Author: Steve Gallagher

September 7, 2018

Someday, it won’t be today anymore.

Someday, the things which we cannot accept nor control will no longer be in our way. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, the people who are intent on simply being mean and ugly towards one another will no longer have the ammunition to act that way. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, the war behind all wars will be over and it will be clear who was right and that none of us were Him. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, government will no longer be necessary and can no longer negatively impact our lives. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, skin will be of no concern and will have no power to divide. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, depression and guilt will be overcome by peace and grace. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, wrong will simply not be, and all will be right. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, those who believe power is the essence of right will themselves be aware they are wrong. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, those who have lost their ability to smile, who have lost their joy will know nothing other than the deep, overpowering, non-diminishing joy which flows from way down in their insides out to their whole world. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, we will not have to imagine a better time, nor will we have to draw a mental picture of a better place, for it will be a better time and place in which we live. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, the killing will be over and there will be no more death. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, worry will be gone, and our minds will be at rest. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday there will be no more tears, and there will be nothing worth shedding tears over. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday there will be no hunger nor mal-nutrition as all will be well fed. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, there will not be a single child who does not know the overwhelming love and strong support of a father. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, all the dreams worth coming true will have been fulfilled, and the others will not matter even a little bit. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, the disease we call cancer will have no more ability to kill a single living cell. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, blind eyes will see every color shape and shadow, and deaf ears will hear every symphonic sound in all of creation. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, crooked backs will stand tall, lame legs will walk straight and withered hands will grasp with strength. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, the writers’ pens will be still for all will be known, including that which has never been written. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, the singers, oh the singers, will sing songs of glory, songs so beautiful the likes of which we cannot even imagine this day, and their songs will fill the heavens with worship of the only one worthy. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, we will not wonder what God is like, His glory shall be revealed. I’m waiting for someday.

Someday, someone will see all of this from afar, having but a single regret to carry for all of eternity. So, this day, while I’m waiting for someday, I’ll find someone and tell them about Jesus who will make their someday glorious.

And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9 NKJV)

 

 

See You SONday,

Pastor Steve

 

© 2018 Dr. SF Gallagher

Something has been on my mind for several years now, but it seems too socially incorrect to say. Today, I garner the courage to say it. There are times when it is OK to discriminate and leave others out. Let me explain with a few examples.

Yesterday, we celebrated Father’s Day. Fatherhood is worth celebrating and should be honored highly. But some have included single, divorced and widowed mothers in this celebration. Now, I am not taking away from the sacrifice of these women who do extra duty for their children, but it is not their day. They are not fathers. Honoring only the fathers on this day does not take away from these ladies at all, but, adding them to the honor of the day does change the honor given to fatherhood. This is a day for fathers, not mothers – and that’s OK. Even if there were no Mother’s Day, it would be OK to celebrate the fathers on a day set aside for them. A little discrimination is OK.

Memorial Day is the day set aside here in the United States to honor those who have fallen in battle to pay the price for our freedom. Some want to include veterans and currently serving members of the military and their spouses and children in this day of honor, but it is not their day, and that’s OK. It is a day set aside for remembering and honoring the dead heroes of our country. It is their day and we diminish it when we spread it thinner and include others in the honor. As a veteran myself, I have no problem giving the honor to others on that day. I would have no issue even if there were no Veteran’s Day set aside to honor the service we veterans gave. A little discrimination is OK.

We do this with our kids. Somewhere the idea was spread that everything has to be fair and equal so much that a kid can’t even have their own birthday without all the other kids getting a present. Or be praised for something they accomplished unless the other kiddos get a dose of praise as well. It can go like this. “Son, I am so proud of you today. You really made a good decision and carried it out flawlessly.” So far – so good. So, Stop! But we can’t just let him have his moment, and we go on. “Of course, I am proud of ALL my kids… blah, blah, blah.” Now we should be proud of all our kids, hopefully without discrimination. But it is a perfectly wonderful thing to give one of them a moment of preference when it is his turn. It builds the confidence of the one and the character of the other. A little discrimination is OK.

Please don’t think this writer to be harsh. Neither believe him to be uncaring. Rather understand the reality of our existence in this temporal world we call home is that discrimination happens very frequently. Someone eats, and someone is hungry, this is reality. Someone gets a job, and someone does not, this too is reality. One fisherman catches a record breaker, and another catches nothing at all, reality. Always treating everyone the same or making everything be about everybody does nothing to prepare people for this reality. In fact, it serves to prepare them for heartache and disappointment which will not be handled properly.

