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Articles by Mike McElroy
Energy Brief for Sept 29.23
by market analysts Stephen Platt and Mike McElroy Price Overview After reaching a high of 95.03 basis November early yesterday, prices have fallen sharply to settle at 90.71 today for a loss of 92 cents, putting the market back into its previously established range of 88-92.
Energy Brief for July 12.23
Risk Warning: Investments in Equities, Contracts for Difference (CFDs) in any instrument, Futures, Options, Derivatives and Foreign Exchange can fluctuate in value. Investors should therefore be aware that they may not realise the initial amount invested and may incur additional liabilities. These investments may be subject to above average financial risk of loss. Investors should consider their financial circumstances, investment experience and if it is appropriate to invest.
Drawing near to God
The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. - Exodus 20:21 When I read about the "thick darkness,” it reminds me of my father's darkroom where I learned to develop film many years ago. (Note to young readers: Ask your parents or maybe your grandparents about film. Maybe they remember and can explain it to you.) The precious exposed film could only be handled in total darkness.
Guided By the Great Father
"You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.” - Psalm 73:24 Just over five centuries ago, a nomadic Native American tribe chose to settle near present-day Coosada in Elmore County. Their journey to this area and the decision to settle here was guided by their custom of following the "Shadow of the Pole." At the end of a day, a member of the tribe who was regarded as a prophet would stand a stick in the ground.
Lord, Don’t You Care?
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” - Mark 4:38 Here’s an honest question. I’m asking you for an honest answer. Have you ever felt like the disciples must have felt when they asked Jesus if he cared? Maybe you were afraid (as they were) when you asked. Perhaps you were disappointed. Surrounded by people who did not seem to care anything about you, did you wonder if even God cared about you? You could be in a similar situation right now.
Led By Steadfast Love
You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy place. - Exodus 15:13 Do you ever feel worthless? Are you sometimes unsure about the direction of your life? Are you overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy about all you should do? Do you have anxiety about death and eternity? It's ok to admit it. It's just you and me here, and I struggle with those things sometimes, too.
Dying to Live
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20 In a "previous life," I was a disc jockey on a Top 40 radio station. Every now and then a song lyric from the past comes up in my mind and seems to stay there.
Our Quarreling is Ruining Us
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. - 2 Timothy 2:14 Perhaps you were an exceptional child and never quarreled with your parents, your siblings or your friends. Good for you, I guess. But most of us learned how to quarrel when we were little children. It can become a habit, and habits are hard to break. Some adults never have broken the habit of quarreling.
Thinking of You
"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" - Psalm 139:17 It's a generic greeting card. There's a watercolor of a flower on the front and "Thinking of You" is printed in an attractive flowing script. Inside the card is blank and you can write whatever fits the occasion. Is the recipient grieving? Maybe he's been very sick. Maybe she's going through a really hard time in her marriage. Or perhaps it's just an old friend who's lately been on your mind.
Broken Beyond Healing
He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. - Proverbs 29:1 “I’m sorry. There’s nothing else we can do.” I’ve been with several families and patients through the years when a doctor has told them that their loved one cannot recover from advancing illness or traumatic injury. The patient is too weak, there are too many complications, they can’t get well. I’ve heard it about my own father.
The Tragic Shame of Ruin by Neglect
”How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” - Hebrews 2:3 A few years ago, I drove through my old neighborhood in my hometown, just to see how it looked after all these years. I turned onto the street where I grew up and drove up the hill toward my house. (The hill seemed much steeper more than 50 years ago when I raced down it on my bike.) Most of the once well-kept houses were now in a sad state of disrepair. Some of them were in ruins, abandoned shells.
Casting Our Crowns At Jesus’ Feet
They cast their crowns before the throne. - Revelation 4:10 Do you play chess? I'm familiar with how the pieces move and I can play on a very elementary level. But I don’t know much at all about strategy, and I can’t think moves ahead like more experienced players are able to do. Most of us know enough about the game to realize what it means when, at the end, the player who will win on the next move announces “Checkmate.” The losing player recognizes the loss, and lays his king over on the board.
The 'Intermission' chapter of the Bible
Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! - Psalm 117:1-2 I was a young boy when my uncle took me to see Gone With the Wind for the first time. I had not seen many movies, but I had seen enough to realize that this one was lasting a long time.
Are you thirsty to see God?
When was the last time you earnestly searched for something or someone? I lost a wallet once that I never did find, but it was not for lack of earnest seeking. You may know what it’s like to lose your keys or your money, or maybe a beloved pet. I hope you don’t know what it is like to have a child or other family member missing. Oh, how we would diligently search for a missing loved one! David was in the wilderness and he was earnestly seeking God.
