Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
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I have probably mentioned before in this space that I am a competitive guy. While I can handle losing, I would much prefer to be the victor in any type of game or contest. I have loved competition from an early age. My older brother and I would play versions of Wiffle Ball, street hockey (in the basement), football, and Frisbee tossing and keep track of who was the best. As a youth pastor, I loved opportunities to win while playing Foursquare, volleyball, Ultimate, Plungerball, Gaga Ball, Dutch Blitz, and more. If you do not know what all of...
In general, I consider myself to be a positive person. I recently had an older gentleman from church tell me how he’s always happy to see me because I have a smile on my face all the time. But I have caught myself at times looking in my rearview mirror and seeing that my default expression is not really a smile but a frown. Even when I’m not thinking negatively or am sad about anything, my lips are curled downward. And although I would like to think I’m a “glass half full” kind of thinker the reality is sometimes the glass seems half empty. On...
Once again, I have an opportunity to be part of a community theater production. It’s been a good time getting to know new people and getting reacquainted with old friends. Most of them do not have a church connection. The biggest challenge is memorization since I have more lines this time around. Hopefully I will get them down when the lights come on. This play is all about family. Although it is a comedy, there are various themes that makes me think about the connection with family and the Christian walk. There is an engaged couple dealing w...
Yesterday I visited an older gentleman who admitted he has trouble throwing things away. He is a collector who specializes in train and railroad items. He has a whole building to store his collection. At one point he owned three actual railroad cars. I brought him a few little things from a thrift store to add to his treasure trove. He did not turn them down. He knows the Lord and states that it’s a good thing we “can’t take it with us” because he would have to have a very big U-Haul. As a young guy I collected baseball cards. Some of them ar...
I have told many people that the older I get the less I enjoy the cold weather and the wintertime. Like most children, I used to enjoy building snowmen, having snowball fights and sled riding. As a young teenager I spent many weekend afternoons playing hockey on the frozen pond. In my 20s I learned to ski and loved the thrill of flying down the slopes. The cold temperatures did not use to bother me much. They do now. It is no wonder that my retired brother and so many like him end up going south for at least part of the winter. Maybe the day...
I am writing this column on my birthday. There are other things that I would rather be doing on my “big day”, but the reality of a busy schedule means that this is the day to complete the task. You must have been counting on it because you are reading these words. Unless you have an early January date of birth also, you will experience a birthday in 2024. As we age, they sure seem to come and go quickly. If family members were to put the corresponding number of candles on the cake per year, they would be wise to have a fire extinguisher on hand...
Fast away the old year passes. Hail the new, ye lads and lasses. It has probably been a while since anyone has called you a lad or lass, but you must agree, no matter what name you go by, that there are opportunities to have a fresh start with a new year. Obviously when you wake up on January 1 you will be the same person. But there may be ways that you can take small or even large steps to change some things about yourself. Sometimes these come down to contrasts and choices. Let us think about those as we hail the new year. An important...
The words that you are now reading were written on Thanksgiving Eve. That date is not nearly as significant as Dec. 24. However, it is still a good time to reflect and come up with an angle for my column. We should be grateful every day. I am thinking back on Christmases and thinking about what makes me thankful for Jesus’ birthday. I miss my parents at Christmas time, in part because I remember how much they enjoyed the holiday and how special they made it for their five kids and later their grandchildren. Dad was not known for his cooking, b...
It occurred to me a few days ago that in less than two months I will turn 61. Turning 60 wasn’t a big deal, but 61 will put me in my early 60s! Hopefully when the time comes, I’ll handle it well. I know some of my readers are well over that age. Perhaps you are like me in that you’re recognizing changes in your life as you get older. There is no mistaking some of the physical changes and declines that occur. I see something else that is happening. As I get older, I feel like I am putting things in better perspective than I used to. I also think...
Like most Christans, I am glad to see Halloween is over. We recognize it as a dark and troubling day on the calendar. There is no denying how popular it has become. Not only are candy sales huge but so are the morbid house decorations and graphic costumes that adults, children, and even pets wear. For over 20 years, our church has sought to redeem Halloween to some extent by offering trunk or treat to children and their families. A gospel tract or literature is always included. Since it began, many other organizations have done it as well and...
