Bridge Builders

Lockaway, Morningstar and Cube Smart Self Storage are all within walking distance from my house.  I pass by the buildings almost weekly.  The amount of “stuff” Americans stow away in attics, garages and storage facilities is mind boggling. What we cannot store is sitting on pallets at the Salvation Army Donation Center and Goodwill. Most people do not catalogue what is in their storage unit going years without ever accessing the place.  Why do we keep this “stuff?”  Will we need it later?  Is it too nice to give away?  If it has sentimental meaning, why is it hidden from view?  We spend money storing things that have no lasting value that do not enrich our lives or anyone else’s.  Despite climate controlled conditions, security cameras and locks, preservation of our stuff cannot be guaranteed. Besides, stuff stored on earth stays on earth. Matthew 6:19-21 19  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal

Do you buckle-up for every car trip?   You should.   The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that seat belts reduce serious crash related injuries and deaths by about half.   Adult seat belt use is the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes, yet millions of adults do not wear their seat belts on every trip.   Who knows which trip will result in a major motor vehicle accident?   Primary enforcement seat belt laws allow police officers to pull us over and issue a traffic violation for failure to wear a seatbelt.   The overarching purpose is not to limit a pleasurable driving experience but to save lives. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is dedicated to ensuring the driving public arrives to their intended destination safely. Deuteronomy 6:20-24 20  “When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What  is the meaning of  the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord  our God has commanded you?’  21  the

This is April.   This is south Texas.   Why is there a mound of packed snow sitting on pebbled rocks in the middle of the day?   Something is amiss.   This pile of frozen ice is out of place, off kilter.   I pass by this peculiar sight every Sunday.   It is discarded ice from the skating rink at the Ice & Golf Center where we hold worship services.   The Zamboni scrapes the excess ice from the rink and discards the shaved ice behind the building.   It looks pretty much useless once it’s outside. Appearances can be deceiving.     Under the pebbles,  beneath the ice, the grass is always green?   The rest of San Antonio may be in the midst of a drought but that one area covered with stacked ice provides a sustained flow of water to the ground beneath.   There is growth emanating from what was first thought strange and odd. 1 Peter 2:9-12 9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who h

A Facebook post from my oldest son reads “It took me 23 years to fully understand that Jesus is the Best love to have.  There’s no greater love than His.”  We love a variety of people and things in this world.  Many of us have invested an inordinate amount of time loving the unlovable or that which is unhealthy or unproductive.  Loving anything or anyone more than the Lord, our God is not advantageous nor is it conducive to a well-lived life.  God‘s desire is that we fall in love with Him first.  To comprehend this truth at a young age is life changing.  Deuteronomy 6:4-5 4  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Yes, we should give of ourselves to others.  We should give our best to our loved ones, our brethren and the community but the love that encompasses all our heart, soul and strength goes first to God.  It’s a process over time of denying self and choosing t