Build me a son, oh Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is
weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will
be proud and unbending and honest defeat, and humble and gentle in
victory.
Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be;
a son who will know Thee -
Lead him I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the
stress and spur of difficulties and challenges. Here let him learn to
stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; a
son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one
who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will
reach into the future, yet never forget the past.
And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of
humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too
seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the
simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the
meekness of true strength.
Then, I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."
General Douglas MacArthur, "A Father's Prayer"
Friday, October 28, 2016
A Fathers Prayer for his son
Sunday, October 23, 2016
11 Verses for Breaking Up with your Past from the Diceman
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from
all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43:1
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
"I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us." Psa. 103:11-12
"But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from
all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43:1
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
"I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us." Psa. 103:11-12
"But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Secret Keeper Girl 'Purple Party Tour'
Dannah Gresh's Secret Keeper Girl ‘Purple Party Tour’ invites 7 – 12 year old girls and their moms to think and act differently. Today’s little girls face pressure their moms didn’t know until they were in high school. Secret Keeper Girl offer moms proven tools to teach their girl to embrace true beauty and biblical modesty.
The Secret Keeper Girl Purple Party Tour will give you time to laugh, time to pray, and time to talk about the issues your daughters are dealing with. Through live worship, fun bible teaching and memorable stories, tween girls will be told unequivocally that they are each a masterpiece created by God.
Find Out More!
Enter Contest!
Girlfriends In God
FIND OUT MORE
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
5 Things Your Kids Will Remember About You
Parents. Here is an article that the Diceman is discussing on SMILE FM.
You can find the full article here http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davewillis/the-5-things-your-kids-will-remember-about-you
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
To Treat Or Not To Treat
Smile FM Explores Alternatives To Traditional Halloween Activities
By Brian Dumont
October is here and fall is officially upon us. It’s the time of year that brings a variety of exciting seasonal favorites including football, cider & donuts and for a lot of people, Halloween. I know some are sensitive to the negative spiritual connotation associated with Halloween. If that is you, I completely respect your position and will not be offended if you skip on to the next article at this point. However, if you are open to the possibility that Halloween could be more than just an excuse for kids to dress up in scary costumes, and gallivant about the neighborhood begging for candy from strangers, please continue reading.
First, consider the alternatives offered to traditional Halloween activities. Many churches will host a “harvest party” or “trunk-or-treat” event at their place of worship. Kids still get to dress up and get candy, and maybe even get a little something more. My church has been doing what we call a “Hallelujah Party” for as long as I can remember. It’s set up like a carnival where kids play games and win candy. Then at the end of the event everyone gathers in the sanctuary for a big prize drawing and while waiting, they are presented with a gospel message and an opportunity to receive Jesus. The end result is a lot of fun, a lot of candy and a lot of new souls added to the Kingdom of God. In the time my kids have grown up thousands have attended this annual event and hundreds (if not thousands) have made decisions for Christ. That’s just at my church. Imagine what kind of effect alternatives like this can have on the community as a whole when everybody participates.
Of course, if you’re going to attend a Halloween alternative, you might want to consider costumes. Depending on the event, costumes may be encouraged or frowned upon, so be sure to check with the organizers ahead of time to find out what is appropriate. In the case where costumes are part of the festivities, let me offer this suggestion… dress like the good guys. Stay away from traditional secular costumes like witches and devils and go for something a little less associated with the dark side. When in doubt, side with the good guys. For example, if you’re choosing between going as Batman or the Joker, choose Batman because he’s the good guy.
Since we’re talking about costumes, I’m feeling compelled to share some of my favorites from over the years. I’ve always loved theatre and acting, so putting on a costume and pretending to be someone else tends to come naturally. Halloween happens to be the one time of the year where I don’t get strange looks for doing so. One year in elementary school I found an old snowman costume leftover from a Christmas play. I didn’t really want to be a snowman at the time, so I made some modifications, added a piece of yellow material, a hula hoop and ta-da… I went as a fried egg! As an adult I’ve dressed up as fan favorites like Mr. Incredible and Nacho Libre, but I think my favorite costumes were some that I made for my kids to wear.