The time has come to end the long series on the Gospel of John which I embarked on many months ago. For me it has been a good reminder of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. I recently came to better understand that the gospel isn’t just the good news of how we are saved but also how we are sanctified and will ultimately be rewarded and glorified. Who Jesus is and what he did for us is something that should impact us every day. One of the best ways to serve him and know him is to understand who he is and how he lived. Certainly, some of the s...
There was a play written about 500 years ago where the phrase was coined “bad news travels fast.” Indeed, there does seem to be an obsession with sharing news that is bad in a quick fashion. And there is no doubt that most of what we hear in the news today is bad, whether it’s in a printed newspaper, online, or on television or radio. People may not like bad news but they do seem to share it quickly. We all can wish that there was more good news in our world, but good news stories don’t sell. But if there was ever a case of good news traveli...
This week I experienced something somewhat unusual. I met a family in the home of their mother who was dying. The woman’s husband, children and many others had recently been told that she was near death. They were trying to come to terms with it as I arrived on the scene. I have never seen so many people gathered in one house and bedroom in that circumstance. The patient’s son was on her bed and constantly rubbing her back. Others were holding her hand. They were crying, talking to her and in some ways holding on while saying goodbye. One of...
As my long series from the gospel of John winds down we find ourselves reading about the crucifixion and thinking about what it means to us. While this is something that people often equate with the Easter season, any good Christian knows that the crucifixion and resurrection should be at the forefront of our thinking because of all that they accomplished. The adult Bible fellowship in our church has been going through the book of Acts and recently we read something that was said by one of the rulers who was examining the apostle Paul. Like...
I do not have to tell my readers that life does not always go as planned. There are disappointments and times where we must adjust to changes and challenges. Today I thought I would take my laptop and Bible on my back deck to write this column. I enjoy hearing the gentle breezes and the birds singing. As I was about to begin, I heard a loud buzzing sound. Thankfully it wasn’t yellow jackets. Both my wife and I have been stung this summer with those small, powerful insects. Instead, it was a louder buzz. A crew working on my neighbor’s lawn bro...
Every person has faced moments when they had to stop and ask an important question. “Now what?” Some people are reactionary, and others think things through for a while. There are empathetic folks and those who seem to not care as much. Typically, that “now what” question is asked during a crisis or crossroads. For Jesus, the disciples, and leaders in Jerusalem, it was both. Jesus had just been betrayed and arrested. The story in John 18 continues. With Jesus being bound and taken to Annas as part of an excruciating journey, we find Peter a...
It is not unusual for me to ask hospice patients what their favorite hymn is. For the reply to be In the Garden is not at all unusual. That old song looks ahead with joy at the thought of abiding with Jesus in heaven forever. For that to happen, Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane before going to the cross. The events of that night seemed more appropriate for rough city streets than for a garden. We understand that when a person is arrested there is typically very good reason for it. Sometimes arrests are peaceful and other times they can...
The words below reflect the conclusion to a three-part look at the prayer of Jesus in John 17. We can learn a lot about people from the way in which they pray. My mom was a person of prayer and loved the Lord very much. Sadly, she was not one to pray aloud. I can only remember a few occasions when I heard her pray. But I know she saw the value of prayer and drawing near to God. I have heard some people pray aloud and knew that they loved connecting with God the Father. And I’ve been in settings where prayers were simply read. There is n...
That Jesus had people on his mind as he prayed just before his arrest is not surprising. This prayer in John 17 is sometimes called the high priestly prayer. Jesus is our great high priest which in basic terms means he is the one that represents us before the Father. He does that, not only in prayer, but by virtue of going to the cross to pay for our sins so we would have access to God the Father. So, with the cross and its suffering and shame approaching, Jesus’ mind goes from his desire to glorify HIS Father to those disciples he had just s...
This week I meet a man who did not think he wanted me to visit him. He had just been admitted to our hospice services at a fairly young age. His life included financial struggles, a divorce, addictions, and being estranged from his only son. He had been dealing with a bad heart for years and was recently discharged from the hospital to seek no further treatment. Two of our staff nurses indicated that they hoped I would be able to talk with him. He was emotional with them and yet, did not realize how critical he was. He declined my visits, but...
