Friday Coffee with PJ

Friday's here ... and with the day comes another installment of Friday Coffee with PJ ... I hope you enjoy

these random ramblings as you drink your morning cup of joe!

1. Ever wonder where a cup of coffee got labeled as a cup of joe? If so ... here's your answer! 

2. Here's a question for you: How many phone numbers do you know? If you are like me ... the answer is "not many" (some people don't even know their own phone number). In our digital age, most people rely upon their cell phones for phone numbers. And if we leave our cell phone at home or ... God forbid ... lose it. Well forget calling mom to check up on her or even your spouse to see if you need to stop at the grocery store on the way home from work! Hmm . . . but God is so very different from us, isn't he? Not only does he know every single phone number of every single person on planet earth ... he knows everything else that there is to know. Wow! What a God we serve and worship!

3. Looks like we are now in the midst of our first official heat wave of the summer season (Officially a heat wave occurs when the daytime high reaches 90 degrees or better on three consecutive days. If the forecast high temps for today, Friday and Saturday are realized ... we will be there!). Now ... some of you probably are not that happy about such heat. But I for one will take this over three straight days of high temps in the twenties! Please be careful to stay cool and not over exert yourself in the heat of the day. And be glad that this particular heat wave will be short in duration, which may not be the case with any that might follow in the heart of the summer. And remember that even though our weather is always changing (and this spring has certainly been quite the roller coaster ride) ... God NEVER changes (Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17)

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Thursday A La Carte

It's Thursday again ... that means ... A LA CARTE! Enjoy!

1. Here's a gut check on the lies that sin tells us. A MUST read!

2. One of my associates (Alec Millen) sent me a link to this article by Mark Dever, Lead pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church on how to survive a cultural crises. And EXCELLENT read!

3. John MacArthur writes on the "age of accountability" of children. A great read - especially for parents.

4. Chuck Swindoll offers up four antilegalistic strategies. Given the epidemic of legalism that exists within the church ... I encourage you to take just a moment and read what he writes. Good stuff!


Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Ouch, God! That Hurts!

This past Saturday evening, as my wife were preparing to "chill" ... our son called and asked if we could come over to his house. His one year old daughter had fallen and gashed her forehead and he and his wife had to take her to the ER. So we jumped into our car and raced over to his house so we could watch four year old Ella while they took Molly to the hospital. Once at the ER ... they were quickly escorted to an examination room (it was still early enough on Saturday evening that the waiting room was sparsely populated). When it came time to apply the glue to close the gash, Molly let it be known that she wanted NO PARTS of that! So ... as parents have done countless times with their little ones . . . my son and daughter-in-law had to hold Molly "down" so that the doctor could do his work.

Now ... were my son and his wife being mean to their daughter?Was the doctor evil in his intentions? Of course not! They were doing what they were doing for Molly's good. Yes ... they were causing her pain. But they were hurting Molly in order to heal her!

God often works that way with us. We are his children. He is our loving heavenly Father. And there are times when he needs to hurt us in order to heal us. Times when he allows us to suffer so we might grow. Numerous scriptures speak to this (see John 15:1-2; Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). SO ... if you are hurting today, it just may be that the divine doctor of your soul wants to bring healing to you. A healing that will only happen as you go through the refining fire of trials.

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Rejoice ... There's an Eternity of Hope Ahead!

Take a few moments and reflect on these verses from the Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Philippi.

" Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."

Praise God we have such a glorious future (and transformation) awaiting us! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Ahhh ... Friday again? That means the one day of the week that I work (Sunday - and that's really not the case, I assure you!) will soon be upon us. So here are a few nuggets of thought to enjoy with your beverage of choice (mine really does happen to be coffee!).

