Random Musings for the Week of November 28 – December 4

(1) One of my daily delights is to step out on the porch each morning and say the Lord’s Prayer. In the winter it is my version of breaking the ice in a lake and jumping in! Nothing invigorates me like a crystal clear, sharply cold morning and looking up into the sky and saying, “Our Father…”

(2) Why pray “give us this day our daily bread” when we have plenty of bread in the pantry? I like Thomas Watson’s answer in his book on the Lord’s Prayer (published in 1692). He said, “the bread may be in our hand, but the blessing is in God’s hand.” Isn’t that good! I don’t want anything unless it has first been blessed by God.

(3) One of the most affirming things you can do for people of all ages is to ask for their opinion. Ask, “What is your opinion?” And then wait for it!

(4) “The difference between death and taxes is, death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.” _Will Rogers | 🙂 !!

(5) More and more I am hearing national leaders and influencers talking about planting more trees. I like that idea. Having more trees around just feels right. Perhaps that is something we can all agree on–of course there will be a few Paul Bunyans out there.

(6) (I dare you to not think of someone who fits this description!) “Some people you cannot get to be still; your only hope of partial safety is in not allowing them to begin; by all means prevent them from opening their lips; if you once permit them to begin, they will never imagine that it can be possible that you would wish them to end.” _Joseph Parker, Pulpit Legends: Prayers & Sermons from the City Pulpit

(7) Honestly, I don’t know if it is a good thing to do or not, but more often than not, I tip rather generously–not because of the good service but because I want to help the server. Sometimes I wish I could just tip according to the kind of service I received. But then I think, “What if God treated me that way?”

(8) I was deeply, deeply sadden to learn of the passing of my old college room mate – Marcus Lamb (November 30). Why did he have to die so early (age 64)?

(9) I finished a good book of sermons this week. I’m a big proponent of reading sermons. I think we do ourselves a great disservice by not reading sermons (old and new ones). Remember, Jesus was a preacher (Mt. 4:23, 9:35), he commanded that we go into all the world and preach (Mk. 16:15), and it is through preaching that God reveals his word (Titus 1:3). So, anyway, enough of that. The book of sermons I read was: “Jesus Said…10 Powerful Precepts to Live By.” By Jerry Madden, pastor of Praise Cathedral in Greer, SC.

You can order a copy at https://www.praisecathedral.org/

Go to the bottom of the page and look under resources.

(10) When My Heart Finds Christmas (Harry Connick, Jr.) is one of my all-time favorite Christmas projects/albums

(11) Sonja and I went to see the Christmas movie, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers this week. Definitely worth seeing. I’m not sure why, but I especially liked Brandon Lake.

(12) A tough week in the Stock Market. Remember, “the Stock Market always goes down faster than it goes up, but it always goes higher than it goes down.” (David Gardner, Motley Fool). Don’t panic, don’t sell. Buying stock is about buying good companies that you believe in and becoming an owner. If people keep running for the door, this may be your chance to move to the front of the line. (A buy time?)

(13) Just for fun, I recently brought a few shares of Krispy Kreme Inc. How could I not!? Now, when I eat a “hot now” donut I am not only enjoying an incredibly good donut, but I’m also helping my bottom line. How cool is that!

(14) Christmas gift idea…give people Krispy Kreme gift cards! (Just kidding!)

(15) Here’s praying you have a great upcoming week!

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By the way, Richard Back is the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.