About 90 minutes before beginning to write this column I saw an awesome site (besides my wife). She looked out our back doors and reacted in such a way that I hurried to join her. About 25 feet away, we saw a fairly large black bear, just beyond our back yard and at the edge of the woods. We tried to take some pictures from our dining room but it kept moving. I could barely contain my excitement. So, I did what any man would do. I went outside to track him down for some selfies with the black beauty. That was not exactly the plan. I did get...
Much time was spent on John 15 in my series but now I am ready to move on to chapter 16. Moving on is something I help people prepare for and do as a hospice chaplain. Family members know that their loved one will be leaving them soon and that they must adjust to the new reality. Those who know the Lord typically have much more peace because they understand the destination of heaven. The disciples were addressed by Jesus regarding things that were specific to them in the first half of the chapter. We pick it up where we can all apply keys to...
It is sometimes surprising to hear Christians bemoan the fact that the world is not friendly toward churches, the Bible, and people of faith. We sometimes feel entitled to be respected and to have a voice as we seek to represent God in the world. We fear that we are losing our Christian freedoms in America. If you wonder why the unsaved world does not show you more love, you may want to read the words of Jesus in John 15 as he spoke to his 11 disciples and, by extension, to us. Since the birth of the church, the world was at odds with...
In my previous column I wrote about my college roommate and the impact that John 15 had on him as he wrote a long paper on it. It occurred to me that he might like to read what I had written. I was able to track down what I hoped was a current email address for him and sent it off. A few days later I was thrilled to get a reply and life update from him. That led to a Zoom call shortly after that. Upon seeing one another, we agreed that neither of us had changed a bit since the 1980s. Perhaps the only difference was our honesty. Not only had...
During my four years at a Christian college, I was blessed with several good roommates. My first was one that I had served on a ministry team with a year earlier. Some of the guys in the hall were not fans of his, but we got along well. In my junior year I was with my best friend from my church back home whose Dad was my pastor. We had lots of fun together and sharpened each other spiritually. My second- and fourth-year roommate was someone I really looked up to. He was at least six inches taller than me. The fellow Bible major carried a...
As I resume my series in the gospel of John, my mind goes back to the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was a turbulent time. Of course, we would be hard-pressed to think of an era since then that has not had its challenges. One thing I remember about those days was the quest for peace. People commonly held up two fingers as a sign of peace. There was also a unique symbol for peace that was everywhere. Christians felt that it was a variation of the cross that should be avoided. A movie called “The Jesus Revolution” is being released this wee...
Sometimes I wonder what Valentine would think of Valentine’s Day. He was, after all, a saint. He performed underground marriage ceremonies when they had been outlawed by the Roman government. He knew that marriage between a man and woman was God’s design. The commercial nature and cupid focus that it has become would probably not sit well with him. I have no problem with the red hearts, flowers, candy, jewelry that go along with the 14th of February. I just have never spent much money on it....
As someone who has done his fair share of writing over the years, I recognize that words have meanings. The other night my wife and I were talking, and I said something strange because I was thinking from an unusual perspective. I pointed out to her that I sometimes think in terms of roots of words. She was speechless. Some words are naturally negative. Storm. Cancer. Taxes. Trouble. Obey. Death. Snake. Ravens. Naturally not all words that may have negative connotations to one person will be that way to another. Some of it may depend on our...
It is probable that in my line of work I have more opportunities to interact with and meet people than the average follower of Jesus. In recent weeks I can think of several folks I have met who know and love the Lord, although they are of a different “brand” of Christianity than me. One of them is a dear woman in her mid-90s who grew up on a farm in the South. She has used chewing tobacco nearly all of her life. I can testify to the fact that she still does, despite having a cancerous cavern in her jaw bone. Sadly, I also meet my fair sha...
As we are about to bid goodbye to another year, I thought I would look back and then look way back. We can probably agree that 2022 was a better year than the past few have been. I trust that you found much to be thankful for, including the recent birthday celebration for Emmanuel. This year my family attended four weddings of two nieces and two nephews along with several others. A nephew in England will tie the proverbial knot next May. I was honored to officiate one of the weddings. Merely...
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Whether this will be the most wonderful column of the year remains to be seen. As long as I do not get coal in my stocking from the editor, I will be satisfied. I started with that sentence because it is also the title of a song written the year I was born (1963) and popularized by Andy Williams. Many people would agree with the sentiment of the song. I love Christmas and Christmas music. In the paragraphs below I will note some merry melodies and consider how they relate to Christmas. It has o...