One year when my oldest son was in elementary school I asked him what kind of costume he wanted to wear. He said, “Optimus Prime” from that year’s incarnation of Transformers. One problem, the franchise wasn’t quite so popular back then. No costumes available to purchase. So I did one better… I made a costume from scratch! A little cardboard, some duct tape and paint… okay, it was a LOT of cardboard, duct tape and paint… and probably way to many hours invested into the project, but I was … er, I mean, HE was the star of the show. That year I also made a box of cereal for my youngest son to wear. He didn’t care for it so much, but everyone else thought it was the cutest thing ever. Wait, what were we talking about again? Oh, that’s right… Halloween alternatives.
For years, I used to only participate in church related alternatives to Halloween. I didn’t want to have anything to do with the “negative spiritual connotation” I mentioned earlier, so if there wasn’t another option on Halloween night I would simply turn off the porch light and ignore the kids walking by. But more recently I’ve been wondering if I’ve missed something. I’m thinking, what if I could use this opportunity to make a difference somehow? Kids are coming to my house with the expectation of receiving a free gift. Maybe I could give them something that would really change their lives. In the Bible, when a lame beggar asked Peter and John for a handout, they gave him a healing instead (Acts 3:1-10). Now, I’m not planning to set up a revival tent meeting on my front porch or anything (not this year, anyway), but maybe handing out candy to the kids on my block is a good way to show the love of Jesus to my neighbors. And if I happen to be playing Smile FM in the background, that might not hurt either.
If you are looking for Halloween alternatives in your community, please visit Smile FM’s Family Fun Calendar to find suggestions of events happening near you. Or if your church is hosting such an event, you can post the information there for others to see as well. And if you’re planning to pass out candy from your front porch, let your light shine and do it with a smile. In the meantime, I have a Nacho Libre costume to try on and make sure it still fits.
By Brian Dumont
October is here and fall is officially upon us. It’s the time of year that brings a variety of exciting seasonal favorites including football, cider & donuts and for a lot of people, Halloween. I know some are sensitive to the negative spiritual connotation associated with Halloween. If that is you, I completely respect your position and will not be offended if you skip on to the next article at this point. However, if you are open to the possibility that Halloween could be more than just an excuse for kids to dress up in scary costumes, and gallivant about the neighborhood begging for candy from strangers, please continue reading.
First, consider the alternatives offered to traditional Halloween activities. Many churches will host a “harvest party” or “trunk-or-treat” event at their place of worship. Kids still get to dress up and get candy, and maybe even get a little something more. My church has been doing what we call a “Hallelujah Party” for as long as I can remember. It’s set up like a carnival where kids play games and win candy. Then at the end of the event everyone gathers in the sanctuary for a big prize drawing and while waiting, they are presented with a gospel message and an opportunity to receive Jesus. The end result is a lot of fun, a lot of candy and a lot of new souls added to the Kingdom of God. In the time my kids have grown up thousands have attended this annual event and hundreds (if not thousands) have made decisions for Christ. That’s just at my church. Imagine what kind of effect alternatives like this can have on the community as a whole when everybody participates.
Of course, if you’re going to attend a Halloween alternative, you might want to consider costumes. Depending on the event, costumes may be encouraged or frowned upon, so be sure to check with the organizers ahead of time to find out what is appropriate. In the case where costumes are part of the festivities, let me offer this suggestion… dress like the good guys. Stay away from traditional secular costumes like witches and devils and go for something a little less associated with the dark side. When in doubt, side with the good guys. For example, if you’re choosing between going as Batman or the Joker, choose Batman because he’s the good guy.
Since we’re talking about costumes, I’m feeling compelled to share some of my favorites from over the years. I’ve always loved theatre and acting, so putting on a costume and pretending to be someone else tends to come naturally. Halloween happens to be the one time of the year where I don’t get strange looks for doing so. One year in elementary school I found an old snowman costume leftover from a Christmas play. I didn’t really want to be a snowman at the time, so I made some modifications, added a piece of yellow material, a hula hoop and ta-da… I went as a fried egg! As an adult I’ve dressed up as fan favorites like Mr. Incredible and Nacho Libre, but I think my favorite costumes were some that I made for my kids to wear.
One year when my oldest son was in elementary school I asked him what kind of costume he wanted to wear. He said, “Optimus Prime” from that year’s incarnation of Transformers. One problem, the franchise wasn’t quite so popular back then. No costumes available to purchase. So I did one better… I made a costume from scratch! A little cardboard, some duct tape and paint… okay, it was a LOT of cardboard, duct tape and paint… and probably way to many hours invested into the project, but I was … er, I mean, HE was the star of the show. That year I also made a box of cereal for my youngest son to wear. He didn’t care for it so much, but everyone else thought it was the cutest thing ever. Wait, what were we talking about again? Oh, that’s right… Halloween alternatives.
