Is Spurgeon the greatest?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, London Baptist Pastor in the 19th century, is the number one selling author in the history of the English speaking world. He has often been called the greatest preacher since the Apostle Paul.

I have always been fascinated by him. I did a doctoral paper on him. To read of his life and accomplishments is nothing short of stunning.

Of all the things I admire most about Spurgeon, the most amazing trait of his ministry was his astounding grasp of Scripture. I know of no one who can explain the Bible better than he does.

I feared Spurgeon would become forgotten, but the Internet has increased interest in him. His devotionals and sermons are being quoted regularly on Facebook and Twitter.

Do a google search. Read about him on Wikipedia. Download his daily devotions. You will not be disappointed.

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Cataract Surgery 2

Today I'll have my second and last cataract surgery. After 52 years of
wearing eyeglasses for nearsightedness, I will as of today have to
start wearing cheater reading glasses for farsightedness.

I'm ready to have this second surgery done. It's been a tough month
visually. One good, yet farsighted, eye; one bad, extremely
nearsighted, eye. My brain has not been able to focus the two. It's
been a blurry month.

I have tried to have fun with my handicap this month. In order to get
work done, I had to put patches over the right eye lens in my glasses.
On one patch I drew an eyeball. On the other patch I wrote, "Ahoy,
Maties!"

One of our church housekeepers said she didn't know what to say in
response to "Ahoy, Maties!" I suggested she say, "Polly want a
cracker!" Life is a long journey. Take every chance you can to enjoy
the trip.

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The Fun of Reading

Tonight I finished reading Timothy Keller's book, "The Reason For
God." It had to be one of the best apologetics ever written in defense
of our faith.

I hated to see the book end. That's one of the ways I know I'm truly
being blessed by a book. I want them to never end.

I even read the acknowledgements and pages of footnotes at the end.
That's another way I gauge how effective I feel a book is. Every
tidbit of info is priceless.

I had to stop every once in a while and think. Thinking is hard work.
When a book makes me do it, I know it is really reaching me at my
deepest levels.

Through the years, I've had hobbies come and go, but one has remained
remarkably consistent: reading.

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Fathers Day Cometh

Fathers Day cuts a much smaller swath than Mothers Day does. In the
USA, Mom's day reigns supreme. I'm grateful for my mom.

I'm thankful for my dad. He was always busy, usually out doing the
Lord's work. Nightly church visitation was the norm. My earliest
recollections center around my being at home with my mom and sister.

We never questioned Dad's work, or ever felt cheated. We shared his
heart and ministry. Dad was alway the chief spiritual enforcer. If he
sensed anything even the least bit iffy, it met a fast demise. Once
again, I don't ever remember resenting this. I got in trouble all the
time, but again, I just thought that was normal.

When it came time for me to enter the ministry, I had only one role
model. He was more than adequate. Again, I never felt cheated. Dad's
example was enough.

I still have my dad. He's in excellent health at age 83 (in August). I
don't go visit him as much as I should. Now that I do regret.

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Yell Boo In Church

On July 4 we will in the Sunday morning church service re-enact the
debate and vote on the Declaration of Independence. It was a raucous
event, very different from the stayed, dull decorum we see and hear in
Congressional proceedings today.

Our re-enactment will give the children (and adults) a front row seat
on the action. We'll boo, yell huzzah, and pound on the back of our
pews. It will be an unforgettable re-living of a wonderful event in
American history.

You won't want to miss this day. Your children will never forget it. I
promise.

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The Athlete

I decided I would enter a new world today. Athletes live in a
different zone somewhere. To be one of them means to boldly go where
many have never gone before.

I entered the one mile walk at the Cox Health Miracle Mile today. I
felt a tad bit out of place. First, they dress different. They have
timing watches, heart monitors, and Ipods attached to their arms.

Second, they look different. I feel I'm about an average sized guy,
but in that crowd I looked like a roly poly blob. Too many of the
people there today looked anorexic.

Third, they act different. There's a swagger about them. They are
incessantly warming up and stretching. All I wanted to do was eat a
hot dog.

In all seriousness I had a wonderful time. The best part of it was
time spent with my daughter Rebekah. As she finished the 5K run,
someone called her "a runner." That she is. I'm proud of her.

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