Giving Thanks in Difficult Days

The Thanksgiving weekend is past.  Today is “recovery” day.  Most in our nation will return to some version of normalcy.  For some, this Thanksgiving has been another traumatic holiday in a string of downturns and challenges.  Normal is full of trouble.  For others, the holiday was better than normal (or at least better than in …

It’s Sunday Again: Eucharist

Today it falls my responsibility to share some thoughts as the church surrounds the Table and shares communion.  Some churches call the occasion the Eucharist.  In churches of Christ (and most Protestant groups), We do not use the term Eucharist frequently, perhaps not at all formally. What is the Eucharist? What does the term mean?  …

Life Savors: Grandchildren

Our eldest son, Michael, and his family arrived yesterday afternoon for our weekend Thanksgiving celebration.  Having one’s home full of activity–laughter, playing, loving, sharing is a genuine “life savor”.  The end of the day feels different when the house is full of life. The Psalmist said children are a heritage from the Lord.  Blessed are …

Another Birthday!

Wall postings, Facebook, status comments, e-mail, e-cards, I-phones, snail mail….   None of these words or phrases existed for my early birthdays.  We live in a changing world. Dozens of birthday greetings, literally from around the world, mysteriously entering my electronic mailbox, many of them just after midnight!  To all who shared, thank you for your love and …

40 Days of Gratitude: My List

November 21–Salvation 22–God’s revelation—special and natural 23–The beauty of nature, God’s natural revelation 24–Relationship with God 25–The church 26–My heritage of faith and questioning 27–My family 28–Family—my wife 29–Family—my boys 30–Family—my mother December 1–Family—my sister 2–Friends [general] 3–Ministry friends 4–Leadership friends 5–Missions friends 6–Students I have taught through the years 7–My coworkers across the years …

It’s Sunday Again: 40 Days of Gratitude

Thanksgiving Sunday. Is it today or next Sunday? Next Sunday is part of the traditional Thanksgiving weekend. But during 40+ years of preaching ministry, I generally preached my Thanksgiving sermon the Sunday before Thanksgiving. By the Sunday after, most people have forgotten the holiday just past in favor of the holiday coming in less than …