For years, I used to only participate in church related alternatives to Halloween. I didn’t want to have anything to do with the “negative spiritual connotation” I mentioned earlier, so if there wasn’t another option on Halloween night I would simply turn off the porch light and ignore the kids walking by. But more recently I’ve been wondering if I’ve missed something. I’m thinking, what if I could use this opportunity to make a difference somehow? Kids are coming to my house with the expectation of receiving a free gift. Maybe I could give them something that would really change their lives. In the Bible, when a lame beggar asked Peter and John for a handout, they gave him a healing instead (Acts 3:1-10). Now, I’m not planning to set up a revival tent meeting on my front porch or anything (not this year, anyway), but maybe handing out candy to the kids on my block is a good way to show the love of Jesus to my neighbors. And if I happen to be playing Smile FM in the background, that might not hurt either.
If you are looking for Halloween alternatives in your community, please visit Smile FM’s Family Fun Calendar to find suggestions of events happening near you. Or if your church is hosting such an event, you can post the information there for others to see as well. And if you’re planning to pass out candy from your front porch, let your light shine and do it with a smile. In the meantime, I have a Nacho Libre costume to try on and make sure it still fits.
Tuesday, October 06, 2015
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
My Modern Family- A Dad’s Story
By:Faron Dice
The group photo was taken at my grand- daughter's baby dedication a few weeks ago. My grown-up daughters are in there and their children (they are single moms), and there’s even an ex-husband and a current boyfriend who is not the father of my granddaughter, too. Did you catch all that? Me either. It certainly wasn’t my plan. I was going to have the perfect little Christian family. I grew up as a preacher’s kid. My parents listened to Focus on the Family on the radio, and I did, too. I went to a Christian high school and eventually Evangel College in Springfield MO. After that, I took my first full time Christian radio job. Oh, I was so sure that I had it all figured out. For the next 15+ years, I couldn’t wait to be on the radio every day to air shows like Focus on the Family and Point of View, and of course, my own radio show where I could be a *true* Christian radio DJ, sharing cool quotes and Bible verses, and best of all, I could act like I had it all together on the radio. I loved to discuss the evil going on in the culture, and things that needed to change. I even had a guy tell me once… “Everything is black and white for you, there is no grey.” (He wasn’t being complimentary.)
On the personal side, my wife and I thought we had it all
figured out, too. We were raising our
kids, believing “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (I thought it was guaranteed to happen.) Then, life took a turn.
My 17 year old daughter started getting into all kind of
trouble, and eventually got pregnant in high school. My other daughter married a guy, but that
quickly ended in divorce. My perfect
little Christian family was broken. The
truth is…during the process, I was broken.
You see, I never did really have it all together. I spent way too much time acting like I had
it all together on the radio, and trying to control my teenagers into what I
wanted them to be, and not enough time on my knees just pulling close to Jesus.
I can honestly say that it is only now that, Bible verses
like this one really make sense to me…
2 Cor 12:9-10 (The
Message)And then God told me, My grace is enough;
it’s all you need.My strength comes into its own in your weakness. So, I quit focusing on
the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s
strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with
good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents,
opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get,
the stronger I become.
So, now I work at Smile FM, and I can assure you, the people
that work here don’t have it all together.
I doubt that most of the people that are in your church have it all
together either. If your family is messy, and you feel like you don’t fit in
with the church crowd…you’re wrong.
The Bible is fully of messy families and so is the
church. This recent photo of my version
of Modern Family might be the new normal.
And it’s OK. God is working in
us.
Romans 15:30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our
Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle
by praying to God for me.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
What atheists think about Christians
Check this out... 6 Eye Opening Things that Atheists think about Christians. Just click on this link.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Galleries/6-Eye-Opening-Things-Atheists-Think-About-Christians.aspx?utm_campaign=GlobalScope&utm_medium=paiddistribution&utm_source=JesusChristPageDesktopAtheistsChristiansJUN
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Which Bible Dad are you like?
Take this quiz. Find out which Bible Dad you are most like. (The Diceman was most like Abraham)
http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/infographics/quiz-which-biblical-father-are-you.html
Thursday, May 28, 2015
The article every woman should read...
