You too?

May 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

This summer I’m going to the reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg on its 150th anniversary. I am not a Civil War buff, though I do find it interesting. I’m going in place of my dad. My dad, Robert H. Fowler, Sr., was a Civil War Buff, published Civil War Times Illustrated magazine and wrote an award winning novel on the Civil War entitled Jim Mundy. He passed away 11 years ago. My 3 siblings and I grew up in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, not far from Gettysburg. Many weekends, my older … [Read More...]

Boot Against the Wall

May 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

I  was on a 6 pm flight from Memphis to Dallas several months ago. I had given several lectures at Memphis Theological Seminary. I had preached at their midweek Chapel service. I was physically and mentally fatigued.  It was a small American Eagle plane, the kind that has two seats on the right and one on the left and no first class. I had somehow gotten the best seat in the house! I was sitting in the first row on the right, in an aisle seat, the one that faces into a carpeted wall. I glanced … [Read More...]

Saying Nes and Saying Yo: Discernment and Indecision

May 6, 2013 By 1 Comment

“Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No.’; anything  more than this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37) Lately I’ve been … [Read More...]

“A Psalm for Boston?”

April 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

For a long time Psalm 121 has been one of my favorite psalms. I used to think the opening was lovely and inspiring “I lift up mine eyes unto the … [Read More...]

Really? You’re Not Taking Any Notes??

April 11, 2013 By 3 Comments

I don’t give exams in my Introduction to Preaching classes. But maybe I should start. I don’t give exams, but, instead, students are evaluated on … [Read More...]

My New Motto

April 9, 2013 By 3 Comments

Three occasions have arisen recently in which I have had to stand and deliver and, thank God, been able to do so. I am aware that the origins of … [Read More...]

How to Write a Pompous Letter

April 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

I get asked to write a lot of recommendation letters. Today I’m writing three of them. Perhaps because I have so many other things to do today, … [Read More...]

« Previous Posts

Harnessing the Darkness

March 20, 2013 By 4 Comments

As Easter approaches a lot of people are under the mistaken belief that being a Christian means living in a state of untroubled emotional bliss. They … [Read More...]

What Gives??

March 18, 2013 By 3 Comments

A pastor friend of mine told me the following story recently. About  ten years ago he was serving as a local pastor in Houston and owned a lake house … [Read More...]

Getting Our Story Straight

March 6, 2013 By 1 Comment

I am teaching a course on preaching and storytelling at Perkins School of Theology this spring. Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:30-4:20, 12 of us … [Read More...]

Condiments Don’t Make a Meal!

March 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

I heard a comedienne one time talking about the problem with her cooking.  She said she was all condiments and no entrées. Every night, as … [Read More...]

Have a Heart!

February 14, 2013 By 2 Comments

It’s Valentine’s Day and so my thoughts turn to hearts, understood as the inner impulses we offer to God and as the beating heart in each of our … [Read More...]