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…
“It is possible to work in a bakery and lose one’s appetite for bread” so said Vance Havner. I guess that explains why I no longer have a desire for some of the ministry things that I used to do with gusto. I’m currently reading Billy Graham’s new book, “Nearing Home” and it’s reassuring to…
This week I will speak briefly to graduates at my own Alma Mater, my last official function as President of the Alumni Associations’ Board of Directors. I’m not sure how much graduates actually hear at commencement services, but should some be listening, I will tell them that from this day forward, their University days will…
Sophocles, an early Greek playwright, said, “When a man has lost all happiness, he’s not alive. Call him a breathing corpse.” He must have been correct. By the thirteenth century Thomas Aquinas, an Italian philosopher and scholar said, “There is within every soul a thirst for happiness.” So, we do need something to make us…
Nine out of ten could be unacceptable. The week-end Quarterback who throws nine incomplete passes out of ten attempts is unacceptable. The student who misses nine questions out of a ten question exam, is unacceptable. The salesperson who fails nine times to make a sale when offered ten good prospects, is unacceptable. Jesus understood this…
I am not interested in being Interim Football Coach at Penn. St. University. Having been Interim Pastor for churches with similar circumstances is enough. Fortunately, most of my 22 Interims have been for good churches with good circumstances, but not all. Whether a Pastor is guilty of sexual contact with children, extra-marital sexual relations, sexual…
Yesterday was time-change Sunday. Maybe it’s my advancing age, but I seem to like changes in time less, each time they happen. Today I will fly west and change time zones, only to fly back on Wednesday and change time zones again. Twice I have flown all the way around the world – once in…
Two post-sermon comments are lodged in my memory. The first: “Your sermons have meant so much to my husband since he developed dementia.” The second; “Every sermon you preach is better than the next one.” How does one respond to such comments? Anger would be inappropriate. Laughter would be insensitive. Silence would be unacceptable. Correction…
Many American fathers want their sons to grow up to be NFL Quarterbacks, or All-Star Pitchers, or successful attorneys, doctors or businessmen. Jewish fathers wanted their sons to grow up to be Rabbis. At the age of twelve, young Jewish boys faced their first test. By this age they were expected to have memorized the…
This is Pastor Appreciation Month. In the past twenty-six years, while serving as a Seminary professor, I have also served eighteen churches (two of them twice) as Interim Pastor; some for a few months, others for a few years. Interim Pastors are sometimes appreciated, sometimes not so much. While they fill a crucial role in…