And there is another discrimination for which we must be ready. One which will be met with the same kind of whining and begging the unfair things of childhood are met with today, with one very significant exception. No fit throwing and no angry outburst, no cries of unfair and no amount of pouting will ever change the Father’s mind.

We should prepare for this, for, one day God will declare an end to what is and a beginning to what will be for all eternity. The matter will be ended with His declaration to those who have faith in Him being welcomed into Heaven and His presence. It will either be that, or it will be Hell and separation from all the goodness of God for all eternity. Nahum 1:7 says “The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him “(NKJV). HE KNOWS!

He knows who trusts Him and for them He will be a stronghold in that day. He knows those who don’t and for them it will be a day of trouble. Fair??? Who cares? Fair is over-rated, and God never claimed to be fair. Fair is a human thing which is only a thing because of our own sinful and selfish desires. Fair? Probably not. But it is reality. And since it is God, that discrimination is OK as well.  Are you ready?

See You SONday,

Pastor Steve

© 2018 SF Gallagher

Saturday December 30,2017

One week from today, I get a new title. It’s not that titles are all that important, nor is it that I am all that important. But I get one nonetheless.

Now this is not the first time I’ve been given a title. In 1965 I was given the title “son.” In 1970 I was called “student” and in 1983 I was called “graduate” then “Dr.” in 2014. I got to be called “Christian” in 1971. In 1987 I was called a “boot” (that’s short for “boot camp” or new recruit to the United States Navy), and today I wear the title “veteran”. One of my favorite titles is “pastor” which I have held since 1990.

In 1991, I got the best title, “husband”, and then “father” in 1994, that title being re-affirmed in 1997 and 1999. And partially because of the last two, I get a new one.

Titles are fun. They say who we are or what we have accomplished and sometimes how we have failed. Some tell what we believe or how we might vote. But there is not one title in that whole list, nor in the list of titles which could have been mentioned, which can tell you everything about me. No one title tells you all I am or all I think or all I do. Each of these identifying words tells a piece of the whole, and all have some dependence on the others.

There have been a lot of people cross my path in the last half century or so, and I do not think I have ever met one single person out of them all who has only one side. I don’t believe there is such a one-dimensional person. We all have many nuances that make us who we are, inside and out, many titles which may describe at least a portion of that which makes us each an individual.

In the Bible we read some pointed words about giving too much heed to those with the more noble titles. Titles showing a person to be in a position of power or to have money or some notoriety seem to cause us to give one a bit more attention or honor. James tells us not to do that in the church as he reminds us that we are all in need of faith and its accompanying works. I guess the converse of this thought is not to think too highly of our own titles either – Romans 3 tells us that.

But, my new title makes me happy, and just a little proud. It makes me a little sad as well. One week from today, I get to be “Father-in-law.” Just another piece for me, but a whole new world opening for my “son” and my soon to be “daughter-in-law.” And I pray they find fulfillment and joy in their new titles, “husband and wife.”

See You SONday,

Pastor Steve

© 2017 Dr. SF Gallagher

 

 

October 30, 2017

“He never wanted it to be what it had become.”

     In 2004 while pastoring in California and working as a truck driver, these words came to my mind as I traveled north on Highway 395. I am still not sure what they were supposed to mean, but there was such an urgency about them in my mind that after I fought the urge for about ten minutes, I stopped all 18 wheels and proceeded to write them on the notepad I kept for just such an occasion.

     So, there I was, in the middle of the desert north of Mojave, California, intending to be about a half minute or so, when I smelled something. It was not a bad smell, but it was familiar, and I knew what it was. Looking out of my windshield, there it was steam billowing from under the hood. A coolant line had sprung a fairly small hole, just a quarter inch or so, but under the immense pressure of the 190-degree water and antifreeze, it was making quite a show. By the time it was done, we had replaced five gallons of fluids, and my half minute turned into five and one-half hours waiting on the mechanic to arrive with a spare hose and repair my engine.

   Now there is a point to my story. You see, if God had not stopped me long enough to jot a quick note to myself, or if I had chosen to use my micro cassette recorder rather than my pen, I might not have even noticed the leak until the engine had overheated and possibly been seriously damaged. The steam would have passed unnoticed right under my truck at 55 MPH. But God got my attention in an abnormal way and got me to do something I would not normally do. It was then that the situation became clear, even though I still have no idea which of the possible meanings the original phrase may have held. That is, except that God needed to get my attention in that moment.

