Times have changed. People are staying home from church services in record numbers – and blaming the COVID virus. History has shown when we are forced by circumstances to change, we eventually get comfortable with the change, and even prefer the new methods to the old. John Cage, an American composer, artist, and philosopher, confessed,…
In the late 1960s, I commuted to Seminary with an interesting group of want-a-be-ministers. Our carpool consisted of two soon-to-be Senior Pastors, one military Chaplain who would become a denominational servant, one President of an international ministry organization, and one future seminary professor. Four mornings a week, we met at six o’clock, pilled in to…
It’s unclear if on that first Thanksgiving, the colonists and Native Americans ate turkey at their feast. More likely, they indulged in other interesting foods like lobster, and seal. What is certain is that a tradition developed that called for the U.S. President to declare Thanksgiving as a holiday anew each year, until Thomas Jefferson…
Several years ago, I granted permission to e-Thoughts, a weekly online devotional ministry, to use any of my Monday Morning Manna that they wanted to use. I was honored again last week as they posted one entitled, “Thankfulness Times Three,” in which I described a Thanksgiving tradition of mine of selecting three persons each year…
We sang a song yesterday in the worship service that I had completely forgotten. It was a song from my youth, written in 1931 by B.B. McKinney, and based on Psalm 100:2, “Serve the Lord with gladness.” As we sang, I found myself wondering if there was any other way to serve the Lord. Could…
I used to wonder why my father went home for lunch every day. The food was good, but not that much better than anywhere else he could have gone for a meal. He went home to take an after-lunch nap. When we moved to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, one of my culture shocks…
This is Pastor Appreciation Month. I will take my Pastor to lunch this week. It is a small, but meaningful gift. We will talk as we eat – about the church, about sports, about theology, about families, about common friends (and a few uncommon friends). Mostly, I will come away from the time together with…
I am old enough to remember when politicians campaigned on their record instead of campaigning against the record of their opponent. Repeatedly during this election, I have been forced to watch TV commercials from candidates on both sides, telling me why I should not vote for their opponents. There is a difference is recognizing the…
What a year this has been! In January I participated in the semi-annual meeting of America’s National Prayer Committee. No one packed a facemask for the meeting. In February, I conducted my Disciple All Nations. Inc, Board of Directors annual meeting with no concerns about social distancing. In March, I had a steroid procedure on…
I had major surgery last week. I am blessed with a lot of friends, and social media has kept us in contact, but never did I expect the response from long-time friends, as what I received. There were prayers offered and thoughts shared by new friends of only a few months, but friends that I…