The Plumbline

I had a friend in high school who had been a ballerina since she was just a wee girl.  She went to lessons several days a week, making her way from the tiny ballerina dances of twisting and twirling into becoming quite proficient as dancing on "toe".  If anyone knows what I am referring to here, you will recognize the work it takes to get to this point - and the strength.  Toe shoes (pointe shoes) are kind of squared off at the end, and the dancer spends nearly the entire dance up on their toes.  I used to look at her feet and wonder why she'd endure the pain of all those practices, until I saw her dance one day.  I had seen her practice this leap or that twirl, but when I really saw her "dance", wow!  All the "dogged plodding" of her daily practices really showed!  What I saw as "dogged plodding" on her part was really a thing which she viewed as a living and spirited dance!   We ask you— urge  is more like it—that you keep on doing what w...

A water pitcher has a spout for a reason.  It is designed to pour out the contents it holds.  If you face the spout toward an object and pour, it forms a little "funnel-like" stream which hits the spot.  Who pours into your life?  Go ahead - really think about those in your circle who "pour into" your life.  You are likely to discover there are a lot more who have "spout" of your life turned toward them!  They take from you, expecting you to pour into their lives, without any thought of ever pouring into yours.  If you are as fortunate as I have been, there is always some individual who seems to be able to pour into my life just when I need it.   The words of the wise prod us to live well.  T hey’re like nails hammered home, holding life together.   They are given by God, the one Shepherd.  (Ecclesiastes 12:11 MSG) I have often shared things a friend says which spark some introspection on my part.  Without even knowing, the...

This is the season some find themselves asking how they can give back to the community in which they live, or meet the needs of those across the many miles in some remote parts of the world.  There will be shoe boxes filled with toiletries for the homeless, soup kitchens filled to he brim with those seeking a warm meal or two, and trees lining the malls with little tags of some children hoping for a special gift this holiday season.  In short, there will be many demands, but none so loud as the "demand" of the one right in front of us.  Before we look too far outside our own "view" today, let us begin to explore a little about how well we are doing with those we are the closest to! As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do.  (Philippians 1:22 MSG) Now, before you go and call me a heretic for not "going into all the world to proclaim the gospel message", let me explain.  We oftentimes overlook those closest to us - sometimes the...