Archive for November, 2009
How Will You Grow This Year?
How Will You Grow This Year?
The narrative that Luke’s gospel gives us about the “silent years” of the life of Jesus depicts his growth in “wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people” (Luke 2:52). It is no coincidence that our YMCA’s are aligned with this powerful growth principle. Our organization exists [...]
Focus on Thanksgiving
Question: “What should be the focus of Christians on Thanksgiving?”
Answer: The original thanksgiving celebration was held by the Pilgrim settlers in Massachusetts during their second winter in America in December, 1621. The first winter had killed 44 of the original 102 colonists. At one point their daily food ration was down to five kernels of [...]
Pure Religion
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:27
Pure Religion
Early in my YMCA career, I spoke to a group of citizens gathered in a church basement. We were exploring building a Y in [...]
A Friend Like Andy
A Friend Like Andy
One of my favorite channels is TV Land. So many of the fun shows I watched when I was young are still running there. And no show gets my attention more than the Andy Griffith Show. The simple life in Mayberry, the interesting people, the fix-it shop and the respectful children harkens back [...]
Women and Physical Activity
The Surgeon General has released a report targeting the effects of physical activity on women. Women engaging in physical activity can reduce their risk of coronary artery disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), colon cancer and diabetes. They can maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints; and they may enhance the effect of estrogen replacement therapy in [...]
The Greatest
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ Mark 9:35
The Greatest
Jesus said that to be great we must be a servant of all. To treat the most vulnerable with respect is to open our arms to God’s presence in [...]
thanksGIVING
ThanksGIVING
We are entering a special time of the year. This is a season of holidays, family gatherings and memories. The month has a special meaning to many. When one hears the mention of the holiday that accompanies November, the mind summons up the smell of a table filled with delicious foods and the expectancy of [...]
