Archive for August, 2009

Stand

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

My son and I got into a fight the other day.  We were boxing on the Wii.  As we slugged away, a meter let us know how close we were to getting knocked down, or how likely it was that we’d be able to stand again to continue our father-son battle.

In life, know that we all have one thing in common – we’ve all been knocked out.  But this is what makes some of you unique: you picked yourself up off the canvas.  The last chapter of Ephesians has some very helpful and inspirational things to say about those who get back up after getting knocked down. 

The bell sounds for Round One of 97West at 7:30 Tuesday night.

Gary

97 W. Biscayne Ave., Tampa, FL 33606

Posted in Tuesday Preview | No Comments »

“Desire”

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

When a very strong urge for pleasure and satisfaction dominates your thoughts, to what or to whom do you turn?  How successful are you at suppressing unhealthy desires?  How frequently do you yield to and indulge in the unhealthy satisfaction of that desire?

Warped and out of control desires will plague us for the rest of our lives.  So does the advice of “pray about it” seem hopelessly trite and inept?  (Feel free to voice an honest, non-churchy answer to that question.)

Hey, not all desires are bad… such as my desire for you to join us at 7:30.  Hope to see you tonight.

Gary

97 W. Biscayne Ave., Tampa, FL 33606

Posted in Tuesday Preview | No Comments »

“!@*&”

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

Go to the circus where trained poodles jump through flaming hoops, enormous elephants balance on tiny platforms, and tigers parade around a cage, led by a fearless tamer wielding a whip and a three-legged stool.

See killer whales in Orlando playfully splash an unsuspecting crowd on cue, and dolphins jump and twirl in unison.  Watch David Letterman’s “Stupid Pet Tricks” – Muggsy the dog sneezes on command, and other four-legged creatures jump rope or water ski because training them to sit or rollover apparently wasn’t enough.

Man (and woman) has successfully brought all major forms of animal life under control.  We can tame the mightiest and wildest of beasts, but we have the darndest time taming the human tongue, don’t we?  Words have destroyed more than any ferocious animal ever will.  Is it possible to gain complete control over the words that tumble out of our mouths???

We continue our study in James, tonight in chapter three.  It’s a great topic for those of us who struggle taming our “!@*&” tongues.  See you at 7:30.

~gary

97 W. Biscayne Ave., Tampa, FL 33606

Posted in Tuesday Preview | No Comments »