Month: July 2026

The world recently celebrated the World Cup-international soccer tournament. Something I know nothing about since I’m not a sports fan.  About the only sports I watch clips of, once-in-a blue-moon, are Track and Cycling. I don’t dedicate hours to any sport; sorry!

However, the world has gone bananas over the World Cup with thousands having traveled across the globe for a chance at seeing the game and closeup opportunities to see/meet the great players of the sport.

Stories, both written and video-taped are circulating online on the impact Americans have had on many individuals and families from the UK and other parts of the world.  For one thing, many foreigners arrived with preconceived ideas of who we are and what we’re like.  To their amazement, their experiences have been completely contrary to what they expected.  From outgoing, social people who sometimes offered to pay for their meals, to free advice, friendly conversations, and public greetings, these outsiders were welcomed as if they had previously been here, or were family or friends.

Many were in tears as they recounted the goodness they experienced in the presence of strangers.  Blessings poured upon them through simple acts such as “How are you today?” And, “You will want to take this path instead of the steeper one;” or “Stay away from moose!” From state-to-state, and city-after-city, foreigners saw firsthand the freedom available to USA residents as well as the camaraderie shared among a common people whether they’re known or unknown to them.  In essence, they experienced “Southern Hospitality” everywhere they went.  Some, couldn’t get over how large some homes and apartments were!  Others, couldn’t get enough of the varieties of American food available or the sizes of supermarkets!  Hundreds left in tears-overwhelmed by how they were received!

Granted, these experiences may not happen all the time, but for a people who were warned about the unfriendliness of Americans, they were in for a shocker!

Now, you may not have traveled to the US to view the games or to meet new strangers.  Maybe you’re from here!  But, do you have preconceived ideas of God?  Have you been told He’s unfriendly?  That He’s stuck-up, stingy and unforgiving? Did you know He’s social and friendly?  Did you know you’re welcome into His house and kingdom?  Has your life experienced His goodness and the outpouring of His blessings?  Did you know His arms are open wide ready to receive you?  Have you experienced an outpouring of tears from His goodness, which leads to repentance (Romans 2:4)?

Following in His paths, His word will guide you over which paths to take and what to stay away from.  He may not pay for your meals, but He did pay for your salvation.  And maybe you’re awestruck by the sizes of homes, apartments, lofts or studios on earth, just wait till you get to heaven and lay eyes on the grandness and scale of the Holy City He’s prepared for you!  Don’t think, for one moment that He’s going to be outdone by the inventions of mankind.  You’ll never visit someplace in heaven where you’ll say, “Man, I should’ve stayed at_______! It’s 100 times better than this here heaven.”  It’ll never happen!

So, as great as the World Cup may be, as God’s people, we’re going for a bigger prize!  Check it out!
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12)

If the World Cup brought hundreds of thousands together for a temporary event, how many do you think will be gathered to receive their imperishable crowns from God (1Corinthians 9:25) on that great day?  An eternal crown along with everlasting rewards, will be grander than anything this world has ever seen! 

At the end of the day, if you’re in tears over God’s touch on your life, I guarantee you, your life will never be the same once you win the match against your opponent, the devil, and you celebrate your victory in Christ!  

Ready to sit at the largest feast ever?!  If earthly portions are large, imagine heaven’s!!  Not to mention dining with the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost and hosts of angelic beings along with God’s family from all the ages!   I think if we indulge, God will understand!  For some, it’ll be the best and biggest meal ever!  I’m looking forward to my Eternal Crown as well as fellowship with the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16)!  God will wipe away all your tears (Revelation 21:4). You will have triumphed!  You’ve scored!

God Bless!
Sam

Our world goes from one extreme to another; especially the weather.  We can go from heavy rains and flash flooding, to little rain and even droughts. Personally, I’m glad we haven’t had rain in about six weeks.  However, we’re also in a drought, which isn’t good either.  Dryness can cause negative impacts on our lives in many ways.

Take the Chesterfield Canal incident of 1978 where two UK workers were on a simple job of dredging a canal.  Their machinery pulled and pulled a heavy chain, and they then left for lunch.  Upon returning, they discovered an empty section of the canal.  The heavy chain was connected to a plug (installed back in the 1700s), which when removed, drained the water out of a quarter mile of the canal. I believe their joy dried up.  Needless to say, life in surrounding areas was impacted.

Remember singing group, America’s song,) A Horse With No Name?  (Been Through the Desert On…) Maybe they were inspired by the following details!  Turns out, the Atacama Desert has received only about an eighth (1/8) of an inch of rain during a period of 400 years (1570-1971)!  That’s enough to have everyone singing, How dry I am…

As Christians, we can experience our own periods of droughts. Periods where there might be a heaviness towards serving God.  A time where we don’t feel like worshipping Him or even serving Him.  Life’s responsibilities can dry us up and leave us like a can of flat, fizzle-less soda.  That’s a great time to cry out like the Psalmist,

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1 NKJV). 

Have you been feeling left hung to dry by God?  Think He’s “Pulled the plug” on you and has left you drained, or worse, chained?!  It’s not He who moves or does those things!  It’s we who stop seeking Him.  It’s life’s circumstances which cause our spiritual ground to not bear fruit.  It can lead us to think God’s the culprit when we’ve withered away spiritually.