Here’s help when troubles are stealing your sleep
I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. - Psalm 3:5 Have you ever had a sleepless night? You were tired, but your mind kept racing and thinking about some problem or situation. It’s hard to sleep on nights like that. I've had a few of those unpleasant nights myself through the years. But I doubt I've had a problem like David was facing when he wrote that he laid down and slept, and then woke again.
Happiness and Joy at Christmas
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length, you have revived your concern for me. - Philippians 4:10 I was looking at Christmas cards we've received this season, and noticed something interesting about two I happened to read, one right after the other. One said, "May you be blessed with peace and happiness...." The other one said, "May your Christmas be blessed with peace and joy." Just one word is different. Both words are wonderful.
It's the headlines, not the fine print
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." — Romans 13:8-10 I'm grateful we still have a hometown newspaper.
The gift and the blessing
“May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” — Psalm 29:11 One of the tragic losses of our culture is that most children become adults and leave home without a formal blessing from their parents as they go. Perhaps in some families the ancient practice is still observed in which a parent pronounces a solemn blessing on sons and daughters as they gain their independence. But it’s rare.
Bitter fruit from a bitter root
“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled...." — Hebrews 12:15 Have you ever been bitter toward someone who wronged you or hurt your loved ones? Maybe you know how it feels to harbor resentment or to keep score. Your sense of justice cries out for the offender to be punished. You play the mental video of their transgression over and over again.
‘Ignorance is bliss’-not
"Gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, and he knows it not." — Hosea 7:19 Guess what? When I don’t check my blood pressure and adjust my medicine as needed, my blood pressure goes up. I don’t know it until I check it. Also, can you guess whether my weight goes up or down when I don’t weigh on a regular basis? Correct. My weight goes up, but I don’t know it as long as I avoid the scales and don't keep a record.
Here’s help when it’s hard to obey God
They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.” - Jeremiah 1:19 How willing would you be to accept an assignment that came with a guarantee of trouble and failure? Not many of us would be eager to embrace a task or invest time and energy in a project we knew would not go well. Jeremiah was in such a situation where we find him in today's text. God sent Jeremiah to deliver an unwelcome message to an unreceptive audience.
Slow to Anger, Great in Power
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. - Nahum 1:3 Do you get angry quickly? Is your “fuse” short? Does the first and slightest provocation cause wrath to well up inside you and flow out of your mouth? Did these questions make you mad?
Maybe We Need a Christmas Song Right Here in July
I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow. - Jeremiah 31:13 This verse reminds me of the chorus of the Christmas song, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." You know it, don't you? Would you please sing that chorus with me right now? Here we go. What's that, you say? A Christmas song in July? Yes, I know it's hot. Just try it. Maybe it will make you feel cooler. Everybody sing. Ready?
Choose your associates wisely
“Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word." — Psalm 119:74 We are creatures of influence. We are affected by others around us, and we have an effect on them. We want to be liked and accepted. You may know someone who says, “I don’t care what anyone thinks of me,” and they may mean it. But I admit that I do want my peers to approve of me and accept me. Don’t you? That’s the thinking that makes us susceptible to peer pressure when we’re young.
Free delivery in another way
“For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” — Psalm 116:8, 9 In the days when gasoline was cheap, it was common for local businesses to deliver an appliance or furniture at no additional cost. But a delivery charge is now the norm, and the occasional instance of free delivery is usually a courtesy or a perk offered to close the sale.
Walk humbly with your God
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8 On a recent rainy day, I noticed several moments when the sky overhead would be blue and cloudless for a few minutes. The gray surroundings made the blue sky and sunlight more delightful. I even saw a stunning rainbow during one of those "mixed sky" moments. The book of Micah is like that. It is mostly dark and foreboding.
Psalm 30 a many-faceted jewel
“Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.” — Psalm 30:4 Do you ever read reviews before making a purchase? Sometimes before I buy a new device or maybe some shoes, I look at what other customers have said about their experience with and impressions of the product. Reviewing new products has become an online career for some people, with detailed reviews and video demonstrations.
The noble spirit of a volunteer
I am a big fan of A.C.T.S. I don't mean the fifth book of the New Testament, although I do love that book. I mean the Association of Christians in Tallassee for Service — a joint ministry of about 20 supporting churches around our community. I love the fact so many people in need have been helped by this ministry. I love the fact almost 9 tons of food were given away at A.C.T.S. last year to feed hungry people.
”It just so happened…” Is that really true?
She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz. - Ruth 2:3 Do you believe in luck? Do you think luck or fate is responsible for either the good or bad things that happen in our lives? Were you lucky to get the good job you have? Was your friend lucky to get such a good price on a house or a car? Was it just a stroke of luck that you met your mate or some other very influential person in your life? I apologize for starting with a barrage of questions.
