It’s mighty tempting to forget that God rules the world and we do not. Instead of praising God and giving thanks to the Lord for the merciful, loving order that he brings to Creation, human inclination – more often than not – is to pat ourselves on the back for being so great, and toContinue reading “Walking a Tightrope”
Author Archives: First Presbyterian Church
Funeral meditation: What’s in a Name?
One of the occupational hazards of being a pastor is sometimes only getting to “meet” people in death. And so it goes with Kenny and me. Due to his death, I’m just now coming to know who Kenny was and what he was all about. And that saddens me. Because I’ve come to realize something that all of you already know: Kenny was one mighty special guy who made a difference in the lives of many others.
A Raw Deal
In January of 2004, the carcass of a dead, 56-foot-long whale washed up on a beach along the southwestern coast of Taiwan. The decaying remains lay on the sand for two weeks until authorities finally decided to haul the dead whale to a lab for an autopsy. According to news reports, it took 50 workersContinue reading “A Raw Deal”
Circle of Life
In the early 1900s, a London newspaper asked the great thinkers of the day to write essays on the subject “What’s Wrong with the World?” One of the people invited to submit an essay was Christian writer G.K. Chesterton, an author known for his deep insight and sharp wit. In response to the newspaper’s request,Continue reading “Circle of Life”
Chew on This
The Old Testament’s book of Psalms is a collection of poems and songs written and composed centuries before Jesus came to earth. The 150 psalms in the eclectic collection served as the first hymnal for God’s people. And their lyrics intend to encourage two vital aspects of faith and belief. First, the psalms proclaim aContinue reading “Chew on This”
What the Spirit Ignites
Some of the Bible’s most intriguing and inspiring stories describe events or phenomena that are exceptional and unprecedented. In those-remarkable-but rare instances, God’s Holy Spirit in Christ is uniquely present, and like a match set to a pack of firecrackers, the Spirit sparks a chain reaction of explosions that inspire awe and wonder. Our ScriptureContinue reading “What the Spirit Ignites”
Dem Dry Bones
Breathtaking only begins to describe two of the images associated with the Holy Spirit – a mighty, rushing wind and dancing tongues of fire. Those jaw-dropping, heart-stopping manifestations that burst onto the scene when the Spirit comes upon the Lord’s disciples at Pentecost are anchored with deep scriptural roots.
Change of Plans
Deciding what to do and making plans to get things done are daily chores for everyone. Sometimes, the decision-making is easy, and the plans are straight-forward. But, if I went around the room and asked, I’d bet you dollars to doughnuts that each of you once struggled with a weighty decision in your personal or family life, and that some of you currently are struggling to put together the puzzle pieces of a complicated plan intended to get you from point A to point B.
A Prayer for Mother’s Day
Pastor Grant shared this prayer during worship on Mother’s Day, 2021, to honor and remember all the women who have blessed our lives: Thank you, gracious God, for revealing your love in so many magnificent ways, and this day in particular, we pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women who haveContinue reading “A Prayer for Mother’s Day”
Woe is me!
How profoundly sad and utterly hopeless Micah must be! Apparently, when he first puts pen to paper, Micah has got nowhere to turn, no one to trust, no good options from which to choose. I’ve been there, felt that, too. That’s why I appreciate Micah’s forlorn words. I can relate to what he’s saying. Over the years, I’ve experienced mistreatment and betrayal, endured emptiness and insecurity, fumbled around aimlessly in darkness and hopelessness.