The church bulletin was explaining the plan of salvation but instead of the word “sin” it encouraged readers to “ask God to forgive your sings.” Even though I personally need forgiveness for my singing, I knew it was a mistake. Spell check would have done no good. The church could have used autocorrect. The Urban…
I took the ferry from Vancouver to Vancouver Island and back again last week. I first took this ride in 1980, in bright sunshine one way, and heavy snow on the return. I fell in love on that trip – with the lower mainland and islands of British Columbia, Canada. I’ve lost count of the…
He has been preceded by many others – athletes, presidents, ministers – who first denied any wrongdoing, then confessed, seeking forgiveness. This week the confession came from Lance Armstrong, All-American boy, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, Olympic medal winner, Cancer survivor. And now he will forever be known as a liar, a cheat,…
I took a Drama class in High School, only because the Principal came to our Advanced Speech class and asked for Volunteers to switch to the Drama class while looking straight at me. The Drama teacher, Mr. Wyman, told us to observe people so we’d know how to portray them when we were assigned their…
Merry Christmas! You’re thinking I’m late? Only if I celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar (which I do). While all Christians believe that Mary, “brought forth her first-born Son” (Luke 2:7), there is disagreement as to when that happened. Orthodox Christians in Central and Eastern Europe, and other parts of the world celebrate Christmas…
Two men were instrumental in my joining the Southwestern Baptist Seminary faculty in 1985, and in my teaching there for twenty-six years. This past September, we buried Dr. Roy Fish. This Wednesday, we will bury Dr. Justice Anderson. Both were my professors during seminary studies, then they were my colleagues on the faculty, and always,…
The observance of Christmas has changed, but the meaning remains the same. It all started with the Wise men who followed a star to worship the new-born King, then “departed for their own country another way” (Matthew 2:12). Christmas celebration has been changing to “another way” ever since. I have child-hood memories of real trees…
The last three days have definitely been, “a time to weep . . . a time to mourn” (Eccl. 3:4). Another mass shooting, this time in the Sandy Hook Elementary School of Newtown, CT. Like many who have been involved in one of these mass shootings and its aftermath (and many others who have not),…
When God impresses upon our minds some pleasing thought, everyone is happy. What about when God sends a displeasing word? What about when we pray for health and illness lingers? What about when we ask God to send us to a particular place and God sends us elsewhere? What about when we intercede for God…
“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave” said the American Indian Proverb that I read recently. As accurate as is this proverb, the idea is not original with the American Indians. Years before, it was said of Jesus, “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His…