For the people of Good Shepherd Church and beyond we are beginning the day in the Word rather than in the world. In support of "The Fine Art Of Belly-Aching" series, we're starting each day this week in the book of James. As part of that project, I am giving daily...

I cry at odd movies, at scenes most other people don't find so traumatic. But anything having to do with fathers and sons or divorce or unexpected death . . . well, pass the kleenex, please. 5. Walk The Line. In this biopic of Johnny Cash there is a scene in which...

Yesterday's message ... Started a series based on a book many long-time church goers did not even know was in the biblical library -- Habakkuk; Explained that Habakkuk's genre is that of complaint or lament; Required some knowledge of the Babylonia siege and...

Have you noticed that when you ask someone, “how are you doing?” and they answer, “can’t complain,” that they’re REALLY telling you that if they COULD complain they sure WOULD? Complaining. Whining. Belly-Aching. Whatever you call it, a lot of us are good at it. In...

One of my favorite verses is Mark 9:24, where a father who has asked Jesus to heal his son has the honesty to say this: Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” I love it! I have faith and no faith. I trust and I don’t. I’m...

I know a preacher is in trouble whenever he or she says, “Webster’s defines ___________ as __________________.”  Why is a dictionary reference a sure-fire sermon killer? Because in preaching you should never define a word with more words. You define a word...

It's Wimbledon week which means I am both easily distracted and lacking in any objectivity. I want Roger Federer to win his ninth. Whenever he plays, I want him to win. I'm not alone in this. Will Skidelsky wrote a laugh-out-loud memoir called Federer And Me: A Story...

Think of all the things that get our double takes: Beautiful people. Sunsets on the beach. Sunrise on the beach. Mist rising from the mountains. The colors in a kaleidoscope. A city skyline at night. Beautiful people. And James throws in this line early in his...

I have recently realized that much of my bible reading is in order to prove a point.  If I am in a religious or political or cultural debate with someone, for example, then I'll just pull out my Scriptures, point out the relevant verses, and voila!  Point proven....

It's not too much of an exaggeration to say I cut my ministry teeth on hospital visitation. Whether it was Clinical Pastoral Education in seminary or a heavy dose of the "ministry of presence" during my time at Mt. Carmel UMC in Monroe and even now to a team of people...