Monday, December 01, 2008
We had an abbreviated staff meeting this morning. I then immediately went into a meeting that lasted over six hours. I don’t mind meetings. Being a people person, I could sit in a room and blab incessantly with folks for hours. I love conversation.
When I leave the room to go to the restroom, I tell everyone not to say one interesting thing while I’m gone. I don’t want to miss one nanosecond of a discussion. If I’m chatting with folks late at night (about 8 p.m. or so), and I start to doze...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I trust you did too. On Thanksgiving Day, near St. Louis, I paid $1.44 per gallon for gasoline. I felt I was robbing the gas station. For my first few miles back on the interstate I kept thinking blue lights would start flashing in my rearview window any second, and a policeman would haul me off to jail for thievery.
When we arrived home Thanksgiving night, Jake and Millie were scratching the back door. Ruth gave them a beggin strip and said, “You...
Saturday, November 29, 2008
I spent time this weekend with my sister Esther and her chihuahua Tootsie Roll, a piece of work for sure. Tootsie is smaller than a football. I call her ilk nervous dogs, for obvious reasons.
Tootsie is 14 years old, sleeps most of the time, and has a lot of grey hairs. I thought her hair had always been that way, but Esther corrected me. She says dog hairs turn grey with age just like human hairs do. Wow. I didn’t know that.
Tootsie is nearly deaf; Esther claps her hands real loud...
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
As is our annual custom, we had our local family Thanksgiving Monday night. This lets all our family go to in-laws and others’ homes on Thanksgiving Day.
Ruth came in from the grocery store loaded down with food Monday afternoon. I was helping her put away the goodies when I stopped in my tracks. There it was–the biggest bag of dog food bacon treats I had ever seen. Stunned, I said, “Ruth, what are you thinking?” She coolly replied, “We’re having good food for Thanksgiving. Jake and Millie...
Sunday, November 23, 2008
I felt good about the 11:00 sermon today, but I was reminded again that a contemporary service is more than its components parts. It has an atmosphere, an ambience all its own. It is a freer, more laid back environment than what I exude. Having been in the contemporary service for three months helped me today. Maybe I will do even better after a few more months in the service. I've been in the same preaching groove for a long time. I think the Lord may be trying to teach this old dog some...
Sunday, November 23, 2008
I’m a nervous wreck. You would think I was about to preach a trial sermon. I like my two comfortable blended services, where everyone knows me and loves me. The contemporary service will stretch me.
I asked my Pastor/friend Wes Hammonds to be praying for me. He sent this prayer by text message. “Father, Your Word is timeless, and contemporary from generation to generation. Bring it to life through us, Your preachers, Your servants. Speak, Lord. Amen.” Amen indeed.
Are texted prayers...
Friday, November 21, 2008
Last night Ruth and babysat our three youngest grandchildren. What a hoot! I was in the kitchen when three-year-old Ian said, “Where are my Marlboros?” I ignored him, thinking I surely had misheard. But a few seconds later he said, “Someone got my Marlboros!”
Cigarettes and cancer flashed across my mind. Children are learning things too early these days. Do I need to start teaching my grandson about the dangers of nicotine when he’s only three? I trudged into the living room, dreading what...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Yesterday I talked about Dear. Today let’s discuss deer. My son and grandson Caleb left this morning to hunt deer in Northwest Missouri with Ruth’s brother. They were excited, yea giddy, about it this morning. For 5 seconds they made me wish I could go with them. Then I stepped out the front door to walk to church. I thought I would freeze to death before I made it to my office. Sanity returned. All craziness about going deer hunting flew out the window.
Our college minister, Daniel Hood,...
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
My children asked me to do a blog about their mom. I’m glad to oblige. I could write all day about her, but what instigated their recent impulse is the way Ruth greets the special needs bus every morning when it comes to pick up Sam. Ruth has befriended a hearing-impaired girl who sits on the front row of the bus. Every day Ruth gives her in sign language the “I love you” sign. Often Ruth puts her hand against the outside of the window and gives the sign. The little girl puts her hand on the...
