Thursday Thought

They're the most colorful part of any baseball game as they howl, "Strike!" Or "Safe!" I'm talking about umpires, of course. And if you've ever watched a game, you've heard the bark of their bluster over the roar of the crowd: “You’re out!” Umpires understand their call must be clear and confident. Now, you might not be much of a baseball fan. It could be the slow pace. Or the spitting. Or…(I’ll leave it at that). But the fact remains, Scripture calls you to be an umpire, of sorts. Colossians 3:15 urges us, “Let the peace of Christ, to which…

Ever thought about how many people are killed by animals every day? Steve Jenkins collects these kinds of statistics. Following is a list of the top nine animal killers on the planet—and how many they kill in an average day: Crocodiles, 3 Roundworm, 5 Tsetse Fly, 25 Assassin Bug (Gotta love that name), 30 Dogs, 150 (through physical attack or spreading disease) Freshwater snail, 275 (they spread many deadly diseases) Snakes, 275 Mosquitoes, 2,500 Ironically, sharks—among the most feared of all creatures—kill only one person every month or two. * Were you surprised by that list? I sure was. After…

Ever hear of a lap chicken? Me, neither. But I met one this week. “Betty” was born on a horse farm near Jacksonville, Florida. But somehow, this little chicken sustained an injury that left one leg broken. Unable to stand, she was vulnerable, having little hope for survival. But Joslynn, a horse-riding high schooler with a heart for animals, noticed the chicken and began talking with the farmers. She explained how she had raised a chicken during the Covid pandemic—even taught it to hang onto the handlebars of her bicycle and go for a ride. Impressed, the farmers welcomed her…

Silence is golden. Unless you have a toddler. Then, silence is very suspicious indeed! Truthfully, I should have been much more suspicious of myself last week at work. Let me explain. At precisely 3:30 Wednesday afternoon, I walked out of my office, closed the door, and hiked the mile and a half to the train station in downtown Chicago. Getting off the train in the suburbs, I enjoyed a quiet evening with Diana. At 6:35 the next morning, I stepped back into my office at Moody Radio—and soon discovered the problem. My soundproof office doubles as a recording studio, and…

Are you a cultural crank? We’ve all got opinions about what’s wrong with America. Our souls sag with the weight of them. Among my top cultural concerns: We kill babies—and call that “pro-choice.” We release criminals without bond. We force taxpayers to cover someone else's college debt. We label parents as "terrorists" when they speak out at school meetings. We liken Christians to the Taliban. There’s a lot to be angry about. And we are! We’re angry about the moral decay around us. We're angry about the unfair treatment of believers. We’re angry about the indoctrination in public schools. We’re…

They say that a rut is nothing more than a grave with both ends kicked out. But when it comes to praying for unsaved family members, friends, and co-workers, the easiest thing in the world is to fall into a rut. (Boy, do I fight this!). Here's something you might find helpful. What follows are seven straightforward "Prayer Prompts" you can use in your own prayer ministry. As you read through the list, you'll notice these prayers are written for someone who is out in their neighborhood doing a prayer walk. But you can easily edit/modify/adapt these for your unique…

Her “place” is on Wells Street. Her bed is cement. Her name is Florence. But like so many other homeless people in Chicago, I knew nothing about her. A co-worker walked the same route I took from the train station to Moody that early morning. She was a block ahead and took the initiative to talk with the homeless lady. Turns out Florence is a nurse from Uganda who has come to the United States in hopes of securing a job in the medical field. However, there are forms, procedures, approvals, and acres of red tape—all of which add up…

Check out this collection of famous last words: “Step back a bit, I can't get you in the picture.” “I thought it tasted rather strange.” “I wonder what happens if these two wires touch.” “Listen, I'm taking a course in chemistry. I know what I'm doing.” "Yes, of course, the elastic is strong enough!" “And that one over there—the red flashing one—what does that mean?” Full disclosure: I got these online and can’t vouch for every source (how seriously can you take a website with a name like Mental Floss?). But what follows are the actual recorded words from people…

It’s easier to just “read” the Bible than let it mess with you. But mess with me it did when my personal Bible study time confronted me with Romans 12. In verse one, Paul urges us “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” “Holy and acceptable to God.” That phrase began to rumble…then rattle…then really unsettle me! The more I pondered that phrase, the more conviction it whispered. This one little verse commands an all-encompassing lifestyle. One that—quite frankly—mine doesn’t always resemble. Before the Holy Spirit had concluded His…

It’s hard to take seriously a town that goes by the name of Sandwich. Yet such a burg not only exists, it’s home to Illinois's oldest fair, since 1888. More notable yet is the train car parked at the corner of Main St. and US Route 34. Not just any train car, the "Isabella" was the railcar home of President Theodore Roosevelt. From 1900 to 1913, he trekked coast to coast in this Pullman-made beauty, featuring Mahogany-trimmed windows and stained glass. But in 1931, it was auctioned off for $75 to a Mr. Henry Tattrersol, who dreamed of converting it…