Last week I attended a church convention where many of my former seminary students were also in attendance as well as numerous other friends. Having spent a career ministering and teaching at both the college and Seminary level as well as serving twenty-nine churches as Interim Pastor, not to mention friends made while traveling the world,…
Every pastor (or Interim Pastor) needs a deacon like Stephen. I had him twice. Not only was he an Attorney but was repeatedly re-elected as a County Judge. A life-long resident of his home- town, he was a forty-year Sunday School Teacher at his Church. That’s where I met him. He was the Chairman of the Deacons. I was the Interim…
We’ve come here from the north, east, south and west to this place, but one of these days we’re going to gather in a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1). We’ve driven over well-worn roads, if only from airport to airport, but one of these days we’re going to…
I’ve been on the road this past week. There comes a time when kids want all that stuff that has been stored at their parent’s house. They finally get a home that is large enough and has storage space, and they request their belongings. So, I loaded hundreds, or, maybe it was thousands, of baseball cards, as well…
Following a recent presentation, a young man wanted to know if I had time for him to ask me a question. When I agreed that I had time, he asked his question – “What do you do when someone criticizes you?” A lot of questions need time to think through an answer before responding. Some that need time,…
As major league baseball season winds down and professional ice hockey season begins, I am reminded of something that happened a few years ago. I was on sabbatical leave, teaching at the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Alberta, Canada. The Canadian national newspaper carried an interesting editorial heavily criticizing the United States for stealing Canada’s…
Friends read what you write. Special friends not only read what you write, but they share your words with their friends. Phil is one such a special friend. For many years, I have written an October issue of my Monday Morning Manna on the subject of Pastor Appreciation, since October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This month, my…
The writer of Ecclesiastes acknowledges that “to everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Although baseball had not been invented at that writing, this week begins Major League Baseball playoff season. Here is what some have said about this wonderful season: The more important thing is to win enough games to get into the playoffs, then…
The Best and the Worst of Times A Tale of Two Cities, published in 1859, is a historical novel by Charles Dickens, with a plot centered on the years leading up to the French Revelution. But it’s opening sentence of Chapter One could describe this season of the year – “It was the best of…
I’ve been privileged to serve twenty-nine churches as Interim Pastor-from the ending of one pastor until the beginning of the next pastor. I’ve served people who were sad (at the loss of a beloved pastor). I’ve served people who were mad (at the pastor for leaving or retiring). I’ve even served a few people who were glad (upset…