     So, is God trying to get your attention and cause you to see what might not be clear any other way? Are you feeling an urgency to do something you might not ordinarily do, like stop a truck in the middle of the dessert to write a few words, and you cannot get that thing off your mind? Are you annoyed by that strange thing because it is so unusual yet pervasive?

     We are not too far from another new year. We are heading into that 60 days of holidays we face at the end of each year. I wonder if God has something out of the ordinary just waiting around the bend. I wonder if it’s time that He will shake something up.  Maybe we’ll have to wait to see what happens when things are not as normal as we find comfortable. God may have something in that out of place event we need to see. Perhaps it will lead us to something we must do. Perhaps it will be the thing which will give us new understanding of our purpose and help us get back on the road.

Anyhow – I certainly hope so.

See You SONday,

Pastor Steve

© 2017 Dr. SF Gallagher

I really do love the Bible. I have centered my education, practiced my occupation, and lived my life, as closely as I could by the timeless and immutable truths found there. I have not always been right, but the Bible has. I have not always been trustworthy, but the Bible has.

Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments.

Psalm 119:97-106 NKJV

These verses express my heart. I would love to say they express my entire being, but there I have failed – often. My actions and thoughts and habits have not always been perfectly in line with the heart of the psalmist as he penned this psalm.

It is interesting that this singer is not identified. There are several good possibilities for his identity which range from Moses to David, or Daniel or Hezekiah or Ezra or Malachi. Whoever it was, it is clear he had a deep love for God and His Word. He wanted to live for God. He knew God’s word was key to his goal. I like to think he had a heart no too unlike my own.

Perhaps his heart along with the prescription to overcome the failure is in the beginning of his second stanza. He writes…

 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119:9-12 NKJV

One might think that the Apostle to the Gentiles, having read or sung this psalm may have had these thoughts in mind as he reminded Timothy to “Be diligent [study] to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV).

So I spend much time and energy in God’s Word, the Bible. I will never feel as if this is somehow wrong or divisive or futile, even though the more I learn, the less I feel I know. There is depth and breadth which cannot be determined this side of eternity, but I intend to keep digging until I get there. I hope you will as well.

See You SONday,

Pastor Steve

© 2017 Dr. SF Gallagher

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The “we” spoken of here is the “we” who have a new president for the forty-fifth time. Please notice that the authors of the above statement use the term “we.” This “we” is not racial. This “we” is not partisan. This “we” is not lifestyle groups. This “we” is not religion based. This “we” has nothing to do with gender. This “we” has nothing to do with the person named president. This “we” is not an indication of which sports team one supports. This “we” is not about the excess or lack of education. This “we” is neither city nor rural. This “we” is neither rich nor poor. This “we” is “the People of the United States.” All of us – Together.

We should remember this because “we the people” are so much better when we are “we the people” rather than we the smaller and more defined group. While many groups are important and valuable, this writer is a member of many groups, may we never forget that we are the “we” who valued one another and fought and built so that we could have a freedom to be us.

If you want to read more, start with this http://constitutionus.com/

See You SONday

Pastor Steve

© 2017 Dr. SF Gallagher – 170121

 

There are trees out there; lots and lots of trees with different leaves and different branches and different stuff growing on the branches and living in them. It is a forest. It is full of trees. Each of which has a meaning and a significance. And you just stand there gawking a one single little scraggly tree as if it is capable of representing and containing all of the beauty and essence and truth of all the other trees, and all the other forest stuff around it and everywhere else. One example in isolation and solitude is not a complete representation of all the rest of the trees. It can never present the whole reality. It can only represent the one tiny little point of view which is shallow and incomplete.

Step back just a bit. It won’t take much. Swivel that neck and wiggle those eyeballs just the tiniest degree. That set of facts, those packages of emotion, the historical markers and opinions that represent that one bit of scruffy timber upon which you have fixed your gaze for so long may be found to be less descriptive than you may have ever imagined possible. It may be found, and clearly demonstrated, that the tree who crowded your favorite tree, which seemed to do nothing useful and everything detrimental to your precious pet twig, was protecting and feeding that little one which he too loves.

Step back and look around. There’s a forest growing all around that little speck of a place which is burned into your vision. There is much going on in this forest right here and a lot of it might have nothing to do with that which you are convinced is the point of all reality.

