Raising the Bar
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Matthew 5:21-30
I Thessalonians 4:1-10
Talk about raising the bar, I found this true story online where the author says: “Last weekend, a group of my friends were waiting in line for a concert in the city. My girlfriend excitedly started pointing at a hotel a few blocks away; ‘Look at the top of that building! I think that’s an indoor pool on the top […]
Strengthen What Remains
Ephesians 1:15-23
Revelation 3:1-6
In the old days, about the only method used to bring about what we today call ‘church revitalization’ was the old fashioned revival.
In one town, three churches sponsored a joint revival. After it was over, the three pastors met for coffee to discuss the results.
The Methodist pastor said, “The revival worked out great for us! We gained four new […]
I Beg to Differ
Isaiah 9:2, 6
Matthew 1:18-23
A lady named Mary Northrup reports that she was in labor for 23 hours for the birth of her first child. 23 hours of labor is not that unusual. I am sure that some of you gals sitting here could top that. What made Mary’s circumstance noteworthy was that Mary’s husband, Mark, presented her with a 2-foot tall trophy inscribed with the words, “For a championship delivery; thank you. Love, Mark.”
I doubt that Joseph could afford a trophy for his betrothed wife, Mary, but he gave […]
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Isaiah 9:1-7
Matthew 2:1-16
The familiar Christmas carol God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is one of the oldest that exists, going back to at least the 16th century, if not earlier. Five hundred years of changing language use
Many people today miss the meaning of the first line because they misplace the comma, thinking the title should […]
Meekness and Majesty
John 1:1-18
Philippians 2:5-11
I recall many years ago, packing the kids in the car and setting out for Lima, Ohio where my Nana was still living in her home at 654 Ewing Avenue. When we got to Findlay, we stopped at Burger King for a Whopper. After we chowed down on those flame-broiled delights, we hit the road heading […]
Season of Surprise
Luke 1:5-17
Matthew 1:18-23
Unexpected surprises often have a way of interfering with our Christmas expectations.
77 years ago Friday, people across this great land were preparing for Christmas in all the familiar and expected ways when suddenly something very unexpected happened. Many people were disappointed with Christmas of 1941. My own father was 14 years old on that ‘day of infamy’ when the […]
Face to Face
Jeremiah 31:31-33
Luke 1:26-38
Galatians 4:4-7
An online dating service interviewed 3,000 of its members to find out what the most annoying clichés are that people put in their profiles. The winners were, Biggest Clichés Women Use in Profiles: “No liars or game players!” “This isn’t enough space to sum up my life” followed by a long summation. Biggest Clichés Men Use in Profiles: […]
Being Thankful Revisited
Luke 17:11-19
I Thessalonians 5:14-18
In Making Grateful Kids, psychologist Jeffey Froh summarizes his team’s research on the benefits of gratitude among adolescents:
We’ve found that grateful young adolescents (ages 11-13), compared to their less grateful counterparts, are happier; are more optimistic; have better social support from friends and family; are more satisfied with their school, family, community, friends, and themselves; and give more emotional support to others. They’re also […]
I Thank God for You
Ephesians 1:15-23
1 Corinthians 1:4-5
Asked to write a composition entitled, What I am thankful for on Thanksgiving, little Johnny wrote, “I am thankful that I’m not a turkey.”
Shawn Achor, a psychologist who teaches at Harvard, suggests that we can train our brains to become more grateful by setting aside just five minutes a day for practicing gratitude. He cites a study in which […]
Not As They Should Be
Genesis 1:1, 31
Romans 8:18-24
Revelation 21:1-7
Things are not always as they should be.
A young couple had been experiencing what they thought were major problems with their
All the Saints Salute You!
II Corinthians 1:1-2, 13:11-14
Hebrews 11 (selected)
Hebrews 12:1-2
How many saints are with us today?
One of the great 19th century preachers was a Scottish Presbyterian, Alexander Whyte, a much loved and respected pastor but who had a good sense of who he was. One day a lovely lady in his congregation came to his office and said, “Dr. Whyte, I just love being […]
The Great Wager
Job 1:6-12, 2:1-10, 42:1-6
Hebrews 10:32-39
Sometimes it’s all about perspective.
A woman was exploring the waiting room at her first appointment with a new dentist when she noticed his full name on his diploma. Suddenly she remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in her high school class so many years ago. Could this be the same guy I […]