Window or Mirror?

Those of you that know me personally already know that I so rarely propagate stories that I read on the internet, but this one serves a purpose. First let me say that, for those of you currently in a marriage that is breaking up – for whatever reason – there is no condemnation here, merely a call to all men in relationships to rise to a Higher Calling and to follow Ephesians 5:25 through action and heart change.

Carrying My Wife for 30 Days

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, “I’ve got something to tell you”. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. “I want a divorce”, I raised the topic calmly.

She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, “why”? Read the rest of this entry »

A transcript of the short talk at the Highland Men’s Breakfast today (Ron Orrick speaking)

I started several devotions for this morning’s breakfast; a Father’s Day chat, and Memorial Day recognition, a direct and forceful talk about a Christian man and his calling, but I have been led to the book of Ephesians for today’s conversation with you. First.. a personal story. I went in recently for a consult on ADHD. I wanted to try some new treatment options, and needed to undergo an assessment with a new doctor. I sat in the waiting room for 10 or 15 minutes, tapping my foot, reading magazines, pacing… until the assistant came and took me to a room with nothing on the floor, walls, or ceiling. The only thing in the room was a rather sturdy looking desk with a monitor and a keyboard. The assistant explained that letters would flash on the screen and I was to press a key each time this happened, except when the letter “X” flashed up on the screen. I began, and the letters came, fast and furious, then slower… then fast again. Here and there I skipped the “X” when I should, but as I got into a rhythm, I found that the “X” would flash, and I’d press the key… just because I had become used to pressing the key. Then, I became incensed at myself for hitting the “X”… so upset that I would mess up the next couple of keypresses. “A” – press, “I” – press, “N” – press, “K” – press, “X” – press… D’OH!!! It seems that this is much like our life as Christians… we naturally do what we repeat. 14 minutes of that seemed like an eternity, and I am glad I didn’t take a blood pressure test soon thereafter. Take a guy with ADHD and put him in a small room, make him do one boring thing, boy I tell you… I’ll bet they had a hidden camera somewhere! Let’s see how this idea of conditioned stimulus and response applies to Paul’s writings. Read the rest of this entry »

My parents married in the mid/late 1950’s, and by the mid 1960’s were ready to have children. For several reasons they decided not to bear children, but to adopt them. They applied through an adoption agency, and they began their wait. In 1968, in the first week of October, my parents received a call that a baby boy had been born and placed into the system. He was sick, but would be ready to take home in a matter of days. In the third week of October, my parents picked up that boy and brought him home; yours truly. I was still sick, weighing in at only 4 lbs 11 oz, (I’ve made up for it since then). I grew up, not speaking a word until age 3, and not even a short sentence until age 5, (I’ve also made up for that since then). Read the rest of this entry »

In today’s note, Ron has some time to ride and think, about bikes, luggage, men, and ministry.. and, obviously, produce some Vitamin D in his skin!

Click through to read more. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: burdens, cycle, fat boy, harley, ironbags, max, saddlebags, sunburn

In Matthew 16:15, after asking the rather oblique question, “Who do others say that I am?”, Christ asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am”?

A recent Barna Group research study revealed that less than 9% of all adult Americans have a “biblical worldview”*. In addition, only 19% of “Born again Christians”** have a biblical worldview. Interestingly, these percentages have remained unchanged for almost 15 years.

Among young adults (the “Mosaic” generation, ages 18 to 23), the percentage of people with a biblical worldview is less than one-half of one percent, as compared to near 1 out of every nine older adults***.

What do numbers like these mean to Christians, to our nation, and to parents and youth? Click through to read more… Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: christ, christian worldview, disciple, Faith, young adult, youth