Monthly Archives: February 2013

When Mark Was Born

Posted on February 27, 2013 by mthayes42

Our first son David was born shortly before it became common for fathers to be allowed in the birth room, so I missed out on that miracle. When Mark came along a few years later, I was there, holding Char’s … Continue reading →

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Too Insecure to Compromise

Posted on February 26, 2013 by mthayes42

Rigidly held positions seem almost invariably to be a sign of insecurity. We grasp tightly to an idea because we’re unsure of our grip and feel threatened by the possibility that we might lose something very important about ourselves if … Continue reading →

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Forgiveness, 3

Posted on February 20, 2013 by mthayes42

Those who are forgiven, truly forgiven, and who have received that forgiveness, truly accepted it, are marked forever by gratitude and grace. Gratitude is a sure sign that forgiveness had done its work in the human heart. We who have … Continue reading →

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Same ol’ politics

Posted on February 20, 2013 by mthayes42

“Social discontent prevailed almost everywhere. Economic laws were hardly understood by the country in general. Class interests were fiercely arrayed against each other. The cause of each man’s class filled him with a positive fanaticism. He was not a mere … Continue reading →

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Forgiveness,2

Posted on February 19, 2013 by mthayes42

Forgiveness is not a luxury but one of our most fundamental needs. We need to be forgiven and to forgive. Think for a moment about the nature of forgiveness. Jesus Christ is the very center of our understanding of the … Continue reading →

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Forgiveness, 1

Posted on February 18, 2013 by mthayes42

One of the Lord’s greatest gifts to us is forgiveness. I mean that in a double sense. First, God forgives those who humbly seek his grace. Second, God teaches us and frees us to forgive one another. More than a … Continue reading →

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The Richness of Life

Posted on February 14, 2013 by mthayes42

I like being a retired old man because my years have earned me the right to be a grumpy curmudgeon. I’ve been waiting for years for this! I like complaining about how much damage the marketing/advertising industry is doing to … Continue reading →

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A Blanket of Snow

Posted on February 11, 2013 by mthayes42

A fresh blanket of snow turns everything to a pure white, creating a world even Walt Disney couldn’t imagine had he not seen one. Our lawns are not green but white. And so are the plants that remain during the … Continue reading →

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Signs of the Times

Posted on February 7, 2013 by mthayes42

I’ve long been convinced that our ads and commercials are important clues to the state of our culture. Those who create them are excellent studies of society and are diligent in their search for ways to exploit our foibles. Watching … Continue reading →

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The Insecure Fundamentalist

Posted on February 5, 2013 by mthayes42

Insecure people resist change, prefer force to persuasion, and consider violence against others justifiable but violence done to them to be wrong. Over generalizations? Yes, perhaps so, but reading a newspaper these days, with all the references to violence on … Continue reading →

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