week on the Diet of Worms. No, I am not talking about ingesting some wiggling fish bait. Actually, I am referring to an official gathering of church officials that occurred in 1521 in the German town of Worms. The Bishops were […]
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I can still remember the moment when I first translated the Hebrew term for “praise the Lord.” It was late at night and I was working hard to get through Seminary. My Hebrew class was killing me (foreign languages have always been my nemesis). I was sounding out the syllables one at a time: […]
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What can we all expect from a true friend? Well, the apostle Paul commented to his friend, Philemon that he anticipated, expected something out of their friendship. In Philemon verse 20 he said: “I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord…” Paul asked that his room in Philemon’s […]
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The unthinkable happened the other day. I saw Christmas decorations and holiday gifts out on display. And it is not even Halloween! But instead of complaining to the store manager, I decided to use this opportunity to start thinking about what Christmas is all about. And as I focused my attention to that manger, my […]
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Everyone is afraid of something. Some of our trepidations are minor in nature. For example, most of us don’t like mice scurrying around under our feet or trips to the dentist. Some fears are rational. We ought to feel apprehensive about law school exams and other major assessments. Some fears are irrational. We call those […]
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I am teaching through the New Testament book of Philemon, and that short book of only 25 verses tells the story about a rich man (Philemon) who had a slave steal from him. It seems that the slave (Onesimus) ran away and ended up in Rome where the apostle Paul was imprisoned. Somehow Paul and […]
The post Let It Go (for your sake) appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
After the events in Las Vegas, all our hearts are filled with sorrow and grief. We mourn for those who lost loved ones, for those who were physically injured and for all those who will carry the psychological scars with them for the rest of their lives. And we should mourn. In fact, there is […]
The post Grieve, But Do Not Despair appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I am certain that we have all heard this announcement as we settled in for a flight. The script goes like this: Oxygen and the air pressure are always being monitored. In the event of loss of cabin pressure, an oxygen mask will automatically appear in front of you. To start the flow of oxygen, […]
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This last week I had the opportunity to speak at a local church’s women’s group. Out of all the things I might have addressed, I got assigned SIN! More specifically, I was asked to speak on I John 1:5-10 and the importance of confessing our sin. (Admittedly not a very uplifting topic!) But the more […]
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Recently, I have been having some lingering significant pulmonary issues. So last week, I had to spend seven hours in our local emergency room. While I was there, the doctors ruled out all kinds of nasty possibilities and sent me home with tons of medicine and assurances that I would soon be on the road […]
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No doubt we can all vividly remember exactly what we were doing years ago on that difficult September 11th. And if we are old enough, chances are we can also remember exactly where we were and what they were doing the day President Kennedy was shot and the morning of the Challenger disaster. These were […]
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As I begin my 35th year at Stoneybrooke, I have been doing quite a bit of wandering “down memory lane.” Being the head of such an amazing school and ministering along side such amazing people has created quite a mental warehouse full of choice recollections. At staff retreat, I was sharing about the first day […]
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On one of my summer trips, I had the opportunity to visit Alaska again (definitely my “happy place”). At almost every stream I passed, I got to see that annual trek of salmon making their way back to the place where they were hatched. It is an amazing journey. Sockeye salmon, for example will travel […]
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Every day in the criminal justice system, offenders are convicted and given sentences. Those sentences depend on the crime committed and where it happened. For example, in the state of Florida, one statistical report noted that drug offenses were averaging 3-year sentences; burglaries warranted 4.6 years of incarceration and murderers received a sentence of about […]
The post Is it a Season or a Sentence? appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
During my recent visit to Alaska, I had the chance to do some small boat whale watching. We were in some shore waters around Juneau and had an amazing opportunity to see humpback whales doing some “bubble net” fishing (they shoot out some bubbles, fake out the fish and all rise at once out of […]
The post A New Song appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
I love basketball. College basketball is the best! When I saw this quote from Michael Jordan, it really resonated with me. He said, “I’ve missed more than nine thousand shots in my career. I’ve lost also lost three hundred games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed […]
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Michael W. Smith grappled with his own identity issues in his song “A Place in this World.” He talks about a heart that is hopeful and a head full of dreams. He was looking for a reason, his place in this world. In the seventies, Diana Ross asked similar questions when she sang, “Do you […]
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Don’t quite know why, but I am always surprised when I realize a new friend was adopted as a child. I guess I assume that everyone who was adopted has common features or characteristics. But that is really not true. And there is such a difference between being adopted and being an orphan. Those distinctions […]