And, if you still insist on being a one tune mp3 player, or a one subject search engine, at least be sure that your mental singularity gets wrapped around something eternal. Here’s a good laser point question which is both relevant and eternal. Does your obsession over politics, or gun rights, or someone’s life matters, or oils that have odors, or oils that can spill and make great havoc, or human rights, or global warming, or religion, or terrorism, or GMO’s, or life, or sports, or healthcare, or flag waving, or senators, or your sister-in-law who used to be your best friend’s crabby attitude, or ………… – Has any of that helped anyone look beyond their own little overpowered scrub to see the forest and beyond? Has it helped anyone to notice Jesus Christ, and think on things other, and perhaps bigger, than them or you? Would you let some of that breeze blow through your branches for a bit?

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:1-11 NKJV)

See You SONday,

Dr. SF Gallagher

© 2016 Dr. SF Gallagher

I can trace my people entering this land now called the USA to 416 years ago. They came willingly, but in flight from religious persecution. Some of your families were already here when mine arrived. Mine facilitated the bringing of some of yours here. Others of you have different stories of how your families arrived here in the USA.

My people were light skinned Europeans. Yours may be different. But, whatever they did, and whoever they were, they are neither you nor me. Nor are they us. Their stories are our stories, but we are not them. We are now a citizen of the United States of America. And as such, it is time for the lines of history to be recognized as history – unchangeable and not able to be lived again history. We cannot give the land back to the first inhabitants. We would not send others back to the places from which they were brought as slaves. Most would not want to go there anyway. Too much time has passed and too much history written for that to be possible.

But we can stop whining. We can stop dividing. We can stop blaming. We can stop believing that we are owed anything because of that history, whether privilege or reparation, and simply be the people of the United States of America. Not throwing our stories away, but writing new stories of struggling and celebrating together to be something great.

We should stand together and celebrate our national identity. We should refuse to join and celebrate those whose attitudes and actions are tearing apart and drawing the lines of division. We should celebrate the things which make us each unique, but not to the extreme of believing those unique things as either superior or inferior to others.

We should be accepting of people from all walks of life even if we have an extreme difference of opinion. We should believe in one another, even when we don’t necessarily like everything we see. When we believe we are right and the other person is wrong, we should have respect for that other person especially when we cannot respect their stories. We should offer respect for them even when they offer none for us. We should stop viewing disagreement as disrespect and hate. Most of it is not. In fact, most of it is not even offered disrespectfully. It is only heard so. Let’s stop looking for things to be hurt over. Let’s stop listening for hate and offense. Let’s stop accentuating our differences and get back together and be strong. While we celebrate our diversity, which is part of our greatness, may we not forget to celebrate our oneness, which is the most significant part of our greatness.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

See You SONday,

Dr. SF Gallagher

 

© 2016 Dr. SF Gallagher

The era of the prophets had long past. Those days were distant in the memories of many people. By this time, four hundred years have passed with no new revelation from God. Silence was all that was heard. There was no permanent indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit to help keep things stirring within every man. There were no visions. There was no one speaking fresh words which God had revealed to them. It is likely that there were many by that time who believed there would never be new word from God and that He was just stories from their long and distant past.

The stories were still told though. People still went to synagogue and temple meetings. Children were still taught what the prophets proclaimed. They still celebrated the goodness of God and worshipped His holiness. Perhaps it was growing more difficult to keep these things going, but they did continue. And, it is clear that the promise of Messiah’s coming was not forgotten.

In that day, there was a family which was of the house and lineage of David. It is likely that they took some amount of pride in that fact for everyone knew that it was this line from which Messiah was to come. But, since the time of David who received God’s promise, many branches of that family tree had formed. So many branches in fact that, it could not be even guessed just which family would be the carriers of that promise. One can be sure though that many children learned early in life that it was their family which had been promised to facilitate the messianic coming, and one of them just could be a firsthand participant in God’s plan. Mary could have been part of one of those families, however it was not likely that she thought anything of it since she was not a son and the emphasis was on sons at that time.

But, one day she was just going about being Mary and something wonderful happened. It would have been very unusual for her to have expected anything of the sort. The Biblical indication is that her first reaction was that of fear. That would be normal. For a person to have such an experience was unheard of. It would have been expected even less of a young girl. It can be assumed that there was an extremely large gamut of emotions running through her, even before she heard the news the angel was bringing. This probably continued after the angel had left.

The angel told her that God had big plans for her. The plans were not in any way normal. The plans were of the sort that could carry some extreme consequences from those who did not believe that God was doing this – and many would be available to be the skeptic. God’s plans for her would make her to appear immoral and without proper ethics. Her integrity was on the line and her future, even her life, could be on the line. There was much reason for her heart to be uneasy and her heart to be full of fear.

