These words haunted me when I was a young believer: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). It was difficult enough setting an example as the “Pastor’s Kid” but being perfect was an ominous challenge in my youth. It was hard even for me to be good,…
While I was sitting on my front porch one day last week, a blue jay landed by my coffee cup and took a sip. My first ministerial thought (I confess to an earlier thought that was not ministerial.) was surely there is a sermon illustration in this somewhere. Desiring to share my experience and opportunity…
Sometimes you just have to move on. I’m not talking only of geography, but also of moving emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Life was good in Capernaum. The people were loving, and accepting of Jesus. In fact on one occasion, Mark writes, “The whole city was gathered together at the door” (Mark 1:33) and again, “Everyone…
Today is Memorial Day. Americans have been celebrating this day long enough that we should know it’s meaning by now. The fourth Monday in May is supposed to be a day when we remember and honor those who died at war, fighting for our country. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American…
Faced with a dilemma: which way to go? Do you take the high road or the low? Do you turn right or left? Isaiah understood: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’ Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left”…
Yesterday was Mother’s Day. It reminded me that mothers love things that no one else loves. My grandson, Price, told his mother he wanted to rent, “The Muppet Movie.” When she asked why, he explained that Miss Piggy and his mother were a lot alike. Other than admitting she had indeed kissed a few toad…
The quote was on the back of a T-shirt, three rows in front of me at a baseball game. “Good, better, best…never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is your best” but it was attributed to Tim Duncan, a professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan was not…
I have always had fears. When I was a child, I feared being separated from my parents. When I was a teen-ager, I feared being unaccepted by my peers. When I was a college student, I feared not finding the perfect mate for life. When I was a Seminary student, I feared not finding God’s…
“What can we do for you?” That was the question asked of ten church planters in an area where less than 2% of the population claim to be a part of evangelical Christian churches. All but one responded with the same first answer – “pray for us.” There were other answers with other expressed needs,…
Always strive for excellence. A well-known professional golfer, after not winning the Masters Golf Tournament, was reported to have said, “I’m not good enough . . . in 13 years, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to play for second or third place.” I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and hope…