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Not too long ago I announced my retirement from Stoneybrooke. I have one more year as the head of school and then it is time for “what’s next.” I have been giving that new life assignment quite a bit of thought the last few years. Along the way, I came across this quote from one […]
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Life magazine used to have some amazing pictures. The spreads would depict everyday life in such a positive way. Families were nestled around the dinner table, couples looked longingly into each other’s eyes and grandparents showed their delight as they pushed the kids in brightly colored swings. Unfortunately, life just isn’t like that all the […]
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Tomorrow we celebrate our independence. In June 1776, representatives from the 13 colonies met as the Continental Congress in order to consider our nation’s options. On July 2nd, they voted for independence from Great Britain. And two days later on the fourth, they formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. For some 241 years, American citizens […]
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Years ago, a teenager named Brian Moore wrote an essay on what he thought heaven will be like. In part, he wrote: “In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. One wall was covered with small index card files. They stretched from floor to ceiling and had very different headings. […]
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About 15 years ago Disney pictures produced a fun movie called “Snow Dogs”. It was the story of a successful suburban dentist who inherited a dogsled team and a rustic cabin up in Alaska. The movie humorously chronicled his attempts to master the sport of dog sledding and adjust to life in the great outdoors. […]
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A recent scientific study asserts that talking to yourself is really not a sign of madness, but rather it might indicate that you are “smarter than the average bear.” Truth is lots of us make fun of others who talk out loud to themselves. But the experts at Bangor University stated, “Talking out loud, when […]
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The other day, a prospective parent at Stoneybrooke asked me where I was from. He heard a “y all” in my conversation and assumed I was from the south. Truth be known, I think I have a southern British accent from the islands (Hawaii), reflecting all the moving around I did as a kid. But […]
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Ever since I became a follower of Christ, I believed that the term “prodigal” (used in the story about the lost son in Luke 15) meant something like scoundrel or wayward child. I thought it carried the idea of a son “gone bad.” But I heard a message recently by Buddy Owens (a pastor at […]
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We are all very familiar with many of the positive statements in I Corinthians 13. We know that love is patient, love is kind, and love believes all things and hopes all things. But I am convinced that many of us are not as familiar with the things love is not. This week might be […]
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I saw a headline the other day that deeply disturbed me, and not because of the political implications (heaven knows we are all bombarded with enough of that kind of input). But as an influencer of children, I was really concerned. The headline read “329 people, places and things that Trump has insulted on Twitter.” […]
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We live in a very fearful society. A glance at today’s headlines reveals why. Consider this one: “With every missile test, the leader of North Korea moves closer to his stated goal of a preemptive nuclear strike against American cities.” (Great! Annihilation.) Ponder the implications of this one: “The massive drug bust today could lead […]
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Dr. William Leslie came from Ontario, Canada. He was a pharmacist. After he came to Christ in 1888, he began to serve as a medical missionary with the American Baptist Missionary Union. He served overseas for 35 years. For the last 17 years, he worked with tribal people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. […]
The post The Faith of a Mustard Seed appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Apparently there are all kinds of blindness. There is color blindness; there is a condition called “prosopagnosia,” which is the inability to recognize faces and there is “object agnosia” which doesn’t allow people to recognize common objects, like their own car. And the cause can be a birth defect, an accident, an injury or […]
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I got a new watch during my trip to Israel. And it is different. It does not have any numbers on its face. Instead, it has the first twelve letters of the Hebrew alphabet. So why don’t the Jews use numbers? There is a very interesting ancient tradition not to count with numbers. In […]
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I just came back from another amazing trip to Israel. There is so much to process and even more to apply. But one pressing reflection has to do with our coming celebration of Easter and a few gates visible on the southern steps of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Named after an Old Testament prophetess, […]
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In Tim Hansel’s book Holy Sweat, Tim reflects on his relationship with the Lord in a way that most of us can relate to. He says, “At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when […]
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I recently had a conversation with a friend on the topic of generosity. He was sharing some of the physiological impacts of living a generous life style. Studies with burn victims or others who have been seriously harmed in an encounter show that people actually heal better and quicker when they can generously forgive the […]
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Apparently a mix of genetic and environmental factors determines whether we are right or left handed. The majority of Americans are right handed, but 15% are left-handed. According to a study done at the St. Lawrence University in New York, “lefties” have two times the problem solving skills and generally a higher IQ potential than […]
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Pastor John MacArthur once said, “Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise and providence of God. And yet, it is a sin that Christians commit perhaps more frequently than any other.” We know it is wrong. In point of fact, it is a sin. It robs us of our trusting relationship with the Lord. […]