1. Last Sunday's police appreciation/memorial service that we conducted here at Grace Church, reminded me again of how blessed we are to have such fine law enforcement personnel caring for us, the citizens of Lancaster County. These men and women who serve in the various local departments along with those who are members of the Pennsylvania State Police are to be commended for the jobs they do. Each day when they walk out the door of their homes, there exists the very real possibility that they may not return when their shift is done. They put their lives on the line day in and day out as they patrol our increasingly violent streets (and compared to other occupations, the pay is not all that great!). SO ... the next time you encounter an officer, take a moment and thank him or her for all they do. Our communities would not be nearly as safe without their efforts on our behalf!

2. Welcoming a grandchild into the family never seems to grow old! On Wednesday, my hospital visitation led me right path Women's and Babies' Hospital where my daughter and her newborn daughter were patients. So ... in spite of a pressing schedule, I took twenty minutes out to stop in for a quick visit. Holding baby June in my arms while she slept (and made a number of very funny faces ... do babies dream? And if they do, what could they possibly be dreaming about?) . . . I was once again struck by the "miracle" of birth. The words of David come to mind when he wrote,"I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13-16). The procreation of life is an amazing witness to the incredible awesomeness of our God!

3. There is a verse in the book of Proverbs (among MANY in the book) that I wish we would hear and put into practice. The verse reads, "The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him" (Proverbs 18:17). Another way to state what this verse is getting at is "There are always two sides to every story." Now my experience has taught me that there are usually THREE sides to every story ... Person A's side ... Person B's side ... and then the truth (which most often can be found somewhere in the middle). So ... whenever someone comes to complain to you about someone else, don't gulp it down as "gospel" truth. Remember this verse ... and remember that there is more to the story than you are being told. 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Ahhh ... Friday again? That means the one day of the week that I work (Sunday) will soon be upon us (that's really not the case, I assure you!). So here are a few nuggets of thought to enjoy with your beverage of choice (mine really does happen to be coffee!).

1. Last Sunday's police appreciation/memorial service that we conducted here at Grace Church, reminded me again of how blessed we are to have such fine law enforcement personnel caring for us, the citizens of Lancaster County. These men and women who serve in the various local departments along with those who are members of the Pennsylvania State Police are to be commended for the jobs they do. Each day when they walk out the door of their homes, there exists the very real possibility that they may not return when their shift is done. They put their lives on the line day in and day out as they patrol our increasingly violent streets (and compared to other occupations, the pay is not all that great!). SO ... the next time you encounter an officer, take a moment and thank them for all they do. Our communities would not be nearly as safe without their efforts on our behalf!

2. Welcoming a grandchild into the family never seems to grow old! On Wednesday, my hospital visitation led me right path Women's and Babies' Hospital where my daughter and her newborn daughter were patients. So ... in spite of a pressing schedule, I took twenty minutes out to stop in for a quick visit. Holding baby June in my arms while she slept (and made a number of very funny faces ... do babies dream? And if they do, what could they possibly be dreaming about?) . . . I was once again struck by the "miracle" of birth. The words of David come to mind when he wrote, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13-16). The procreation of life is an amazing witness to the incredible awesomeness of our God!

3. There is a verse in the book of Proverbs (among MANY in the book) that I wish we would hear and put into practice. The verse reads, "The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him" (Proverbs 18:17). Another way to state what this verse is getting at is "There are always two sides to every story." Now my experience has taught me that there are usually THREE sides to every story ... Person A's side ... Person B's side ... and then the truth (which most often can be found somewhere in the middle). So ... whenever someone comes to complain to you about someone else, don't swallow what they tell you "lock, stock, and barrel." Remember this verse ... and remember that there is more to the story than you are being told. 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Thursday A La Carte

Here are this week's offerings ... enjoy, be challenged and encouraged!

1. In light of the destructive tornado that roared through Oklahoma earlier this week, Al Mohler writes about The Goodness of God and the Reality of Evil. 

2.  Tim Challies disccuses 5 Ways We Grow as Christians. Good stuff!

3. Grandparenting: A Great Road Trip ---- Yep!

4. The case for traditional marriage ... done in a creative way!

5. On a lighter note . . . (you may not want to watch this if you are a panda fan!)

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj