This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” [Psalm 118:24] What did you do Saturday? It was an extra day. Leap Day. Inserted at the end of February every fourth year. That makes it special. My brother-in-law was born on that day in...
I thought I’d take time to reflect on that crucial element of Christian worship: the sermon. In a sermon recently I recalled that we were taught in the seminary that there should be one hour’s preparation for every minute of preaching. Boy, did that get some some responses!...
For the last 12 years, Good Shepherd has been supporting Mission India, lately its Adult Literacy Program, which teaches mostly Indian women how to read and write. Recently, we received a report on how one life was affected. I thought I should share it with you to show how our money is...
Few routine activities in life require as much diplomacy, patience, grace, and deliberate silence as taking care of a shared check at a restaurant with a large group of friends. If handled right, it’s a transaction no one thinks twice about; if not, even the best of meals winds up...
It’s July. I’m in Florida. Outside it’s 95° with an equivalent number registering the humidity. I’m sitting in my sister-in-law’s air-conditioned condo working on a Newsletter article for the next month. Which means I’m easily distracted. They have a...
“One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong spoke those words on July 20, 1969, when he became the first person to walk on the moon. As I write this, there’s a lot of hoopla remembering that event 50 years ago. I was barely a teenager, but I...
Criticism. We’ve all had to deal with it at one time or another. Sometimes it’s unjust; or worse, said about us and we’re not even aware of it. However, that’s less likely than we tend to think. Most of us are pretty good at sensing criticism—even where it’s...
Something is making it hard for me to lose weight. I’ve got a FitBit, and virtually every day I’ve surpassed my 10,000 step goal. I’m drinking more water and eating salads. I’ve cut down on second helpings, too. But all I have to show for my efforts is a lost of two...
Whenever we go on vacation, I usually enjoy two trips: the one we actually experience, and the one I plan beforehand. Most of the time they are quite different; but I do, truthfully, enjoy both. In planning, I scout out possible lodgings, things to do, places to see—often down to...
The other day a young father I know narrowly averted a family crisis. His daughter had lost her first tooth, and dutifully putting it in an envelope, she placed it under her pillow. Then she went to sleep knowing with the certainty of childhood faith that sometime during the night the Tooth...