A lot of the books I have were gifts because I was "just starting" as a minister. A few weeks ago I had thought about how that doesn't happen often anymore. Most people know I made it through school and that I've been at this for a little while now.  Well, last week I received these as a gift from a retired pastor! Now, I've made a couple of pilgrimages to Cokesbury (which you know is closing, right?) in the last couple of weeks.  So,...

What you may not know is that this is something most pastors do right before we leave the office for the worship service. ++If you're reading by email or news reader, click here to watch the video....

Face it.  Thanksgiving is the middle child of holidays. People make a great fuss about Halloween.  Of course they do; it's the first-born.  First-borns make us "parents for the first time."  It's likely you've wrapped that statement in a prayer for your first-born.  You were teary-eyed when you said it, too.  Your other children all but wonder why you didn't affirm that obvious piece of information about them.  After all,...

Would it comfort you to know that I wrote these short words days before the results of last night's election? I hope it does because I did so on purpose. For a variety of reasons, I tend not to share my political leanings. One of the advantages I feel I have is that I can offer a perspective that you can take as being thoughtful and, as best I'm able to, free from the usual tone of "my side vs your side" politics. Besides, I'm not convinced most people want...

If my kids were regular readers of this blog, I can guarantee you this would be their favorite post.  Truth be told, I think it's almost one of mine. I've thought before about how I want "to go."  Call it what you want: kick the bucket; taking a dirt nap; going to the big whatever in the sky.  I bet you've given it some thought, too. Of all the ways I have ever imagined I might bite the big one, this is one scenario that I'm sure wouldn't...