Monthly Archives: May 2019

Taking Preaching Seriously

Last night we watched an old episode of the Andy Griffith show that was entitled “A Sermon for Today.”

Andy and Opie are ready for church and trying to get Aunt Bee off the phone gossiping with her friend Clara.

When we arrive at the “All Souls Church,” the congregation is singing “Holy Spirit, Truth Divine.” All the while the ladies are looking across the auditorium miming appreciation for each other’s hats. Barney fumbles to keep his place in the hymn, and is saved from embarrassment when Andy stops him from applauding the guest speaker.” Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under Preaching

Don’t Fear. God’s Here. For You.

As I write this post cruising at 30,000 feet on a Southwest jet, I’m reminded of some folks who have a fear of flying.

For many years John Madden, the CBS Sports color commentator crisscrossed the country each fall in a customized bus because he was afraid of flying.

Several years ago, a first-round NBA draft choice quickly ended his career with an unconditional release by his team because of his paralyzing fear of flying. Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under Fear

A Passage To Ponder: Romans 7:13-25

There was a cartoon which showed two friends standing before a Preacher and one asks, “Why is it that opportunity only knocks once but temptation beats on my door every day?!”

Can you relate to that to that feeling?

Oscar Wilde, the celebrated playwright and poet of the early 20th Century, known for his self-indulgent life once quipped, “I can resist everything but temptation.”

Maybe you feel the way that Wilde did? Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Passage To Ponder

God Forgives. Forgive Yourself.

“While I am glad to debate the abortion issue, that is not the purpose of this post,” wrote my friend and preaching colleague Shane Scott in a recent facebook post. “Instead, I want to reach out to any sisters in Christ who share the same beliefs I have about abortion, but who have at some point in the past chosen to have one.” Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under Forgiveness

Memorial Day Memories 2019

Today is Memorial Day in the United States.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines “memorial” as “something (such as a monument or ceremony) that honors a person who has died or serves as a reminder of an event in which many people died. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Memorial Day

Teaching Children How To Treat Others With Whom We Disagree

Our blog post last Friday was about the same-sex marriage scene in the PBS children’s cartoon show Arthur.

One of our regular readers very kindly responded that he didn’t see the show “advocating a lifestyle of homosexuality. Instead, he offered “a completely different picture.” Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under Relationships, Values

How To Handle Riches

In recent years University Commencement speeches have been controversial. Either in terms of the speaker invited, as in the recent case of Vice President Pence, or in terms of the content of the speech.

However, there was no controversy Sunday at Morehouse College in Atlanta when Robert F. Smith, the Billionaire founder of the investment firm Vista Equity Partners delivered a shocking announcement. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Money

A Passage To Ponder: Romans 2

Some folks are like the fellow who was talking to his preacher and said he wasn’t much use in the church or the world because he had only one talent.

“Oh, that shouldn’t discourage you,” said the preacher. “What is your talent?”

“The talent of judging others.” Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Passage To Ponder

I’m Not Ashamed of the Gospel

The 19th century American Humorist, Samuel Clemens a.k.a. Mark Twain was known as a critic of organized religion. He often poked fun at preachers and their preaching.

One Sunday Twain attended a Sunday service. Afterward, he met the preacher at the door and said he had a book at home with every word he preached that morning.

The minister assured him that the sermon was an original. Twain still held his position. So the preacher demanded to see this book. Twain said he would send it over to his office the next morning. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Gospel

Word of the Week: Parenting

For the past four weeks, Norma Jean and I have been living and working with the church in Madrid, Iowa.

In addition to preaching each Sunday and working with their fine young preacher, Stefan Richardson, the shepherds asked me to teach some classes on Parenting. Our theme has been Parenting with Purpose. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Parenting, Word of the Week