Are you in need of some water?  In need of some refreshing from God?  Heck, your needs are so great that you need flash flooding in your fallow ground?   Then check out His promise!

 “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants” (Isaiah 44:3).

Now, that’s refreshing news!  Don’t wait for another drought!  Seek Him every day.  And when the floods come, run to higher ground-to His presence!  Amen!

God Bless!
Sam

Practice, practice, practice!  It is said that practice helps us improve skills.  Our typing class, HOWEVER, back in 1971, had a banner which read: Practice does not make perfect unless practice is perfect.  If we don’t put in effort and umph, we won’t get great results.

Some say: “Break a leg,” or, “Kill ‘Em!” These are sayings or motivating chants meant to psych up competitors for actual performances.  We rehearse everyday in different forms acceptable to those around us.  But what about rehearsals acceptable to God?  Wait, you mean they take place here? YEP! DUH!  Surely, you’re not waiting to get to heaven to practice, right?  I mean, who tests their flashlight in broad daylight by pointing it to the sun?

We’re not going to test our “Polite” skills on perfected saints in heaven.  We’re not going to “practice” loving everyone in a place (heaven) that exudes love.  Instead, the real rehearsals happen here; real performances will take place in heaven.  Check it out:

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father” (Matthew 5:16).  

“The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16). 

“Preferring one another” (Romans 12:10). 

“Love your enemy, bless them that persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

These verses fulfill the “Unless practice is perfect” principle.  God has called us to a higher standard.  Those who want to skip the steps, are just practicing without results. “Go with the flow” doesn’t jive with God!  He wants us to be intentional in living right with Him and for Him.

As we grow in our faith, we move on to dress performances where our acquired gifts from God become second nature to us and we automatically “Put on love” (Colossians 3:14).  For now, we can continue to practice until that trumpet sounds!

See you at rehearsal!

Sam

It’s the mid-sixties and I’m with a group of friends, suddenly, an argument breaks out.  I tell the other person, “Take it back!” He responds with, “Oh yeah?”  I say, “YEAH!” But then he does what every 8 and 9-year-old hates.  Will punch me in the nose?  Will he knock me out?  No, worse.  He says those dreaded words: “Oh yeah?”  “Make me!”

Boy, I wanted to twist his nose and pull his ears out!  But I did something worse.  I put him in his place!  I told him, “I don’t make monkeys, I buy them and sell them in a can!”  Right then and there, he knew what was best for him!

Yep, that was a regular statement we kids had in the early 60s.  Of course, it makes no sense now, but back then, those words put kids in their place!  So did a black eye!

I guess one of the great benefits of living in the 1960s was that not everything had to make sense-it just had to work!  We didn’t flip out our phones to look up info. or check for “sense-making” statements, or grammatical errors.  We didn’t even have cameras or film to “shoot” every sequence of events.  All we needed was to solve issues mutually approved by all parties.

On the subject of monkeys, while I’ve never seen or understood, “More fun than a barrel of monkeys,” my little brother did have the toy barrel with a bunch of thin, connecting monkeys!  Remember those? 

Around the same time, around 1966, TV featured a show about the Monkees-a singing pop group.  In the early 70s, singing-sensation group, the Honey Cones, sang One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show. I guess The Monkeys were all around!   Even King Solomon had monkeys and apes (1Kings 10:22). So, where’s all this Monkey Business (Marx Brothers) headed?  

For sure, God’s not going bananas over all that’s happening around us.  He’s still sitting on His throne, worry-free.  He expects us to continue leaning on Him and serving Him without any monkey business.  He can’t have any bullies or crybabies in His kingdom.  In fact, He tells us “Quit yourselves like men, and fight” (1 Samuel 4:9), meaning, man up.   And the best part?  His word stands forever, and unlike our sayings, His word does make sense! 

“For You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (Psalm 138:2 AMPC)!

God Bless!

Sam

Enjoying your “Freedom” weekend?  It’s great to be able to walk, drive, or fly wherever we’d like to.  It’s also great to have the freedom to choose our jobs and neighborhoods.  Granted, not every neighborhood welcomes everyone…but freedom is still a luxury we enjoy. 

I recently watched a video clip of people complaining about everything that’s wrong with America, yet all refused a one-way-can’t return ticket to communist, red-zoned, or dictatorship countries!  That’s because after all the fussing, the US is still one of the best places on earth to live at.

So, we can travel anywhere we want and we can choose how to live, but no matter how much freedom we have, certain things we just can’t have, nor can we rid ourselves of.

Freedom won’t rid us of jealousy, anger, hatred, or envy.  Living free will not change discrimination or biasness in us.  Are you having a hard time accepting others, or loving people who look different from you?  Whether we’re all alone on an entire island what beats in our hearts, can’t be set free or bound by freedom. Jesus knows that.  He knew that before the beginning of time.

Only He can set us free from those things that chain and bind us internally.  Only he can declare wholeness upon our lives eternally.  So, if you desire to become a hermit and live in a hut, or if you’ve been sentenced to life behind bars, with Jesus in your heart, you will be free within. The bars without won’t bind you.  Nothing can stop the joy within.  Nothing can undo the changes wrought in you.  It was exactly for freedom that Jesus died for us!  It was to make us free from sin within and sin without.

So, where would you like to live?  I’d say, “In Jesus’ house, and in God’s presence where there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11).

Happy Fourth of July Week!
Sam