The post Our Most Frequent Sin appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
Stop by any family restaurant on a school night and you’ll be able to see a classic exchange (actually the lack thereof) between parents and teenagers. Buried behind that diminutive phone screen are the eyes of a detached young girl or boy. They do not appear to be engaged in any aspect of family life […]
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A team of scientists from Stanford University is focused on taking fitness trackers up a notch. They are researching the use of wearable sensors that could be personalized to sense a person’s heart rate, blood oxygen levels, skin temperature and other biometrics. These wearable gadgets will be a kind of sophisticated “check engine light” for […]
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There is an amazing object lesson tucked into the book of Jeremiah that is very pertinent to today’s tumultuous culture. Let me share the historical context. Judah (the two tribes in the southern part of Israel) was warring with Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s king was focused on conquering the nation and taking captives back to his […]
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Last week Adele Dunlap, the oldest American resident (she was 114 in December) died. About the same time, I read an article about an English gerontologist, Aubrey de Grey who published a scientific paper 15 years ago in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. In that paper, he claimed that the “indefinite […]
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Social media today is awash with whining, grumbling and complaining. So much so that a friend recently was begging her online friends to go back to posting boring pictures of meals or feet in the sand rather than all the political diatribes. The Hebrew term for “murmuring” literally means to stop somewhere and spend the […]
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I am convinced that one of the top 5 mistakes modern Christians make is the constant focus on our past. The apostle Paul must have thought it was a big deal too. In the book of Philippians, he exhorts us to “forget what is behind and strain for what lies ahead…” (3:13). That term “to […]
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Please forgive a moment of personal reflection…the past four months have been some of the most challenging of my entire life. My struggles to recuperate from my 5th knee replacement have been significant. Understandably, my prayer life has reflected those incredibly painful and difficult battles. Along the way, scripture, music and insightful commentaries and quotes […]
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No one reading this article will be shocked to learn that women talk more than men. But I was curious about any research that might offer some definitive support for that widely held opinion. Apparently, many authors have addressed this issue and attempted to determine the actual number of words used each day by men […]
The post The Quality of our Words appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
When placed on hold, on the telephone, I often hear a common refrain, “this call may be recorded for quality assurance.” Now I am not sure what kind of quality assurance is required from a doctor’s office, a bank or a phone company but at the very least, I knew someone might be listening. It […]
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I have been blessed with a lot of good training in my Christian life. I have been mentored by some of the best “encouragers” in the world. And one of the primary lessons I have been taught had to do with action versus words. A great encourager doesn’t just listen or even just pray (as […]
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One of the key characters in the biblical Christmas story is the father of John the Baptist, Zacharias. His wife, Elizabeth is the cousin of Mary and their story is told in Luke 1:5-80. Both of them had priestly heritage and are described as “…and they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking […]
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A casual reader of the scriptures might think that the “wise men” (the Magi) first appear in our bibles in the account of the birth of Jesus. Truth is, some 600 years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Daniel came to be known as the chief of the magi in Babylon (see Daniel 1:20 […]
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Someone sent me a story a week or two ago, and I would like to share it with you. A nine year old boy sits at a desk in a third grade classroom. All of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants is wet. He thinks his […]
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For the last few weeks I have been focused on exercise. I quickly have to share that unfortunately this exercise has not been targeting my weight, or my stamina, or even my cardiovascular health. No, all the “sets of ten” have been focused on my knee. Since the replacement surgery, I have been trying hard […]
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There are all kinds of ways to classify people…tall/short, smart/not so smart, pretty/good personality, outgoing/shy and so. Theologically, in relationship to worth and value, there might be three general classifications for Christians: “The Driven,” “The I’m-Just-A,” and “The Called.” “The Driven” are folks that Gordon MacDonald (“Ordering Your Private World”) says spend most of their […]
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In Paul’s commentary to Timothy regarding the end times, he lists what those perilous days will look like (II Timothy 3:1-5). He says the men will be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without natural affection, trucebreakers, lovers of pleasures and so on. And right in the middle of his five […]
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In about 713 BC an Assyrian ruler named Sennacherib invaded Judah and threatened Jerusalem. In II Chronicles 32 (and II Kings 18) the bible tells us the story. Sennacherib sent some of his officers to Jerusalem with a message for the king of Judah, Hezekiah. For 15 verses these military men ranted and raved against […]
The post The Right Language appeared first on www.sherryworel.com.
