Stepping out into 2004 (01/16/04)
I've had the following piece in my file for a long time, and I feel it's an appropriate thought as we step out into a brand new year. If we could approach every day with this attitude, what a year 2004 would be! You may already be acquainted with this, because I'm sure it has made the e-mail circuit. It just sounds like something others would like to pass on. So, I'm passing it along to you...

The Drama of Christmas--Part 6 (01/09/04)
During the weeks leading up to and following Christmas, I have shared with you some insights concerning the various characters in the "Great Drama of Redemption," as it has been referred to by one biblical scholar. As you may recall, we took a look at King Herod, then I shared some unusual perspectives on Joseph and later suggested that Mary should get the award for "the best supporting actress."...

Seed success (11/14/03)
Many churches have financial drives in the fall to underwrite their budgets for the upcoming year. We do this at First Christian Church. With this in mind, I want to share some stewardship (giving) thoughts with you in the next couple weeks. I hope you find some of these ideas helpful. The following is one of Jesus' parables as recorded in Luke 12:15-21:...

(10/31/03)
Justification -- Part I Last week in my column, I shared some ideas about the Pharisee in Jesus' parable found in Luke 18:9-14. Today, I want to turn our attention to the tax collector in that same parable. The J. B. Phillips translation of this parable said the man "stood in a distant corner, scarcely daring to look up to heaven and with a gesture of despair prayed, 'God, have mercy on a sinner like me.'"...