http://www.ralphdiehl.com Weekly thoughts from New Hope Christian Center Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:41:30 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en As I'm writing this there is a torrential downpour going on.  I had earlier checked the weather radar and knew it was coming, so really wasn't surprised.  A real gulley-washer like this was needed and will, hopefully, clear out the intense humidity. And I'm reminded that the outpouring of God's Spirit ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/07/08/downpour/ A month ago I took an early summer vacation.  One afternoon I took a walk in the woods behind our house (in a vain search for mushrooms) and found some year-old hickory sprouts.  I carefully got my tools and transplanted the young trees to my yard.  I've kept them watered ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/06/26/root-shock/ Last Monday Anita and I celebrated our 34th anniversary by spending the afternoon at Pokagon State Park, something we often did when dating. I needed to use the restroom and was informed that a large tree had fallen, taking the power out all over the Park, so they locked ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/06/17/44/ The year was 1952 and I had not yet started Kindergarten. My parents had driven to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a vacation in our new 1951 Ford. Dad had driven down a remote highway along the coast of Lake Superior. We stopped the car and ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/06/13/honor/ Today is June 6.  It is the 64th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy to take back Europe from Nazi control.  It was the beginning of the end of the war in Europe, yet it took nearly a year to accomplish that victory. God promised the Promised Land to the ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/06/06/d-day-lesson/ I just got back from a great vacation.  Our daughter and her husband, who reside in Nashville, TN, went on a cruise to celebrate their tenth anniversary, and we watched our grandkids, Lauren, age 4, and Rueben, age eleven months.  Its amazing how such little kids can wear us adults ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/06/04/faith-of-a-child/ Psalm 51:17 says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise".  With all the talk today of self esteem and knowing who you are in Christ, this verse looks like it doesn't fit.  But it does. Even Christians who have ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/05/16/tears/ I start a two-week vacation in one week.  My schedule is crazy next week, so I had to put my nose to the grindstone this week to get prepared for my two-week absence.  Its amazing how much work can get done when we're under pressure.  Someone said that the most ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/05/09/priorities/ I attended a minister's conference this past week where Dr. Kent Hunter, better known as The Church Doctor, spoke to the pastors.  He taught an inspiring session outlining the downward trend in moral indicators from 1960 to the 1990s.  Just when it appeared there was no hope left for America, ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/04/25/open-door/ I smiled as I watched the Verizon commercial showing a host of a hundred and fifty workmen, each a specialist, following around a single cell phone customer.  There was no support that anyone would ever need anytime that there wasn't a specialist right there beside them to instantly resolve the ... http://www.ralphdiehl.com/2008/04/16/gods-support-staff/