Childhood has never been easy and parents always face complex tasks. For most of history, it was important for families to produce as many children as possible in order to have an adequate labor pool. Early years were rarely some sort of innocent time of play and joy, but were preparation to begin to work along adults as soon as possible. Children brought in the crops, cared for the animals, worked in sweatshops or did whatever else deemed necessary for... Read more
According to this article, found in the British Newspaper, The Telegraph.co.uk, extramarital sex causes earthquakes in Iran. I’m not kidding. Here’s the quote: Attractive women who snub traditional Islamic clothing to instead wear fashionable clothes and apply heavy make-up, caused youths in the country to “go astray” and have affairs, Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi said. The hard-line cleric said as a result the country, bounded by several fault lines, experienced more “calamities” such as earthquakes, the reformist Aftab-e Yazd newspaper reported... Read more
Grounded–that’s been the word for many European passengers who had booked airline flights in the last week. As of right now, some of the flight restrictions have been lifted, but no one really knows what will happen in the next hour–or days. The last time this particular volcano in Iceland erupted, it kept spewing ash for eight months. Nature trumps all human plans. Shortly after all the flights were grounded last week, my oldest son, who lives in London, phoned.... Read more
I often wonder why on Easter morning the world can’t find peace. Of course, there are different calendars for dating Easter, so different traditions celebrate it on different days, but I don’t think it would be all that bad to have more than one day of real peace. But we don’t and we won’t because war is easier and habitual and it gives us an excuse to hide and cheat and deceive–both others and ourselves. As this particular Easter approaches,... Read more
“Easter is busier for pastors than Christmas?” So commented an astonished friend recently when I mentioned that I had a summons for jury duty during the busiest week of the year for me. Yes, Easter is busier. As important as Christmas is, without Easter, nothing else really matters. It took me a long time to figure this out. As a child and young adult, Easter was the day for special dressing up. It also meant an extra day off from... Read more
On Saturday, I will be officiating at the funeral of Ron Sides, church member, community leader, husband, father, grandfather, motorcycle rider, and good friend to many, including me. Just five weeks so, we buried his lovely wife, Martha. Several times in the last few days, I have thought and said, “How am I going to be able to preach this funeral?” Ron was one of the first to offer friendship to me when I came to Krum not quite four... Read more
We’re about a third of the way through the season of Lent. The roots of the fast should be beginning to form, possibly even a few green shoots coming up now as we use this time for good self-examination, the development of holy habits, and the continuation of our observance of our chosen fast. I often speak and write in gardening metaphors because I think the process of gardening gives good insight in the way God works in our lives.... Read more
So, how’s it going? For all who decided to observe the church season of Lent this year with a fast of some sort, here is the question: How are you doing with it? If you chose to fast from something that had made its way deep into your soul and daily habits, you should be encountering some significant trouble with it by now. The first few days tend to be fairly easy–a determination to honor the vow made before God... Read more
Wednesday, February 17, 2010, marked the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. It is that yearly time when those Christians who observe the liturgical year take an intentional and honest look at their hearts and the state of their relationship with God. For some years now, I’ve seen this time as a place to do a thorough cleaning out. Like an old-fashioned “spring cleaning,” it is a splendid and specified period to take a thorough spiritual inventory. With that... Read more
This column is titled, “A Pastor’s Thoughts” and for nearly four years now, I’ve written weekly about some of the things bouncing around in my brain as I live my life as pastor. Today, my thoughts have settled on death and funerals and loss. Last week, Martha Sides died. Martha left her elegant and purposeful mark all over Krum, and all over this church that she loved and served so well. From shrubs planted near the front door to furniture... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In