Self-rule leads to self-ruin
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” — Judges 21:15 Have you acted in one or more of these roles in your career? Have you been an infant with no concept of consideration for others, only an inexpressible desire to get what you wanted? Sure you have. How about a little child who exploded in a flaming tantrum of rage when restrained or told "no" by Mommy or Daddy? Yes, some of us have been this character, too.
People of Faith Living in Times of Trouble
God saw the people of Israel--and God knew. - Exodus 2:25 We're living in unusual days, aren't we? Many have died, many more have suffered and everyone it seems has been impacted by the world-wide spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. The health threat and related necessary precautions have altered our way of life. Millions across the country are sequestered in their homes. Churches are not meeting. Schools and colleges are closed.
Would you betray the son of man?
It was a dark moment on a dark night. Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane with a small group of disciples. He had asked them to watch with him, but they fell asleep while he anguished in prayer. He asked the Father, if it was possible, that the cup could pass from him. After asking the third time, he was strengthened. Then Jesus got up and went to face the arresting party he knew was on its way. Jesus also knew who would be leading them. Yes, it was Judas.
An eternal perspective of life
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” — Ecclesiastes 3:11 Did you do jigsaw puzzles as a child? I’m sure you remember the pictures that had been cut into interlocking pieces. Maybe you still enjoy working on such puzzles, although your puzzles now have perhaps 750 pieces instead of 12, and you’re probably not building a picture of your favorite cartoon character.
Cast Your Anchor in the Port of Peace
mcelroy You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 26:3 About fifteen years ago, I found these words in a book of Puritan prayers: “I have cast my anchor in the port of peace, knowing that present and future are in nail-scarred hands.“ I wrote that quote in one of my little notebooks, and found it again just the other day. So this column is also testimony to the power of marking your books and taking notes about what you read.
Filled mouths and filled days
"My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.” — Psalm 71:8 Every now and then, I indulge in a strong, hot, black cup of coffee from a shop which shall remain nameless. (I keep a small balance on a phone app from there, so it doesn't seem so expensive.
An Additive That’s Good For You
An Additive That’s Good For You And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. - Colossians 3:15 2019 is slipping away. December is upon us. Thanksgiving has passed, and Christmas is coming soon. You’ll probably be extra busy and feel some extra stress as you try to get everything done. Maybe I’m only telling on myself, but it could be true about you, too.
Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. - 2 Thessalonians 3:13 I hope as you read these lines that you are well-rested, and that you have been blessed with another day's worth of energy and strength for what you need to do today. I also know it's quite possible you may not feel that way at all. Maybe yesterday or last week was long and your tasks demanding. Perhaps you didn't sleep well or long enough last night to really rest.
The Blood of Jesus Makes You More
I’ve been bought and paid for. How about you? All Christians have been ransomed, purchased and redeemed with the blood of Christ.
Everybody Needs The Gift of Encouragement
Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it." (Deuteronomy 1:36) I long ago lost count of how many times I’ve been encouraged not to quit, to keep trying, to refuse to give up or be overwhelmed. Sometimes it’s a friend or fellow Christian. But sometimes it’s someone I don’t know who’s read this column and said kind words to me about it when we passed in the grocery store.
Through Jesus far becomes near
“He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.” — Psalm 148:14 We rejoiced when our daughter Amy with her husband Brandon and two of our grandchildren Kate and Connor moved back to our area about a month ago. Brandon’s work had taken them to Massachusetts and Maryland over the past four years. Those places seemed like the far country.
‘Just like a tree that’s planted by the water, I shall not be moved’
"For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved." — Psalm 21:7 Don't we all long for stability in our lives and consistency in our commitments? We find something appealing and comforting in the chant-like pulse of the old spiritual: "I shall not be, I shall not be moved. I shall not be, I shall not be moved. Just like a tree that's planted by the water, I shall not be moved." The world around us is constantly changing.
A Song for All Seasons
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. - Psalm 115:1 Once upon a time in another life, I was a disc jockey. This was back in pre-historic days when live radio announcers played music from vinyl records. My parents did not much like the music we played on the station where I worked, and I did not much like the music they preferred. Playlists on personal music devices hadn't been invented yet.
‘I shall not be moved’ - Tallassee Tribune
‘I shall not be moved’ By Mike McElroy “For the king trusts in the Lord and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.” — Psalm 21:7. Don’t we all long for stability in our lives and consistency in our commitments? We find something appealing and comforting in the chant-like pulse of the old spiritual: “I shall not be, I shall not be moved. I shall not be, I shall not be moved.
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