Sunday, November 16, 2008
My sermon topic this morning is the depravity of man. What!??! No one deals with that subject anymore. It’s politically incorrect to do so. This is one advantage (some say disadvantage) of preaching through books of the Bible verse by verse. If you try to skip verses, people in the pew call you on it. Therefore, once you commit to expository preaching, you have to preach what the Bible says, not what your own current pet subjects happen to be.
I vividly remember as a young preacher wanting...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
I need a life-coach, someone who can make sense of life’s chaos. This morning I stepped in it. You know what I mean. I was in the backyard helping my son. All was well until I got in the van. First I smelled it. Then I remembered I was driving Ruth’s vehicle. I hit the brakes (bad idea). Oh man, it was a mess (pardon the pun).
Those expensive tennis shoes with all the ridges on the bottom–they are hard to clean. I rubbed in the grass, wiped with napkins from the glove box, used a stick. It...
Friday, November 14, 2008
Last night was wonderful. I love Southern Gospel music. In Heaven, I’m going to sing in the Southern Gospel choir. There will be 144,000 sopranos, 144,000 altos, 144,000 basses, and me singing tenor. After living a lifetime as a dime-a-dozen baritone, when I get to Heaven I’m going to let it rip.
Even with 432,000 other singers in the choir, I’m going to out-sing the whole lot of them. They’ll have to put microphones on them for them to even have a chance at keeping up with me. Did I...
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I am praying for Jake and Millie’s continued health. My grandson told me this morning he would like to have a Great Dane someday. I don’t know for sure how big Great Danes grow, but I don’t want to find out by experience. It seems to me an animal that big could be dangerous, not to mention expensive to maintain.
Our Senior Adult banquet is tonight. I enjoy hanging out with older folks. Being one helps. I had all four of my grandparents till I was 28 years old. They instilled in me a deep...
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
I made deer meat chili last night. Ruth laid out all the ingredients for me, but I browned the meat, opened the cans and chili mix, plus mixed everything in the crock-pot and turned it on. By myself. It was so good that I had a big bowl of it for breakfast this morning. I’m off to a flying start.
Oops. My bad. I said Mom and Dad had the record for the longest marriage in the family. Not true. I stand corrected. Aunt Maggie and Uncle Bud made it 62 years. When Mom and Dad corrected me, I...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, World War I ended, ninety years ago today. My mom and dad married on the thirtieth anniversary of Armistice Day, sixty years ago today. I think this gives them the marriage longevity award for any couple on either side of their families. Several have made it past the golden anniversary mark, but I think Mom and Dad are the first to make it to sixty.
What a blessing they are to me. Sitting in their living room, and visiting...
Monday, November 10, 2008
Two ministers were arrested this weekend in Jerusalem at the traditional site of Jesus’ tomb, where six Christian sects divide control of the ancient church. The clergymen were arguing over who should or should not be allowed in a processional. Israeli police rushed the church, arrested the men, and holding assault rifles and equipped with riot gear, stood beside Golgotha, where Jesus is said to have been crucified.
The Prince of Peace’s followers war a lot in this church. Plans for a fire...
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Church was a blessing this morning. I went with fear and trepidation, very uncomfortable with my manuscript. There were four places in it where I didn’t know for sure how to precisely express what I wanted to say.
I text messaged one of my preacher friends before church and told him my dilemma. He reminded me the sermons we think are the worst often turn out to be a blessing because we find ourselves leaning totally on the Lord to provide. I think that’s what happened at Second this...
Saturday, November 08, 2008
I went to a church-breakfast this morning with Rebekah’s family. After lunch I saw John and his two boys playing on the playground at church. Ruth is in the preschool wing working on curriculum. I’m in my office. There’s a huge amount of symbolism in all this. Church is our life. That’s the way it is with preachers. We live, sleep, eat, and breathe the Lord’s work. Dad often says, “Jesus is the best boss I ever served.” I agree. It’s good to be His employee.
My sermon manuscript for...