He was a good husband. He loved his wife. He was loyal to her and provided for her. He was not only a good husband; he was a good man.  However, he was not a Christian. He made sure that his wife got to church regularly, but he had no interest in attending with her. A son was born. The father shared his name with his son. He shared his entire name with his son, not merely the last name. From the time “junior” was born until the day that “senior” died, their relationship was, in the best sense of the term, a mutual admiration society.  The father now made sure that both his wife and his…

How does someone who works in a germ factory (AKA an elementary school) get sick on spring break when away from the germ makers? I’m not sure, but I managed to do so last week. The first part of the week saw me spending more than my fair share of quality time with both my bed and my recliner. While much of that time was spent sound asleep, I was awake enough to think about two things I thought worthy of consideration: 1. Don’t wish for things without carefully considering the possible ramifications. When caught in the whirlwind of our “normal” life, I sometimes find myself wishing for some down…

A few of us are old enough and sophisticated enough remember that classic, very intellectual television show called “Hee-Haw.” For those who are not old enough to remember, “Hee-Haw” was neither class nor intellectual. One of the sets for the show was a corn field. That was most appropriate because the show was, indeed, very corny. If you do remember that show, you probably remember the recurring skit during which the following lyrics were sung: Gloom, despair, and agony on me Deep, dark depression, excessive misery If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all Gloom, despair, and agony on me. How often do you sing that song? If you’ve never…

Of all the descriptions found in the New Testament for the church, I suppose my favorite is that of a family. That image is the one I include in sermons more often than any other, and I think it is the easiest picture to relate to on the local, congregational level. The picture of the church as a family has many positive connotations. We think of times when we share memories. We think of laughing and crying together. We think of meals together and times when we just spend time together because we love each other deeply. It’s Not All Positive There is, however, another side of this image. Families…

It’s here! It’s finally here! My favorite season of the year is upon us: spring. I love all four seasons but there is something about spring that just makes me happy. The warm days after the biting cold of winter … The beautiful display of fresh colors as redbud trees, weeping willow trees, daffodils, and hyacinths bloom and bud … The freedom of my toes as they enjoy open air sandals … These all make me happy. I think one of the reasons I love spring so much is the realization of hope. While I love snow days with the most hopeful of students, there comes a point where the…