So, I’ve been married for 29 years. I’m like an expert now. This, ladies… is an article that every woman should read.
http://branthansen.com/2015/05/26/she-never-crushed-me/
Whether you are married, thinking about getting married, etc. This article is what every guy wants from his wife.
Friday, March 06, 2015
For Parents of Grown Kids
• I gave you life, but I cannot live it for you.
• I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
• I can give you directions, but I cannot always be there to lead you.
• I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.
• I can teach you right from wrong, but I can't always decide for you.
• I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
• I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
• I can advise you about friends, but I cannot choose them for you.
• I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you.
• I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious.
• I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make your morals.
• I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's Family.
• I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
• I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Him your Savior.
• I can teach you to obey but I cannot make Jesus Your Lord.
• I can teach you how to live, but cannot give you Eternal Life.
Friday, February 27, 2015
22 Questions
John Wesley and The Holy Club's 22 Questions
In 1729, while John Wesley was a student at Oxford, he started a club with his brother Charles. It was soon mockingly dubbed The Holy Club by some of his fellow collegians. The club members rigorously self-examined themselves everyday by asking the following 22 questions:
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I
am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the
Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a
resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?
The first list appeared about 1729 or 1730 in the preface to Wesley's second Oxford Diary. Similar questions appeared in his 1733 A Collection of Forms of Prayer for Every Day in the Week. As late as 1781, Wesley published a list of questions like this in the Arminian Magazine.
In 1729, while John Wesley was a student at Oxford, he started a club with his brother Charles. It was soon mockingly dubbed The Holy Club by some of his fellow collegians. The club members rigorously self-examined themselves everyday by asking the following 22 questions:
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I
am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the
Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a
resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?
The first list appeared about 1729 or 1730 in the preface to Wesley's second Oxford Diary. Similar questions appeared in his 1733 A Collection of Forms of Prayer for Every Day in the Week. As late as 1781, Wesley published a list of questions like this in the Arminian Magazine.
Friday, December 19, 2014
99.9 FM is on the air in Grand Rapids!
Can you hear us now? 99.9 FM is on the air in Grand Rapids! As you're out and about this week, we would like to know where the new 99.9 signal goes in both the home and the car. The tech team is always working improve Smile FM's signal and your report can help them out! Email signal reports to 411 @ smile.fm
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
97.1 FM On The Air In Traverse City!
Can you hear us now? 97.1 FM is on the air in Traverse City! As you're out and about this week, we would like to know where the new 97.1 signal goes in both the home and the car. The tech team is always working improve Smile FM's signal and your report can help them out! Email signal reports to 411 @ smile.fm
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Blessings we take for granted
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I
encourage you to make a list of blessings you may
take for granted. My list for 2014 might help you think of others:
1. Do you have religious freedom? The majority of
the world's population75 percentlive in areas
with severe religious restrictions. And
Christians in more than 60 countries face
persecution simply because of their belief in
Jesus Christ. About 1.6 billion people in the
world live in repressive societies where they
have no say in how they are governed.
2. Do you make your own decisions? There are 29.8
million people living as slaves today, according
to the Walk Free Foundation. These people live as
forced laborers, forced prostitutes, child
soldiers and child brides in forced marriages.
Walk Free investigated 162 countries and found slaves in every one.
3. Do you have money in a bank? More than 2.5
billion adults around the world are unbanked,
according to data based on Gallup polling in 148
countries. Two-thirds of people without accounts
said they simply don't have enough money to use a bank.
4. Do you own shoes? About 300 million children
around the world don't own a pair of shoes. It is
estimated that two billion people worldwide are
currently plagued with parasitic diseases that
could be prevented simply by wearing proper footwear.
5. Do you drink clean water? About 1.1 billion
people in the world don't have access to clean
drinking water. Because of that, about 9 million
people will die this year because of
water-related illnesses. The next time you open a
bottle of Dasani or drink from your tap, remember
that millions of women around the world spend an
average of four hours daily walking to get water.
6. Did your mother survive when you were born?
Approximately 800 women die every day from
complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
This is equivalent to 33 women an hour. Almost
all these deaths occurred in developing
countries, and most could have been prevented.
