Before launching into this week’s post, I wanted to share a touching response to the last week’s post: We were blessed to be able to get my dad out to church on that Sunday. He commented about how helpful the greeters were. As we pulled up to the building, we were met by that red Continue reading

Pastors aren’t very fond of those gray days when the rain is relentless, but a few weeks back we had one of those days. What made the day a bit more cheerful was one one of our greeters. He was wading out into the parking lot with a huge red beach umbrella! He could have Continue reading

This is tough… not tough like digging ditches tough or “I’ve got cancer” tough… I do have some sense of proportion here. Still, this is tough. In 28 years of ministry I can only remember missing one Sunday for medical reasons. Nancy was pregnant with Jay, and we packed up and headed to the hospital. Continue reading

Tread lightly, my brother. All this stomping and huffing, It is beneath you. Are you not His child? Do you think God fails to notice? Do you think He does not care? Do you truly believe that Your fuming and fusing Will remedy the ills of the world? Tread lightly, my brother. See how He Continue reading

I’m not sure how many times I’ve seen “The Wizard of Oz,” but I can remember watching on television as a child. Back then it was quite the spectacle with witches and munchkins and flying monkeys, or should I say, “Lions and tigers and bears…Oh, my!” For some reason, this morning my mind drifted back Continue reading

As his mother nursed him while holding him close in her arms, she had dreams – dreams of the man he might one day become. Those dreams comforted her. She closed her eyes and felt his warmth. She felt it not only on her skin but deeper, much deeper. Her labor was over, and this Continue reading

The news report read, “It was clearly a terror attack, intended to kill as many people as possible.” The police officer was speaking of the terror attack in Barcelona where a man in a white van plowed into pedestrians with the clear intent of bringing chaos and death. He was successful, killing at least 13, and Continue reading

Just a few weeks ago, our one and only son was married. His new wife is terrific. I was honored to be the one to pronounce them husband and wife. Now, they have started a life together with jobs, a house, a puppy, and lots of Thank You notes to write! Jay and Lacie have Continue reading

I am grateful to church members who do invite others to come to church. Sometimes that is all the encouragement that a person needs to step across that threshold. So, if you’re inviting people to come to your church, don’t stop! What I would encourage the church to do is to consider three other invitations Continue reading

Christmastime for a pastor moves along at a pretty good clip. The old year has to be wrapped up. Plans for new year are already underway. Our church is also in the process of preparing a budget to present and seeking new Elders to serve. There are the Christmas parties and Christmas week services. It’s all Continue reading