Unity. It's all the rage.  For some.  And for those who accept a particular definition of unity. Unity is a good and blessed and needful thing.  It’s a gift accomplished by Christ (Ephesians 6) and something we’re commanded to preserve because it is a good that reflects the nature of God:  A Perfect Unity of Three Persons. My concern with this newfound emphasis on unity that we’re hearing a lot about is that it is more uniformity than unity. Uniformity ain’t a great thing; and even unity has its limits.  Don’t let even unity, as good as the right kind is, be the ..read more

I’m driving a loaner vehicle while some minor, but apparently complicated, repairs are performed on my vehicle. One of the annoying things about the loaner is that the radio comes on when you turn the ignition.  I don’t often listen to the radio, but this morning I focused on the also complicated task of backing out of my snow-narrowed driveway and didn’t pause to turn off the radio. The DJ’s were holding one of those morning conversations that are supposed to feel homey and friendly and watercooler-like.  The question they posed was about the NFL playoffs.  I continued to l ..read more

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. I have a tendency to do that sort of recriminative thinking a lot because I have a tendency to not do what I shoulda done a lot. I especially do it after sermons.  I think of all the things I woulda, coulda and definitely shoulda said.  If I could preach my after sermon sermon as my actual sermon, I’d be a decent preacher! In the case of this past Lord’s Day I’ve kept mulling the idea of living for the glory of God.  It is such a vast subject and we didn’t even scratch the surface. One of those well-known but we wish we didn't know it so well Bible ..read more

My home gym is in my basement, with an old portable radio/CD player purchased for $5 at Goodwill.  The CD player doesn’t work - so don’t be a hater when I tell you I was listening to the classic rock station as I went through my routine this morning.  It’s the only thing I can get, and I gotta get something! One of the songs that came on was “Glory Days” sung by Bruce Springsteen. In the song he bumps into an old high school buddy who was a talented baseball player “back in high school”.  They find a place to sit and visit and “all he kept talking about was glory days” – i.e ..read more

Imagine a scenario: You’re attending what we call “church”; Christ’s redeemed people gathered for worship in their appointed facility on a Lord’s Day morning.  A visitor comes in and you, knowing of Christ’s welcoming love for people, warmly greet that person.  In the midst of a brief conversation the visitor asks you to point out the minister of the congregation.  You say “Why that’s me!  I’m one of the ministers here.” Can you see yourself saying that?  You should feel so inclined to reply similarly to the above scenario. Remember Ephesians 4:  “Therefore ..read more

I’m grateful for many modern amenities and advances that have made life so much less unbearable. I’m not sure which one is the best of the blessings, or which one I’d be most loathe to lose.  Cars sure make getting about a lot faster, and typically a little less messy.  A.C. has made summer in the south survivable.  Medical advances have made many illnesses less deadly and more manageable. TV has made football more accessible.  PTL for that! We could debate the best of the blessings of the modern age.  But one simple source of joy stood out to me the other day: &nb ..read more

Lessons learned from my dogs Although vastly different critters humans and dogs live together in some harmony, typically.  It's clear that the Creator wired dogs to need humans, to flourish in the company, and under the leadership, of humans.  While I don't want to take my marching orders from mutts, there are things that strike me from time to time that are valuable lessons. They take their clues and cues from me.   If I'm upset, they're unsettled.  If I'm happy, they're calm and feel more secure.  Perhaps where my Master says, essentially, "I've got this; it ..read more

Maybe it’s like watching a train-wreck?   You know – they say you can’t turn away even though you’re horrified. Such is my fascination with politics these days.   It’s horrifying.  Ugly.  Degrading.  Depressing.   I feel dragged into the gutter, downright soiled, when I read people’s opinions on this position or that politician.  Yet I can’t seem to stop looking at the train-wreck. Don’t get me wrong: I think political involvement and therefore insight is important, essential, biblical and right.  I’m not saying we should eschew politics.  But ..read more

It sounds like the beginnings of a joke: What do you get when you ask a legally blind woman to cut your hair?  Answer:  my current “do”.   Being a bit cheap, and not being fond of my regular haircut salon in town, and not wanting to don my hazmat suit for a trim, I asked my wife to lower my ears.  Being a gracious, giving, good wife she consented; I fetched the clippers and took the chair outside; and she went to work. Maybe I should’ve accepted my haircut by faith and not by sight.  Instead I looked and discovered that things are ok until you get above my ..read more

Ed and Barb were bickering.   Not exactly unusual for them, they fell into that unholy habit a lot.  So raw were their continuously picked-at battle-scars from these incessant, internecine, verbal tussles that the goal was usually more to wound the other rather than resolve the dispute.  That often led to less than humble, gracious temporary truces in whatever was the latest spat.  After some verbal sparring, when the combatants realized it remained a draw and it was time to retire to their corners until the next round, neither was content to allow the other to get ..read more