We hear a lot these days about our children being entitled. Parenting articles outline the “needs” that we should be supplying for our children. Johnny deserves to be happy. Suzie should enjoy the latest and greatest. Larry needs to be pampered so his self esteem can flourish. And Mary needs to have her wishes met […]
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I saw a quote from a French writer that said, “Nine tenths of education is encouragement.” And I believe that. Learning is a risk and students need a healthy amount of encouragement in order to step out there and try something new. But they aren’t the only ones. You and I need encouragement too! I […]
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Recently, Emily Pace, a Stoneybrooke alum who is a senior in high school asked if she might be a guest “muser” and offer some of her own thoughts. I love what she has written! Have you ever looked through a kaleidoscope? Remember, it’s that toy when you were a kid that you would look through, […]
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I love standing alongside a mountain stream watching what goes by. Some of the leaves or twigs are driven along by the current or a breeze, but the fish are different. They are swimming by. They are going somewhere. I doubt that they are consulting a day planner, but their activity is intentional. They are […]
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Have you had a good laugh lately? I am talking about a real, tummy jiggling crack up? I hope so, because it is good for you! Wikipedia says that laughter “is an audible expression, or appearance of merriment or happiness or an inward feeling of joy and pleasure.” Physiologically, laughter is a rhythmic, vocalized, expiratory […]
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I confess to being a political junkie. I love this season when the candidates are busy trying to convince us that their ideas and perspectives are the correct ones. My favorite part is watching them try to bend and twist the truth to fit the situation of the moment. Politicians seem to be particularly adept […]
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A few weeks ago, I read a story about dozens of tourists who were trapped over night in cable cars over Mont Blanc in the Alps. About 110 people, including a 10-year-old were stranded after high winds tangled the wires that operate the pulley system. The people were in 36 different cabins strung all along […]
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When I was in Bible college, there was a very clear pecking order for those who wished to serve the Lord as their vocation (“full time service”). At the top of the spiritual heap, were the missionaries. Then came the pastors. And next in line came all the girls who married one of those leaders […]
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“Wanted dead or alive” is the message that often appeared on posters featuring criminals on the loose. Apparently the first wanted posters appeared in England. They featured “outlaws” (criminals who were outside the protection of the law). In the US, wanted posters started to show up a lot in the later part of the 1800s. […]
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Apparently the term for a personal greeting among the South African Zulu people is the term “Sawubona.” It roughly transliterates to “hello, how you doing?” But a strict translation would be, “I see you.” That meaning goes far beyond the physical act of our eyes recognizing each other. It literally means that I see your […]
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Most of us have been enthralled with all the Olympic fever of the last couple of weeks. As the track and field events began, I couldn’t help but think back to the story told in the movie, “Chariots of Fire.” As you probably remember, the film tells the story of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams. […]
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An article in the recent New Tribes Missions newsletter was making a point about how long it takes to complete a modern English language translation of the Bible. Apparently the New International Version took a full 8 years to finish. The New King James version was called a revision, and it took 4 years to […]
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In 1790, Abigail Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson and said, “These are the hard times in which a genius would wish to live. Great necessities call forth great leaders.” Well, that need is certainly still true today. Our country is desperate for great leaders. But like most Americans, I have grown very weary of trying […]
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Every Christian has their favorite devotional. As I glance over at my bookshelf, I see devotionals by Chambers, Foster, Spurgeon, Cowman, Swindoll and Tozer. But my all time favorite is a little book of puritan prayers called The Valley of Vision. Once you get around the “thees” and “thous,” the writing is very poignant and […]
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About the time you will be ready this musing, it will be time for the national political conventions in our country. In my lifetime, I don’t remember a more contentious approach to those events for either party. Seems like everywhere we turn there is frustration and polarization. Seemed like a good time to review the […]
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Every time I get a nasty cold, I have some problems with my asthma. Inevitably, upon exertion, I start the “asthma pant.” It’s that pursed lips thing that you do trying to suck the last bit of oxygen out of every breath. I am grateful that that kind of panting doesn’t last very long. But […]
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Psalm 23 is an incredible source of comfort for the believer. It makes a number of strong statements of relief and provision. In the context of preparing a table for me in the presence of my enemies and anointing my head with oil, the psalmist declares that the Lord also causes our cups to overflow. […]
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Likely as you read these words, it is July 4th, the celebration of the birth of our nation. In the summer of 1776, the Second Continental Congress met and on July 2nd, they voted on a resolution declaring our independence from Great Britain. Two days later, they actually signed that resolution. John Adams wrote his […]
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I read a story in social media about a motivational speaker (John Scolinos) who spoke to a large convention of baseball coaches. Apparently, he started his talk by asking how wide the home plate is in Little League. The participants answered, “seventeen inches.” Then he asked how wide it was for the kids in the […]
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