One More For JC

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.  (Philemon 1:6) One year ago today “Frank’s World” was born.  It started with a Verse of the Day and Sports page, and has grown considerably ever since.  I’d like to thank all of you for your support and encouragement for there have been times when I wished I never made this daily commitment.  I’ve had files corrupted and spent days completely rebuilding the pages from scratch.  I’ve anguished over the design of the site and struggled to find ways to make it more interactive.  I’ve encountered hotels with no dataports and lines that refused to keep a connection. But all these battles are something I’ve come to embrace.  I take too much joy in sharing the gifts the Lord has provided me with to allow these things to affect me.  I also take great pleasure in watching the Lord work within me:  I remember ...

I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.  (Jeremiah 10:23) Twenty nine years ago today I breathed my first breath on this earth.  Little did I know then what my life would be like or what type of man I would become.  Fortunately, from an early age my parents rooted a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ within me.  I developed a quick sense of right and wrong, and I tried to live my life as Christ would want me to live it.  However, too many times I came up woefully short.  I was judgmental, envious, proud, and selfish – a far cry from the man I knew Christ wanted me to be.  In college, I got involved with a service organization that helped instill a desire within me to serve someone other than myself.  I visited nursing homes, served at soup kitchens, and worked at shelters.  One of the most fulfilling days of my life came when I was serving at a Christian shelter in New York City....

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it.  He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.  It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.  (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5) This verse pierces me deep down to the soul.  It forces me to think about all those times I brought empty promises before the Lord:  “Dear Lord, if you could please help me through X, I’ll do Y in return.”  Time and time again, the Lord helps me through X, but I never even attempt to fulfill Y.  Why on earth do I do that??  Do I not take my promises to the Lord seriously?  Do I consider Him so loving and forgiving that I find it acceptable to break my vows to Him?  The truth is, I would do almost anything to avoid breaking a vow to a family member or friend, but when it comes to the Lord I am considerably lax.  This is something I must make every effort to change – not for the Lord’s sake but for my own.  The Lord doesn’t need an...