New Seasons
by Ed Sweeny
I once heard it said that “the only thing for certain is that nothing stays the same.” I think that’s mostly true. Thankfully, seasons do change. Summer will soon give way to fall…and before we know it, we will find ourselves longing for spring to return again.
Life tends to work the same way. Seasons change as time passes. Babies start walking, young children start going to school, teenagers start driving, and then leave home for college, eventually starting new families of their own. We leave one job and find another. We move to new and different towns. Sometimes we endure divorce, or the loss of a child. Broken relationships, especially with close friends and family, can change the season quite quickly. We cannot avoid change or transition, as much as we may try.
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You're My Only Hope
by Ed Sweeny
Some of you remember watching Star Wars for the first time in the late 1970’s. I loved it, and was captivated by the adventure, the excitement, and the storyline of an epic battle being fought in multiple dimensions. It was pure good versus evil, and anyone caught up in the magic was swept away by the narrative of the the light side struggling with the dark side. Seeing Princess Leia projected as a hologram from R2D2 is forever etched in my memory, as well as her famous words, “Help me, Obi-wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.” We didn’t fully understand then how everything would be connected. But as time went on, the story line unfolded and things began to make sense.
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Holy Week Family Devotional
by Ed Sweeny
Today begins one of my favorite weeks of the year. I have always tried to spend time this week following Jesus’ path from Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the cross on Good Friday, then celebrating his resurrection on Easter Sunday morning.
He experienced deep pain and suffering as a man, so he could identify with each of us in our darkest moments in life. And he experienced death on a cross and resurrection as our Savior, so we could have new life in him. On the cross, Jesus did for us what we could never have done on our own. I am so thankful!
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Making the Most of Challenging Times
by Ed Sweeny
I have talked to many men over the last few days with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. All of us are wrestling with the common questions about what to do, where to go, what to cancel, and how to manage work and business. All of us are watching the crisis unfold daily on the news, online, and in our own communities. All of us are learning to be vigilant and careful in this new season of life amid a global pandemic. All of us are striving to have a balanced approach to this new normal, living wisely out of calm faith and not out of fear.
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I Can't Even Imagine
by Ed Sweeny
I will never forget watching our children come into this world. It was an experience like nothing else in life. Each time, I was deeply changed by the magnificence of the moment. I remember standing amazed (or maybe in shock) in the hospital room next to the bed; powerless to contribute, amazed by the strength of my wife, and grateful for the wisdom of the medical staff in the room. It was humbling, terrifying, and wonderful.
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Dying to Live
Changing seasons have always fascinated me. Each one has its uniqueness, as it brings newness to the earth just in time. But what about fall and winter? Do they bring new life to the world? Or do they bring death? The warmth of the sun goes away and blasts of cold blow in its place. Fields of green turn gray and become lifeless for months. Leaves turn brown and fall to the ground, only to become mulch on the forest floor. Seeds fall from the branches and are buried deep in the dirt.
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The Christmas Crazy Train
As wonderful as the Christmas season is, especially for followers of Christ, it doesn’t take much to lose sight of what the world is actually stopping to celebrate. It starts at Walmart and Home Depot, the day before Halloween, with aisles of well-lit trees, inflatable Santa’s and elves, and fake snow falling. We begin to make our lists. What to decorate, what to bake, what gifts to buy the kids, and what family members are coming into town (...and why?). A good friend of mine calls it the “Christmas Crazy Train”. It’s a train that’s easy to ride and tough to get off of. And just about everyone we know is on it, so why not ride too?
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A Truly Hallowed Evening
I’m not a big fan of scary costumes or creepy decorations, but I do love it when October 31 comes around every year. For many reasons actually. I love the cool, crisp evening air that always finds it way to my hometown by late October. I love pumpkin pie, hot apple cider, and high school football playoffs. And I love it when giant bags full of chocolate find their way onto my living room floor.
But the thing I love most about Halloween night is a tradition that my family started a few years ago. A big front yard bonfire.
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Before the Storm
I was at Walmart today buying a few essentials in preparation for the hurricane that’s forecast to hit our South Carolina coast this weekend. I don’t live on the coast, but this storm is a big one, and we’ve been told statewide to prepare for significant wind, major flooding, and crippling power outages.
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