New Beginnings

After reading a story in the local paper, I decided it was time for me to jump into the realm of the blog. My goal is to use this space, on a daily basis, to organize the professional events in my life and the random thoughts that come as a result of those events. I have promised myself that my family is off limits on this blog. They are in the public eye enough, what with me having a pulpit every Sunday. So, if anyone actually reads this, make sure and help me keep that promise.

Tomorrow will be a little different for me. I have been invited to give the invocation for the Oklahoma City Council Meeting. I'm not sure why I was chosen, but I look forward to the opportunity. I have great respect for the men and women who have been elected to lead our city. We are making great strides, but much is still left to be done. As I pray, I will ask God to be with the leaders and help keep them focused on their true job--to act in the best interest of the people of the city. May God help me and them!

Devotions: Every day I read a couple of different devotional books. Every now and then, I may comment on them. One is an historical devotion. It tells about something that happened in history on this day and then creates a devotion from that event. The second a general devotional book aimed at men.

Today, November 27, in 1095 AD, at the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II preached the most persuasive sermon ever preached. He noted the damage and destruction that the Turks had brought to Jerusalem and called on the military leaders present to make things right, in the name of Christ. He promised direct passage to heaven to any who died in the fight and assured his hearers that it was God's will that the Turks be expelled. As a result of this sermon, the crusades began. The second reading for today noted that in Acts 17, Paul and Silas were in Berea. As they taught and preached, the learned men went to scripture to see if what they preached/taught was true. Wouldn't the world be better off if those at Clermont had been learned men of faith, who went to scripture to see if Urban was speaking truth. Nations may go to war and, in limited instances, may be justified in doing so. But for the church of wage war in the name of Christ, except in a spiritual sense, is contrary to scripture and the teachings of our Lord and Savior. May God have mercy on Urban II for the damage he did to the church universal on that day in 1095.

Prayer: Be praying for: Maxine, who appears to have lost the will to live; Carol, who has surgery on Tuesday; and for Joyce, who is suffering from a condition that is not serious and is probably temporary, but that causes a great deal of discomfort.