7. Did you live past age 5? Some 21,000 children
die every day around the world because of poverty
and preventable diseases. That is equivalent to
one child dying every four seconds. The annual
death toll is 7.6 million children a year.
8. Do you eat three meals a day? The World Health
Organization estimates that one-third of the
world's population is overfed, one-third is
underfed and one-third is starving. Approximately
925 million people in the developing world are chronically undernourished.
9. Do you enjoy reliable electricity? About 1.5
billion people in this world have no access to
electrical power. Do you enjoy that oven in your
kitchen? The next time you prepare a meal,
remember that 2.5 billion people in the world
still use wood or charcoal to cook their food. Do
you enjoy your washing machine? About 5 billion
people in the world still wash their clothes by hand.
10. Do you have a roof over your head? The U.N.
Commission on Human Rights says there are 100
million homeless people in the world. One in
three children in the world live without adequate
shelter. And today there are about 42 million
people who are living as refugees. Most were
displaced by war and live in crude camps.
11. Do you own a car? The United States still has
the highest number of motor vehicles in the
world. Globally, only 1 out of every 8 people has
access to a car. Many of the others either walk,
take crowded buses or public vans or ride on
bicycles, rickshaws or animals. Did you fly
somewhere in the past year? You are blessed. Only
5 to 7 percent of people in the world have ever flown in an airplane.
12. Do you have a flushable toilet? The United
Nations Development Program reports that 2.6
billion people do not have access to any toilet
facilities. India has the largest percentage of
people who lack adequate sanitation. About 638
million Indians must go outdoors.
13. Can you read? Nearly a billion people entered
the 21st century unable to read a book or sign
their names. There are 72 million children who
should be in school but are not enrolled. And if
you have a college degree, you are in a
privileged minority; only 6.7 percent of people
in the world have a college diploma.
14. Can you see? Over 285 million people in the
world are visually impaired. About 39 million of
these are blind and 246 million have moderate to
severe visual impairment. India is home to the
world's largest number of blind people, due to
the country's acute shortage of optometrists.
15. Do you have health care? Here in the United
States, we are debating the pros and cons of
Obamacareand griping about the reliability of
the government's health care website. But did you
know that 1 billion people in the world have no
access to any form of health systemsand their
children cannot receive childhood immunizations.
King David wrote: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
forget none of His benefits" (Ps. 103:2, NASB).
Thanksgiving is not an optional virtue. Without
it, our pride swells and our selfishness consumes
us. Thanksgiving is an important exercise because
it adjusts our attitude. It calibrates our hearts
so that we stop complaining and instead remember
how we are blessed and Who deserves the credit
for our blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!
J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma.
You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. His
newest book is The Truth Sets Women Free from
Charisma House. You can learn more about his
ministry, The Mordecai Project, at
<http://www.charismamag.com/themordecaiproject.org>themordecaiproject.org.
Unless otherwise specified, the opinions
expressed are solely the author's and do not
necessarily reflect the views of Charisma Media.
encourage you to make a list of blessings you may
take for granted. My list for 2014 might help you think of others:
1. Do you have religious freedom? The majority of
the world's population75 percentlive in areas
with severe religious restrictions. And
Christians in more than 60 countries face
persecution simply because of their belief in
Jesus Christ. About 1.6 billion people in the
world live in repressive societies where they
have no say in how they are governed.
2. Do you make your own decisions? There are 29.8
million people living as slaves today, according
to the Walk Free Foundation. These people live as
forced laborers, forced prostitutes, child
soldiers and child brides in forced marriages.
Walk Free investigated 162 countries and found slaves in every one.
3. Do you have money in a bank? More than 2.5
billion adults around the world are unbanked,
according to data based on Gallup polling in 148
countries. Two-thirds of people without accounts
said they simply don't have enough money to use a bank.
4. Do you own shoes? About 300 million children
around the world don't own a pair of shoes. It is
estimated that two billion people worldwide are
currently plagued with parasitic diseases that
could be prevented simply by wearing proper footwear.
5. Do you drink clean water? About 1.1 billion
people in the world don't have access to clean
drinking water. Because of that, about 9 million
people will die this year because of
water-related illnesses. The next time you open a
bottle of Dasani or drink from your tap, remember
that millions of women around the world spend an
average of four hours daily walking to get water.
6. Did your mother survive when you were born?
Approximately 800 women die every day from
complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
This is equivalent to 33 women an hour. Almost
all these deaths occurred in developing
countries, and most could have been prevented.
