RickPage

Take Action February 27, 2014 Today is take action day.   I want to believe that most people do not get involved in major issues not because they don’t care; rather, I think most people don’t get involved because they don’t know.   February 27 th , 2014 is a day for action.   Go to the following two websites and watch the two videos.   Then join in the struggle. http://www.raphahouse.org/ http://enditmovement.com/ February 27, 2014

“Drowning” February 26, 2014 I may never forget my first Red Cross lifeguard training.   It was time for the proper way to rescue a drowning victim.   One of the dangers to a lifeguard is the drowning victim.   Panic can cause the individual to latch onto the rescuer in such a way as to drown both victim and rescuer.   It brought back memories to a Florida summer and a time when one of my sister’s friends was drowning in our swimming pool.   I was an excellent swimmer and thought nothing about swimming over in an attempt to help her.   She grabbed onto me with a ferocity and strength for which I was unprepared.   We both would have drowned if I had not reached over with a free arm and grabbed the side of the pool.   It has been decades and I still remember the emotions. People in crisis often react the same way.   After all, hurt people do hurt people.   When the situation is overwhelming, we have a tendency to put a stranglehold on those around us – even the ones tryi

“Obvious” February 25, 2014 “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things.” --Steve Jobs Patsy Riley, a member of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, will hold a ministry event for women beginning today.   A team of women at her church have a suite of rooms at the local Economy Inn and are offering spas to pamper the women living at the Inn.   While being pampered with facials, manicures and pedicures, they will also have the good news of Jesus Christ shared with them.   The residents of the Economy Inn are used to seeing Patsy around their place.   Her ministry to them includes throwing parties at Christmas and Easter.   In addition, she can be found in the lobby of the inn ever

"εὐλογία" February 18, 2014 The title of today's blog is a Greek word you probably don't recognize, unless you can remember the Greek alphabet you learned in college.  Transliterated, it is "eulogia," and with that clue you may have figured out the translation - "eulogy."  After all, the transliteration is not too different from the translation.  When we hear or read it today we tend to think of funerals, because we have been taught that eulogies are given at funerals.  We don't really know what the word means, it just has to do with someone speaking at a funeral. Eulogy means praise.  Literally, the word means "a good word."  Funerals are traditionally not the only occasion for eulogies.  A retirement party would also be a great time to hear eulogies, or praise of an individual. "Eulogy. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead". --Ambrose Bierce

Mondays "On Monday mornings I am dedicated to the proposition that all men are created jerks." --H. Allen Smith I think we start to hate Mondays because of school.  I'm at the junior high this morning, it's Monday, and the kids are just kind of dragging around.  A lot of them are in a bad mood.  The eighth grade girls are in a bad mood, but then eighth grade girls are always in a bad mood.  A couple of weeks go it was like they had passed around vicious pills and washed them down with mean juice.  It was bad, but then Mondays can be bad. I think that we begin to hate Mondays in school. The school week starts on Monday.  The work week tends to start on Mondays and so we begin to hate Mondays.  I don't think Mondays are the problem though.  One of the students said that he was tired because he had stayed up until three in the morning.  His problem isn't Mondays.  His problem is weekends. I think the problem for everyone is weekends.  The student who stay

“Perspective” February 13, 2014 “O my brethren, my heart is enlarge towards you. I trust I feel something of that hidden, but powerful presence of Christ, whilst I am preaching to you. --George Whitefield It has been just about 40 years since I first began preaching.   It is true that the first 20 years were spent filling in for the various ministers in my life and preaching for the Gideon’s.   It is also true that things have changed for me since that first nervous endeavor those many years ago. Preaching is very much about the message, the study (I’ve been reading three books this morning, just in prep for Sunday), the preparation and the delivery.   It is also about the people.   It is humbling to exposit God’s word to and for others.   The serious student of God’s word should quickly conclude that Scripture is meant to be read by a mirror, not through a lens.   In other words, Scripture should bring one to conclude that changes need to be made in onesel

Valentine’s Day? February 12, 2014 I should buy her a 4-foot teddy bear.   At least, that’s what the commercials say.   The commercial brought up some good points too; flowers die, candy makes her fat, and if you buy her candy then follows that awful question, “Do I look fat?”   Bad idea.   Of course there is that commercial which promotes cheap flowers shipped directly to your door, and in time for Valentine’s Day!   But then another commercial promotes chocolate diamonds.   She likes chocolate AND she likes diamond!   Surely that’s a winner.   Plus, chocolate diamonds don’t make you fat.   I’m confused.   What’s a poor boy to do? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a(TMSG)      4 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, 5 Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, 6 Doesn’t revel when othe