But, she was sure that this was of God. As all the things the angel told her came to fruition, her whole being must have been drawn toward God and her faith had to be strengthened more with each passing day. Even if there was no one who would understand, she knew that she was right in the middle of God’s work and plan. She also knew that God would protect her through each event that was before her.

That is why her response to the angel was so simple. She did not need to give a response full of detail and explanation. It was just one simple phrase. But it was a phrase that should come from the lips of anyone who encounters a word from God. “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38-NKJV). She was probably not aware of most of what this would mean. She must have had no idea that whole world would be different when all of this came to be. But she knew who she was. Mary was “The maidservant of the Lord.”

Mary saw herself as the most intimate servant of her Lord. She was ready to serve her Lord with no reservation. She was in the confidence of God. Her life was His and she wanted to do anything for Him, no matter how menial the task or what her reputation would be as a result. She was His maidservant.

It can be assumed that she was not thinking about Bethlehem, nor angels and shepherds, nor magi, nor Herod’s murderous rampage. She certainly would have no idea that before all was complete, she would witness the barbaric murder of this child she would soon carry. A trip to the tomb of her son with more angelic messages and no corpse could not have been on her mind. It is easily inferred that she had no idea of what was really in store for her and this baby to whom she would give birth. But, even without very much in the way of information, she was ready to have God do these things with and through her. She was His maidservant.

If anyone had reason to try to get out of something, Mary could have been in that group. She could have tried to excuse herself from it. She might have even begged that she would be excused from any part of this plan. Without the benefit of hindsight, no one would blame her for not wanting to be involved. She may have even had thoughts of remorse in the beginning for being so willing to take part, especially as the reality of it all began to sink in. Thoughts that we could not imagine must have gone through her mind. But the Biblical record tells us that when all was in full course, she carried a peace in her heart. She “Pondered” and “Kept” things in her heart. God must have continually given her clarity that He was working His plan through her. She knew that it was all being done according to the word of God. She was His maidservant.

Many people desire this kind of assurance from God. People every day, believing that they are following the plan of God, do so with some amount of restlessness. These have said yes to God and live out their lives working hard to make it all happen. One significant difference exists between these people and Mary. These people work to make things happen. Mary rested in the fact that God would make it happen. These say, “Yes Lord, I’ll do that for You.” Mary said. “Yes Lord, do that through me.” When we are convinced that God is doing the work, even though it is being accomplished with our hands, a peaceful assurance will surely follow.

Mary’s lesson for us is this. Rest on God’s word and know it is His work. Be His servant.

See You SONday,
Dr. SF Gallagher

What She Said

A couple of weeks ago, I was at a public gathering where some very notable people were sharing their work on stage. At one point in the presentation, the wife of the group took to the mic to tell her story. Frankly, I don’t even remember what the story was about except that it was about her husband who “isn’t perfect”. Yup, that is what I got from the story. She said “he’s not perfect” at least 6 times in her 3-minute story. It was my take away from the story which was probably meant to build him up about something.

I am sure that the imperfection of her husband was not the point of her story. And hope and believe she did not mean to berate him. It was just a figure of speech meant to show others that she was not bragging. But why not brag just a little when we are talking about our spouses? Why not let the world know just how perfect they are? Let me tell you this. If there is anything that I find lacking in the slightest amount in my wife, you will never know it, especially not in public with a microphone in my hand. I adore my wife. She is the best wife ever. She is the best mother ever. I can’t imagine ever thinking she is less than perfect because she is perfect for me. I pray this to be the story for you.

My heart hurts for the wife of that preacher husband who starts every preaching time with a derogatory story or remark about his wife. I cringe when I hear a wife speak of her husband as her other child. That goes for our children as well. I think the old saying sums it up well. “If you can’t say something nice – Just shut up!” or something like that anyway.

The follower of Jesus Christ sees this as scriptural. Paul tells the followers of Christ at Ephesus…

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:29-32 NKJV).

The Christ follower knows that what we say should build others up – especially our families. We know that we are to be kind and tenderhearted to one another – especially our families. The husband is to love his wife as his own body (Ephesians 5:28) and as Christ loved the church and “Gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). Christ’s followers know that we are not to “Provoke our children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition [correction to cause understanding] of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We do have a sense of humor and know how to laugh with one another (Proverbs 15:13, 15 & 17:22). We simply must be sure that it is a matter of “With” rather than “At” when we laugh. In following Jesus Christ the Lord, our words, our actions, our facial expressions, and everything else about us should always build up.

I hope this encourages you.

 

See You SONday,

Pastor Steve

 

© 2016 Dr. SF Gallagher