I’ve been on the leadership team for a spiritual retreat a number of times, but one from many years ago stands out in my mind. As an icebreaker for newcomers to the experience, the gathering begins with a “new best friend” activity. Men pair off and learn some tidbits about each other, such as family…
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At Christmas time most everyone tends to give gifts, regardless of race, religion, or any myriad of factors that distinguish one from another. Ironic, since even those who deny the reality of Jesus participate, lest they be accused of imitating Ebenezer Scrooge. While much of this has little to do with the Savior whose birth…
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It’s that time of year when the world slows down and people take time to reconnect with old friends. Say what you will about the ever-increasing commercialization of Christmas, the holiday has some good aspects, including an enjoyable lineup of Christmas movies. This year, we may sit down and watch It’s A Wonderful Life for…
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Although I wrote a story earlier this year about evangelist Billy Graham, I had forgotten he turned 97 on Nov. 7. That is, until I saw his grandson that evening. Will Graham was in Huntington, West Virginia, for a three-day celebration. After coming on stage, the younger Graham mentioned he wanted to film the audience…
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Third of three parts I was so captivated by the talk by Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, that when the moderator opened the floor for questions, I was the first to the microphone. Like many others in the crowd at Marshall University’s student center, drugs have had a…
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Second of three parts In my last post I mentioned how Sam Quinones, the author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, kept the attention of a capacity crowd recently at Marshall University. I think one reason is the fascinating details he revealed about the legwork and research that went into his book.…
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First of three parts Conventional wisdom advises public speakers to limit their remarks to 15 to 20 minutes to avoid losing their audience. Supposedly, in today’s short-attention-span world, going any longer means most people will tune out. I recently watched an author that wisdom on its ear. Sam Quinones, the author of Dreamland: The True…
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When new believers in Christ share their newfound faith and why they changed their way of life, the reaction from many people is to run away from the truth. They pass it off with a convenient comment like: “Oh, you got religion.” Granted, some people do “get religion.” But this is a life-killing, spirit-killing brand…
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A recent TV news story about a break-in at an area business had a familiar feel to it, until the owner talked about the impact of drugs, the root cause of so much crime. He mentioned the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 and compared the drug situation there to that devastated Japanese city.…
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There’s nothing like a mammoth car repair bill to feel like you’ve been shanghai-ed, punched in the mouth, and told to dodge traffic in the middle of an interstate highway. Which is why a slew of recent spam mail promising eight-figure fortunes in return for personal information and ATM fees brought me some much-needed comic…
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