Forty years ago this year, Anne Fremantle wrote a book entitled, “Saints Alive.” In it, she traced the lives of what she called, “Thirteen Heroic Saints.” Included were such heroes of the faith as Augustine, Francis of Assisi, Therese of Lisieux, Benedict, Helena and eight others. Behind her book was...

You don’t have to read very far in the gospel stories of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John before discovering that women played an important part in Jesus’ ministry. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, was a central figure in the announcement of the birth of Christ. Mary, the Mother...

In the 19th chapter of Matthew, there is a penetrating scene. Jesus had been engaged in a debate on family values, when all of a sudden some parents showed up with their children in the hope that Jesus might pray for them and bless them. The Disciples, thinking that Jesus...

Each year, I enjoy reading the “Mindset List” for the new class of college freshmen. The “Mindset List” was created by Tom McBride and Ron Nief at Beloit College in 1998. The list was meant to reflect the world view of entering first year students and to help faculty understand...

This Sunday we will be celebrating World Communion Sunday. Christians all around the globe will be eating the bread and drinking the cup of salvation. As a friend of mine once put it, “On this Sunday, the communion table is 25,000 miles wide.” I have enjoyed the privilege of visiting the...

In the sixth chapter of Isaiah, there is a powerful scene. A young man sitting in the Temple suddenly becomes consciously aware of God’s presence. It is a humbling moment for him. He feels his own inadequacy, yet strangely enough, he senses God’s ability to overcome his inadequacy. Then suddenly it happens. He hears...

The time has finally arrived. For the first time this Sunday, we will hear our new organ as a congregation! Though a small part of the organ is still incomplete, the vast majority is at our disposal (more than 80 of the 100 ranks), and the rest will be available...

Have you ever been in a hurricane? Maybe so. I know I have. I was ten years old at the time and lived in South Florida. Hurricane Cleo hit us head on. It had already passed through the Caribbean, leaving wreckage in its wake in such places as Barbados, the...

This Sunday morning, the church is presenting our third graders with a Bible. Each year, when we give Bibles to these young people, I write a note to each one of them. I always share the same message, paraphrasing a passage from Psalm 119. The verse reads, “Your word is...

Occasionally, someone will ask me how I became a minister. I usually reply, “I was called into it.” That often leads to a longer conversation about how Christ called me into the ministry. I have learned how to describe that call in about five minutes, but I will briefly tell...