Today, I had a locksmith come and change the locks on the house my parents designed and built and lived in for the last 26 years. As of next week, it is rented. For the first time in this house’s existence, non-members of the Thomas clan will live there. The renters are good friends, and it is a gift to both of us that this worked out. She and her family will find gracious living there. I won’t have to... Read more
I’m working of the message of the sheep and goats where, at the end, many people are surprised to find themselves as either one. The sheep, of course, are those who offered drink, food, clothing, hospitality and compassion to Jesus by offering to those around them. Those classified as the goats did not. As I was pondering these words, dealing with multiple phone calls and an onrush of urgent emails, watching as the church secretary popped in and out with... Read more
This morning, I sat down to read and pray a bit. At our Wednesday Bible study on “The Sufficiency of God” I’ve asked everyone to read daily Psalm 103 and then to add to that this week the eighth chapter of Romans. I love those first words there: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” They come as such welcome relief after the downer of Romans 7 where the writer speaks eloquently of being... Read more
After the storms last night, this story showed up in my email this morning and I though it was worth posting: “Oh, no!” he gasped as he surveyed the disaster before him. Never in his 50 years of life had he seen anything like it. How anyone could have survived he did not know. He could only hope that somewhere amid the overwhelming destruction he would find his 16-year-old son. Only the slim hope of finding Danny kept him from... Read more
When does accountability turn into oppression? I’ve been asking this question as I see the legitimate call for accountability for all who hold positions of public responsibility rapidly morph into a “Big Brother is Watching You” mentality. The electronic world makes this horrifically possible, as the disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner knows only too well. Privacy has become a rare commodity. Human nature, however, has changed not at all. Students of history know that immoral sexual predators have been haunting seats... Read more
I just read a great list of ten pastoral essentials on another site. I won’t quote them all here, but have copied a couple of the ones that hit me the hardest: I will only have as much spiritual authority as I am willing to submit to myself. Independence will destroy me, but there is power in submission. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. Challenge people to go deeper even when the message is unpopular. Spiritual authority... Read more
I garden for a lot of reasons. Good exercise, joy of seeing things grow, a heritage from both sets of grandparents–the green thumb skipped everyone else and invaded only my genetic make-up, it seems. But mostly, I garden because it keeps me humble. Green thumb or not, I am actually not all that good a gardener. I’ve just spent this hot morning in the vegetable garden ripping out tomato plans and bean vines. Really awful results. I did get some... Read more
Could it be that the Dallas Mavericks victory over the Miami Heat and the winning of the NBA title shows us something about the kingdom of heaven? I think so. Consider these words, spoken by Jesus, “God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidently found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic – what a find! – and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.” Well, the... Read more
A very good friend wrote this to me today: I never thought I would survive the day when my mother passed away, but I have seen it, and I am still here. I keep wanting to go home and find her there. I can’t though, for she is everywhere. There is a quiet wellspring of inner strength, a deep reservoir of life. Even in the face of death it remains, it supplies, it cannot hear cries of emptiness for it knows... Read more
I received an email this afternoon containing these words: It was beautiful, the most moving and meaningful church service ever. I will remember it always. You taught us with a loving touch about the most special day of the year. It transcends all, your elegant message making the call to understand it God was a deliverer today. Healings and joys and the hopefulness of special requests. He delivered himself through you, as you sat patiently on your front porch, waiting, waiting for him to speak. ... Read more
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