Monthly Archives: April 2012

Ghosts?

(Do you believe in ghosts?  A couple of weeks ago I preached about a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus.   I talked about how the disciples were afraid Jesus was a ghost.   I made an offhand comment that “We know … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Christianity | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Absent-Minded Pastor

Being absent-minded means stepping into the bathroom and hoping you have to unzip your pants. If you’re really absent-minded then you’re not worrying about whether the zipper is up, but whether there is one at all.  Did I remember to … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Jeopardy, Pastors | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Would You Like Fries With That . . . Prayer?

I admit that when I first saw the headline about the Prayer Drive-Thru at the Fort Lauderdale church, I was prepared to heap scorn, judgement and cynicism on the concept.  But after I got some details and after I thought about it … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Prayer | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Small Sacrifices

While I was dusting the living room this morning, a book fell off the shelf and a small ID card fell out.  It was my dad’s Building Pass from the Seaboard Railroad building in Jacksonville.  My dad worked for the … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Parenting | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A-Broadening Our Horizons

We’re hosting an exchange student from France.  She’ll be here for 11 days.  Last month we had a student from The Netherlands in residence.  It is lots of fun to experience daily life through the eyes of someone from another … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Who Would Jesus Bully?

What if Christians spent less energy trying to control the behavior of others and put more energy into conveying the love of Christ? That’s the question that came to mind as I read the heartbreaking  story of bullying and suicide … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Homosexuality | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Questions In Church?!

Where did we ever get the idea that Christians shouldn’t ask questions about their faith? Not from Jesus.  Dozens of times (80 by one count) in the Bible, people ask Jesus questions.  He never rebukes the questioner; in fact each … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Church | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Sowing Seeds in Vienna

Backpacking alone through Europe  in 1985, I watched every penny – or pence, or lira, or pfennig – I spent.  The couple thousand dollars of savings I had left after I dropped out of Duke Law School and took off for Europe  had to … Continue reading

Posted in Christianity | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Pastoral Letter To an Abused Woman

Dear Child of God, First, and most important, the abuse is not your fault.  It doesn’t matter what you have done or haven’t done, the abuse is not your fault. Your abuser’s behavior is HIS responsibility.  HIS sin is between … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Fishing for Salmon . . . and Faith . . . In the Yemen

“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” is the new movie from director Lasse Hallstrom.  He’s made some excellent movies – “Chocolat,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” and “The Cider House Rules” are some of my favorites.  He also made “Dear John.”  Nobody’s … Continue reading

Posted in Arts and Culture, Christianity, Movies | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments