In more than thirty-five years of teaching at the university and seminary levels, I’ve noticed four types of teachers. One type is highly educated, skilled in teaching methodology, polished in presentations, with great teaching EXPERTISE. They may have gone straight from the academic arena as a student to the academic arena as a teacher, bypassing…
In the early days of my ministry there sat on my desk a small note pad with the word, “Memo” on top of each page (short for Memorandum). It was a means of communication. Under the word “Memo” were the words: “To” and “From” and “Date” and “Re:” (short for Regarding). In those days I…
I know it’s not Monday Morning and I know that I’ve already sent the Memo for Monday, but I need some suggestions. I have been asked to be a guest blogger for a Christian online newspaper. Most of the blogs will be repeats out of the Monday Morning Memo archives. I need a title for…
When it comes to God’s will, there are three types of believers: (1) those who know the will of God and try to live it; (2) those who know the will of God and don’t live it; (3) those who don’t know the will of God and therefore do not live it. There are relatively…
Those of us who preach receive a variety of post-sermon responses. One of my most remembered, was a good-intentioned, yet devastating comment from a dear lady who said, “Bro. Dan, every sermon you preach is better than the next one.” Think about it. That’s a comment, not a compliment. We who preach cringe when someone…
From Iowa to New Hampshire to South Carolina we’ve been hearing how to make America great. Want-a-be-Presidents act as if America is no longer the greatest nation in the world and assure us, if elected, they will exalt us to new levels of greatness. Solomon, considered by his contemporizes as the wisest man of his…
A recent study of a major symphony revealed how orchestra members perceived each other. Percussionists were seen as insensitive, yet fun-loving. String players were perceived as arrogant and stuffy. Brass players were judged as loud. Woodwind players were described as quiet, though a bit egotistical. With this diversity of feeling for each other, members of…
I got caught by the police! Red handed! On Christmas Day! Every year I purchase Starbucks’s Gift Cards, drive around on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day giving them to Police Officers with a quick, “Thanks for working on Christmas.” This is done anonymously in the tradition of one of the early versions of Santa Claus,…
“Remember the Reason” proclaimed the Googled banner on my Christmas morning Facebook post. So, how did we do? In the midst of the now-normal Christmas activities, did we remember the real reason for the season, or did the birth of the Christ-child get lost in the tinsel and tunes of the holidays. I confess that…
One of my prayers this Christmas revolves around a word, actually two words. These two words make all the difference in how Christmas is observed. For many people, Christmas is an event – by definition, an observable occurrence, a gathering. It is an event marked by parties, gifts, parades, decorations, family gatherings, etc. While these…