tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-248401322026-10-13T19:49:06.839-05:00Random Thoughts Along the Narrow Path - by Tony StithTony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-42555564025154079992026-02-14T11:30:00.003-06:002026-02-14T17:56:20.637-06:00

 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004… That’s the count that begins in my head the second my plane begins to roar down the runway on takeoff. Counting is one of my little tricks to distract me from focusing on the myriad of unthinkable horrors that could potentially occur as I’m thrust down the runway at 200 miles per hour into the wind that is supposed to lift a 700,000-pound tube of metal with wings

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-37165630984238800782026-02-05T16:35:00.010-06:002026-02-06T08:56:12.164-06:00

My wife and I are empty nesters. When I look around our home these days it’s very peaceful and usually tidy and, well, I generally like it that way. But a couple of weeks ago I was reminded how much I miss things being a little less peaceful and tidy. We spent a week in Florida at an Airbnb with our adult children and our two young, and of course perfect in every way, grandsons—ages two and

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-91266965612890950352026-01-25T09:45:26.024-06:002026-01-25T10:04:23.481-06:00

I have a pinky problem. I inherited it from my great grandfather. The pinky toe on my right foot has a shortened tendon that causes it to stick up above the other toes when I raise my foot.Now, my little pinky problem has not quite had the negative impact on my life that it did on his. Family lore has it that his little toe stuck up so much and was so painful that he was forced to cut a hole in

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-59486195566770793042022-11-26T08:26:00.001-06:002026-01-25T09:40:04.607-06:00

According to James 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to...mumble, mumble, mumble...keep oneself unspotted from the world." Striving to stay unspotted from world. Being zealous to overcome sin. Yep, got that one down, baby! Rejecting worldly teaching and immorality and holding onto Truth? Check that! That's my life, man! That's what I really care about!

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-31201725737936435502019-06-09T08:16:00.000-05:002019-06-09T20:24:59.815-05:00

A momentous milestone passed in our family a few weeks ago. You know, as you go through life there are little events that mark turning points in our lives, experiences that signal the end of one season and the beginning of another. That was this event for me.What was it? Well, my son Jordan beat me arm wrestling. I know, I know. I was just as stunned as you are. And here’s the thing; It wasn’t

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-88191168762727290312016-07-23T06:39:00.003-05:002016-07-23T06:42:09.131-05:00

"So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:16 You might be a luke-warm christian if... ...you wear nicer clothes to work than you do to church. ...you have more notes on your refrigerator than you do in your Bible. ...you think redemption is something you do with a winning lottery ticket. ...all but a few of the pages of your Bible

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-37095182891453585352015-12-09T08:12:00.002-06:002015-12-09T08:16:47.441-06:00

"Tis the season to be jolly...fa, la, la, la, la, la - la, la...blaahhh..." Not all of us are feeling all that jolly this time of year, are we? Frankly many of us who hold strong convictions about being true to what God's Word teaches find much in this season about which to be downright cynical. The empty hype, the commercialism, the rituals and timing of the season adopted so blatantly and

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-64751115574295438782015-12-08T10:12:00.001-06:002015-12-08T10:12:59.969-06:00

I faced a moral conundrum while standing in front of the pop machine at work the other day. Now, I know there may be some health purists who would argue that the act of standing in front of a pop machine is evidence of moral failing, in and of itself. Let's set that issue aside for the moment. This particular pop machine has one quirky, some would say delightful, feature.  Upon depositing

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-47319822855031614402015-10-24T09:30:00.002-05:002015-12-08T13:14:54.422-06:00

There was a time when, as a Christian, new in the faith, reading parts of God's Word was sometimes, well, discouraging. Sure, there are the encouraging parts. The "God so loved the world" parts, and the "He who has made us to our God Kings and Priests" parts. But then there are those other parts, the laundry lists of things to overcome, stuff to do, exhortations to change. It's difficult

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-18569073002207047642014-11-16T09:52:00.000-06:002014-11-23T09:09:34.904-06:00

"For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” - Revelation 5:9-10 Did you read that Christian?  One day, if you play your cards right; if you endure till the end, you'll be wearing a crown, sporting a beautiful robe and eating on plates of

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-71583949752123420552014-03-09T12:07:00.000-05:002015-12-08T13:16:37.283-06:00

"He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. ...I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." - Revelation 3:12 - 21 Some incredible promises those! A pillar in the temple. A seat next to God on His Throne. Amazing! In return for what? Overcoming? All of us who call ourselves

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-5875312262692455022013-11-03T14:53:00.003-06:002013-11-03T17:30:29.332-06:00

A few Sabbaths ago I found myself watching the "hymnal guy" do his thing before and after services. This guy was everywhere; smiling and greeting members at the door; carrying a hymnal to an elderly woman who was already in her chair; scanning the congregation during the song service for anyone who may have forgotten to pick one up in the lobby; making his way down each isle to collect hymnals

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-84243141131635287592013-03-17T19:28:00.000-05:002013-03-17T19:28:13.162-05:00

