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About two weeks ago, our family began a journey we never wanted to take. Our daughter Jackie called me to tell me she was having difficulty writing her name. Needless to say, we were both concerned. The symptoms progressed to weakness and heaviness in both her right leg, foot, arm and hand with an accompanying Continue reading

After Adam and Eve had sinned by eating of the fruit in the Garden of Eden. the fallen couple heard God walking in the garden and hid in the bushes. Although God knew exactly where they were, we read these words in Genesis 3:9: “But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” Continue reading

John was a timid man who dreaded speaking in public. He was terrified on the day it was his turn to give a devotional message to his men’s Bible study. With trembling knees and sweaty palms, he stood and faced his listeners. He timidly asked a simple question, “Do you know what I’m going to Continue reading

When I was in seminary, we spent a good bit of time studying principles of church growth. The most memorable among them was the Homogeneous Unit Principle (HUP) promoted by Donald McGavran, founder of the church growth movement. Basically, the HUP, when used  in reference to church growth, states that it is easier to build Continue reading

Christmastime is filled with traditions. Some of those traditions are sacred like Christmas Eve services, lighting the candles of the Advent wreath, and reading the birth narratives in the Gospels. Other traditions are secular like Christmas trees, Santa, movies like Elf, It’s a Wonderful LIfe, and Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. That final movie has been Continue reading

Alicia stares at the five flickering candles poking up from the pink frosting of her birthday cake. With all her giggly friends gathered around, her dad excitedly coaches her, “Make a wish.” Alicia closes her eyes tightly and make a secret wish. She opens her eyes wide, draws in a deep breath, and blows with Continue reading

Christmas for most people is a festive time filled with family, friends and laughter. I remember the excitement as a child of driving around with my parents to look at the bright lights decorating homes. I recall the family gatherings where both the spirit and the belly were well-nourished. Watching Charlie Brown and Rudolf and Continue reading

I’m not a big devotee of musicals, but because both my children performed in school musicals and my wife still directs them, I’ve been exposed to a few. One of the songs that occasionally floats through my brain comes from “The Sound of Music.” Perhaps you remember Maria singing “These Are a Few of My Continue reading

We are finished decorating for Christmas. We pulled everything down from the attic, put up what we could, then returned the empty or nearly empty boxes and tubs back in the attic until it’s time to put it all away for another year. If we ever build a house, I’m going to make sure it Continue reading

Black Friday,the day after Thanksgiving, is considered to be the biggest shopping day of the year. Although the term “Black Friday” has been used in many different ways, it has come to be seen as the day when retailers get out of the red and into the black financially, meaning that they begin to make Continue reading