In the west Texas town of Plainview there was a farmer whose heartbeat in life was farming the land. Irv Malone was the son of a farmer, whose father was the son of a farmer. For Irv it was more than following in dad’s footsteps – it was in his blood. Wobbly calves brought a smile to his face. He looked forward to the daily chores that went along with farm life. He gathered eggs from the henhouse like a child searching for Easter eggs. For Irv, farm life was the good life, and the best part of farm life was the feeling of euphoria he felt in watching bald, brown fields transform into green, lush lawns of alfalfa. He loved the smell of the fresh cut alfalfa. He loved the work that it took to bring in the harvest. He loved the prayers of faith offered by his family for rain, sunshine, and an abundant crop.
Archive for September, 2003
Are You Ishmael or Isaac?
Galatians 4:21-31
Sunday, September 28th, 2003
Until Christ Is Formed In You
Galatians 4:12-20
Sunday, September 21st, 2003
What makes a great leader? Is it dedication? How about genius? Maybe it is the ability to consistently rise to the occasion and not melt under pressure? Is it the ability to understand the situation, harness all available resources, and inspire the masses to move in the same direction in order to accomplish a common goal? What makes a great leader?
…At The Right Time
Galatians 4:1-11
Sunday, September 14th, 2003
Time. Just the mention of the word stirs all kinds of thoughts and emotions within those who are keeping an eye on the clock. The measurement of time takes place in every arena of life. Sometimes time flies. Sometimes, time stands still, as if the hands on the clock are frozen in place and the awaited time will never come. All people, everywhere, from the tribesmen of the Amazon to the traders on Wall Street know what time is, even if they don’t wear a Timex.
Before and After
Galatians 3:23-2
Sunday, September 7th, 2003
We’ve all seen the ads. The smiling models, supposedly real people just like you and me, tell their tales of what a louse and loser they were before they enrolled in the program. After just three weeks…”I lost ten pounds, I made a million dollars, I found the woman of my dreams, I…” you know the story. The “before” and “after” stories that we see on television and read about in magazines are impressive, but they can’t even begin to compare to the “before” and “after” story that we’re going to hear about today!