The Days of Unleavened Bread. A toaster's day in the sun. Only during these days does a normally mundane appliance get thrust center stage in the relentless endeavor to purge out the leaven, aka, sin, from every corner of our homes. It's a ritual re-enacted every Spring by those of us who take seriously the command to keep the annual High Sabbaths, given by our Lord in the Old Testament and

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-1347613998150295142012-04-16T20:02:00.002-05:002012-04-16T20:02:41.447-05:00

Okay, more than halfway through the Days of Unleavened Bread and so far so good. I've yet to a plow down a donut in the office cafeteria without thinking or munch down a handful of croutons with my dinner salad. The symbol of sin has not, knowingly anyway, crossed my lips. Although I've done well with the command not to eat, I wish I could say as much about the command we are given to eat. After

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-72845918361560318222012-03-24T10:23:00.012-05:002012-03-24T12:54:58.734-05:00

In I Corinthians 11:27 we read regarding the Passover observance that many of us are soon to partake, "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup." Self-examination. It's a solemn exercise in which we, as members of His

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-36811296374939575602012-03-17T14:21:00.004-05:002012-03-17T14:44:08.737-05:00

The Days of Unleavened Bread. A toaster's day in the sun. Only during these days does a normally mundane appliance get thrust center stage in the relentless endeavor to purge out the leaven, aka, sin, from every corner of our homes. It's a ritual re-enacted every Spring by those of us who take seriously the command to keep the annual High Sabbaths, given by our Lord in the Old Testament and

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-21067335169504670602012-01-21T10:56:00.008-06:002015-12-08T13:18:24.453-06:00

"Tony, you're overtraining. You need to stop pushing so hard." Those were the words the physical therapist said to me a couple of weeks ago. I was whining to her about the constant ache in my shoulder and the frustrating lack of progress I had made since having rotator cuff surgery. Her words floored me. How could I be doing too much??! Everything I read about therapy warned of the danger of

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-82604069170190732122011-12-24T11:10:00.003-06:002016-02-06T06:20:48.453-06:00

Show of hands of those who are already weary of election year politics? It's just getting to be a little too much isn't it? It's almost a full year away from the next presidential election and the mud is flying in every direction. With a media culture catering to the ever shortening attention span of the public, elections these days are won or lost based, not on the strength of ideas, but on

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-79524916385265778962011-12-10T11:47:00.011-06:002011-12-10T12:04:34.931-06:00

"How you all doing??!!! Let me hear how much you love this!!!!" A few grunts, a weak, "woo-hoo", mostly silence. "C-mon! You can do better than that! Let me hear you!!!" A few more grunts, three or four faint ''woo-hoos." Silence. . . I was about thirty minutes into an hour long spin class, pedaling my brains out on a stationary bike along with thirty or so others who'd signed up for the

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-43843955858311506192011-12-03T11:17:00.006-06:002011-12-05T11:53:54.570-06:00

Several months ago I underwent major surgery to repair a full thickness tear to a portion of the rotator cuff in my left shoulder. Eight weeks out of surgery, other than opening and closing my hand, my left arm was pretty much useless. I'd been told to expect anywhere from six to twelve months of therapy to regain full mobility and strength in my shoulder. Little did I know just how

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-41154004660012877412011-11-19T10:28:00.019-06:002013-11-03T14:51:53.451-06:00

A few Sabbaths ago I found myself watching the "hymnal guy" do his thing before and after services. This guy was everywhere, smiling and greeting members at the door; carrying a hymnal to an elderly woman who was already in her chair, scanning the congregation during the song service for anyone who may have forgotten to get one at the door; And, finally, making his way down each isle to collect

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-69775741350421152112011-11-12T12:23:00.004-06:002011-11-13T07:06:40.303-06:00

On December 17, 1903, brother's Wilbur and Orville Wright successfully made the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight. The Wright brothers weren't alone in their quest to conquer the air. Their main source of competition was from a man named Dr. Samuel Langley. Langley was the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and, therefore, had many more resources

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-31056637587631871842011-11-05T10:58:00.013-05:002011-11-06T20:55:50.249-06:00

If you were to ask a Christian in one of the mainstream protestant denominations the question, "What is the gospel" the answer that would more than likely roll off their tongue would be, "It's the gospel about Jesus Christ." But if you were to ask many of us in the Sabbath keeping tradition the same question you might hear something along the lines of, "It's not the gospel about Jesus Christ

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-5930113162251132902011-10-29T10:50:00.009-05:002011-10-29T20:55:39.020-05:00

"You're tone deaf." Those are the words I heard, just minutes into an audition for a small musical ensemble at the college I once attended.  Those words landed like a brick on my ego. The irony was that I had actually been a member of this same ensemble the previous year. However, the number of those auditioning had been smaller that year and the acceptance threshold had been set much lower.

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24840132.post-47431820958580600972011-10-08T09:10:00.008-05:002011-10-11T14:04:22.802-05:00

The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. An incredibly joyous occasion. There is so much to celebrate that will occur on this day, yet future. The Saints will have risen to meet their returning Lord in the air and will descend with Him on the mount of Olives. All who come to make war with the returning King will have been vanquished. Satan, that old serpent, the devil, who enslaves the whole world

Tony Stithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303324207085986319noreply@blogger.com0