In one of the recent super-hero movies, several heroes team up to save the world. One of the more experienced heroes is advising a younger one who is finding the situation overwhelming. He says, “You don’t have to do it all. Just save one!” That is good advice in many situations. We can’t do it…
A wealthy man was out for a walk when he saw two men eating grass by the roadside. He asked them, “Why are you eating grass?” “We don’t have any money for food,” the men replied. “You can come to my house,” said the rich man. “But sir, I have a wife and two children…
After a very long and boring sermon, the parishioners filed out of the church saying nothing to the preacher. At the end of the line was a person who always commented on the sermons. “Pastor, today your sermon reminded me of the peace and love of God!” he said. The pastor was thrilled! “No-one has…
The answer to the above question is, “every month we are aware”. The official month to wear the black ribbon (or whatever color it might be) does not matter. What is important is that we pay attention to the attitudes we carry around about people who are mentally ill. This article could have started with…
That warning in Matthew 7:1 reminds us that we are not to make distinctions among the people we interact with. James 2:1-4 puts it this way: “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor…
Benjamin Franklin once said: “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” That quote often comes up in the context of new technology and concerns about government surveillance. But it fits many other situations as well. We Americans particularly value personal freedom. We seem to think that freedom…
A defendant in a lawsuit involving large sums of money was talking to his lawyer. “If I lose this case, I’ll be ruined.” “It’s in the judge’s hands now,” said the lawyer. “Would it help if I sent the judge a box of cigars?” “Oh no! This judge is a stickler for ethical behavior. A…
It has been said that, “Most people would be happy to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.” Unknown It’s true that we are called to follow God’s plans, but most of us have our own ideas about how that plan should be administered. We don’t like to be told what to do or…
When we talk about evangelism, it usually involves what to say and how to get people to listen to our faith stories. We want to convince them to want the wonderful Christian life we are experiencing. We want to tell all about how God’s love has impacted our lives, how Jesus died on the cross…
John Wesley is one of the founders of what came to be called the “Methodist” denomination. People erroneously thought Wesley’s followers were using a “method” to gain salvation rather than making a commitment to simply accept salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross. Wesley actually believed that it is not only essential for us to…