7. Did you live past age 5? Some 21,000 children
die every day around the world because of poverty
and preventable diseases. That is equivalent to
one child dying every four seconds. The annual
death toll is 7.6 million children a year.
8. Do you eat three meals a day? The World Health
Organization estimates that one-third of the
world's population is overfed, one-third is
underfed and one-third is starving. Approximately
925 million people in the developing world are chronically undernourished.
9. Do you enjoy reliable electricity? About 1.5
billion people in this world have no access to
electrical power. Do you enjoy that oven in your
kitchen? The next time you prepare a meal,
remember that 2.5 billion people in the world
still use wood or charcoal to cook their food. Do
you enjoy your washing machine? About 5 billion
people in the world still wash their clothes by hand.
10. Do you have a roof over your head? The U.N.
Commission on Human Rights says there are 100
million homeless people in the world. One in
three children in the world live without adequate
shelter. And today there are about 42 million
people who are living as refugees. Most were
displaced by war and live in crude camps.
11. Do you own a car? The United States still has
the highest number of motor vehicles in the
world. Globally, only 1 out of every 8 people has
access to a car. Many of the others either walk,
take crowded buses or public vans or ride on
bicycles, rickshaws or animals. Did you fly
somewhere in the past year? You are blessed. Only
5 to 7 percent of people in the world have ever flown in an airplane.
12. Do you have a flushable toilet? The United
Nations Development Program reports that 2.6
billion people do not have access to any toilet
facilities. India has the largest percentage of
people who lack adequate sanitation. About 638
million Indians must go outdoors.
13. Can you read? Nearly a billion people entered
the 21st century unable to read a book or sign
their names. There are 72 million children who
should be in school but are not enrolled. And if
you have a college degree, you are in a
privileged minority; only 6.7 percent of people
in the world have a college diploma.
14. Can you see? Over 285 million people in the
world are visually impaired. About 39 million of
these are blind and 246 million have moderate to
severe visual impairment. India is home to the
world's largest number of blind people, due to
the country's acute shortage of optometrists.
15. Do you have health care? Here in the United
States, we are debating the pros and cons of
Obamacareand griping about the reliability of
the government's health care website. But did you
know that 1 billion people in the world have no
access to any form of health systemsand their
children cannot receive childhood immunizations.
King David wrote: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
forget none of His benefits" (Ps. 103:2, NASB).
Thanksgiving is not an optional virtue. Without
it, our pride swells and our selfishness consumes
us. Thanksgiving is an important exercise because
it adjusts our attitude. It calibrates our hearts
so that we stop complaining and instead remember
how we are blessed and Who deserves the credit
for our blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!
J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma.
You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. His
newest book is The Truth Sets Women Free from
Charisma House. You can learn more about his
ministry, The Mordecai Project, at
<http://www.charismamag.com/themordecaiproject.org>themordecaiproject.org.
Unless otherwise specified, the opinions
expressed are solely the author's and do not
necessarily reflect the views of Charisma Media.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Woody Allen interviews Billy Graham
This is a fascinating interview that the Diceman ran across that was in sold old archives.
It features Woody Allen interviewing (a very young) Rev Billy Graham
http://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/woody-allen-interviews-billy-graham
What do you think?
Sunday, November 09, 2014
What I don't want for Christmas
In the spirit of Christmas, I have made my list of things I don't want
for Christmas:
I don't want to make excuses.
I don't want to live with regret.
I don't want to carry resentment.
I don't want to hold grudges against someone who has no idea what I
think they've done to me.
I don't want to have conversations in my head that I will never have in
person.
I don't want to lose sleep (or time) thinking about what could have been.
I don't want "stuff" from the past to rob me of how I live today and
plan for tomorrow.
I don't want to miss a moment to tell someone I appreciate them.
I don't want to wish I had "done something differently."
for Christmas:
I don't want to make excuses.
I don't want to live with regret.
I don't want to carry resentment.
I don't want to hold grudges against someone who has no idea what I
think they've done to me.
I don't want to have conversations in my head that I will never have in
person.
I don't want to lose sleep (or time) thinking about what could have been.
I don't want "stuff" from the past to rob me of how I live today and
plan for tomorrow.
I don't want to miss a moment to tell someone I appreciate them.
I don't want to wish I had "done something differently."
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