In some area of life, should one choose to embrace the responsibility, we should all be demonstrating leadership. Whether a person’s life challenges them to lead something as great as a nation or whether they are called to take the lead in the direction of a small, private conversation, we Read more…
Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do when situations overwhelm us. Such is the case with the recent tragedy in Pittsburgh last weekend at the Tree of Life Synagogue. We can only imagine what horror the worshippers felt as events unfolded. It must have seemed both unreal and yet Read more…
The Psalms of Ascent are commonly called the Songs of Ascent. These 15 Psalms (Psalms 120-134) are traditionally believed to have been sung by Jewish pilgrims as they made their way of ascent to Jerusalem to celebrate the three pilgrim festivals required in Deuteronomy 16. These three holy days were Read more…
Last night Pam and I had the privilege of being invited to the Lincoln Day Dinner at the Jerome Hotel. I was asked to pray the invocation. It was an honor. I’ve tried to always go wherever I’m invited. I thought I’d post the prayer in this blog: Heavenly Father, Read more…
Heading up to the 4th of July, it would seem to many of us to be the most contentious Independence Day we’ve seen in our lifetime. Though that might be true, it was not as troublesome and perplexing as the 4th of July of 1863. In hindsight, that July 4th Read more…
Every year Memorial Day holds special meaning for our household. We purchased online the original Associated Press photograph published in every American newspaper announcing the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The photo still has the original typewriter-produced descriptive note from the photographer taped to the back. Why Read more…
There might be some competition for the question I’m most often asked, and I’ve had a lot of questions asked of me during the last 25 years. The competing question would probably be, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” We could look at the answer to that in Read more…
On a recent trip to the United Kingdom, Pam and I were able to take a few extra days for some personal time. We were already in Scotland and knew that our hearts were being drawn to the Isle of Lewis off the Northwest coast of Scotland. After traveling through Read more…
Arriving at the church recently you might have noticed another change. Something I had visualized a long time ago finally became a reality. I had mentioned to some people around me that I hoped someday to have three flagpoles in front of the sanctuary. Some who heard me never forgot Read more…
Does it seem to you that every time you’re focusing on some aspect or truth about God it suddenly seems to become relevant to the headlines in the news? Recently an ex-staff member of the Trump administration declared how scary it is that Vice President Pence believes that Jesus speaks Read more…