I wonder what the implication is when someone says they are doing volunteer work or donating money or helping someone directly because they want to “give back.” Is the implication that they have taken something and want to give back some of it or all of it or is it that they have been given […]
Famous and not so famous quotes about faith, doubt, and certainty abound, but I believe this phrase which came to my mind while I was on a bicycle ride last evening may be original. Faith and doubt walk hand in hand. Faith and certainty are perfect strangers and have no need of each other. If not, I apologize […]
I often recall seemingly random acts of selfishness when I reflect back on my life. It’s unfortunate, but true. Oh, there is much to rejoice about and be thankful for and I’ve been a good guy from time to time, but there are those troublesome bad things, the unkind word, the ethical mistake, the moment […]
OK, I’m a grouch, but I just don’t like the general idea of pride. It is so self-focused. It seems to me that a much more desirable response to good things is thankfulness. It’s related to that self esteem movement that has become so popular, and I don’t like self esteem either. (Since the implication […]
One of the courses I took at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary was Dr. Daryl (Tony) Everett’s Conflict In The Church. It might have been better titled Conflict in the Congregation beause it was designed for fourth year Master of Divinity students getting ready for their first pastoral assignments. Dr. Everett has assisted many congregations during difficult and stressful times […]
Congaree River looking north from the Blossom Street Bridge, Columbia, SC. We live at the east end of the Gervais Street Bridge seen in the distance. Rivers have always had an emotional hold on me. Maybe it started when I was a kid in an old wooden boat on river shoals during the night with my […]
In the fall of 2003, I took Dr. Monte Luker’s course in Old Testament Theology at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. The notebook full of my notes and work from the course is lined up with about twenty similar compilations on a shelf above my desk. I have found it useful once in a while to […]
A few months ago I attended a funeral at a suburban Presbyterian Church and noticed something in their printed order of worship which I found to be very funny and thought provoking. In their bulletin, the instruction, “Stand,” is always followed by, “as you are able.” Now, I am completely used to seeing those same […]
Quite a bit has been written, pro and con, about Brit Hume’s public recommendation to Tiger Woods that he take advantage of the forgiveness and redemption available through faith in Jesus Christ as a route to starting over. Some have objected to his use of the airwaves to make such a personal statement, to the […]
Many Christians are upset over endorsement of homosexual behavior in some Churches. Some of us argue that the problem is that endorsement is a positive judgment that goes beyond (violates) Jesus’ warning against judging, but I suspect it is often just a case of seeing specks in the eyes of neighbors while ignoring the logs […]