© 2024 Rod Long. All Rights Reserved. Unsplash. Used by permission.

“Familiarity breeds contempt,” so the adage claims. I suggest a parallel truism. Familiarity breeds inattentiveness. I’ll illustrate with a familiar incident in the life of Jesus, one we have read and heard countless times, commonly referred to as “the rich, young ruler.” What Must I Do?” And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must…

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© 2017 Aenigmatis-3D Rights Reserved. Pixabay Used by Permission.

My first year in full-time ministry, I worked with a small church in Ruston, Louisiana. I still recall one Sunday morning, walking into the church building and overhearing a lively discussion going on in one of the adult classrooms. With a loud slap of his hand on the table, a frustrated man shouted, “Dammit! I’m…

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© 2023 Quino Al. All Rights Reserved. Unsplash. Used by permission.

Darlene Zschech, the noted worship leader for Hillsong Church in Sydney Australia, tells a memorable story about a gentleman who encountered one of her worship leaders, Steve McPherson, at the airport. She relates how the man excitedly informed Steve that he was a great singer, that he was going to start coming to Hillsong Church,…

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