For most of my life I have waited until after Thanksgiving to start to listen to Christmas music. But since last year I have broken my unwritten rule. Once November hits, I am ready and willing to hear the music of the season, whether silly, secular, or sacred. Of course, I prefer the songs that point to Jesus’ birth being the reason that we celebrate. One secular song that has been popular for years is “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” The earliest recorded version of the tune was written by a banjo player in 1934. Since then, millions of ki...
I just read that some places in Ukraine may be without heat and power for a very long time as winter approaches. Imagine shorter, colder days with no electricity. We take for granted the comforts of home like running water and lights that turn on at the flip of a switch. Most people love sunshine and a well-lit room. Darkness can be a very negative condition apart from sleep time. Throughout scripture there are references to the presence and contrast of light and darkness. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth...
I do not like to lose. From an early age, I have been competitive. Whether it is a board game or athletic competition my goal is always to win. Sometimes I will join in some sort of game and someone will declare that we are just playing for fun and that there is no need to keep score. I am always appalled at that. What is the point of a game if the purpose is not to determine a winner? I suppose there were a few times when my sons were especially young that I let them win. That was rare and...
Every person has emotional ups and downs. We have our good days and bad. Sometimes what is happening in the world around us can impact our feelings. One moment we can be doing and feeling well and then suddenly our mood and thoughts change for the worse. Imagine what it must have been like for Jesus as he entered the home stretch of his earthly ministry. Of course, his home stretch would lead him back home and guarantee that believers would be with him in that eternal home one day. The days leading up to him accomplishing his mission had more...
The most difficult thing to hear in that news is that someone has been killed by another person. Most obituaries reflect people who died naturally, whether from old age or disease. But when someone takes the life of another it is a terrible thing indeed. Sadly, we hear sometimes of murder-suicides. There are also revenge killings or ones driven by hate. Years ago, I did a funeral for a 21-year-old that had been in my youth ministry. Her boyfriend took her life with their baby in the same room. Sometimes murders occur in the context of theft. Ra...
This week I have had several patients surprisingly pass from this earthly life. No one should be too surprised when a hospice patient dies. However, in the case of these ladies I had recently visited them and they were talking and feeling pretty well. Thankfully, both knew the Lord and were ushered into eternal life. The Lord was their shepherd. As we transition from John 10 to John 11 we see Jesus boldly proclaiming who he is and who belongs to him as he concludes his sheep and shepherd illustration. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,...
Recently I spoke with two dear relatives about my columns. One complimented me on my most recent one. I asked her what it was about. She paused. I thought. She could not recall the contents of the article. That made two of us. The other relative admitted that he does not always read my columns. When I asked him why that was the case, he stated that they were too long. I pointed out that it takes about 5 minutes to read. I do not think he was convinced. I will try to limit my words today. I am glad you are taking the time to read now. If you...
I am grateful to have safely returned from a really nice family vacation. Everyone got along well, were able to relax, have fun, and see some beautiful sights. We even went to a Thai restaurant for the first time. There were several experiences during our week in Florida that relate to where we find ourselves in John 8. Daytona Beach is where Jackie Robinson played his first minor league baseball game. The island stadium still exists and is now named after him. I knew that no one else in my family besides me would want to go to a game there,...
Recently my wife and I attended college orientation with my youngest son. Next month, we will have two sons attending school full time. As I observed the campus and how young the incoming freshmen looked, I could not help but make a few observations. My college and seminary days seemed to be so long ago! College is expensive. We will be paying bills for a long time to come. There is a certain amount of sadness in seeing your children become more independent, although that is one of the primary goals in raising them. I also could not help...
In a few days I have a unique and special opportunity. I will officiate the outdoor wedding of one of my nephews and his fiancé. I admit that I am a bit nervous about it. It is not because I have not done a lot of weddings (though I performed one for a hospice patient), nor is it that fact that family members will be present. My biggest concern is one of a baser nature. I mentioned that it will be an outdoor service. It is basically in a field somewhere. What worries me most is the fact the rest...
I did not know what to say. That is certainly unusual for me. I found myself having an intense phone conversation with someone I had never met in person. She was not a telemarketer. This 70-year-old had reached out to me as a hospice chaplain. She had been so healthy that she did not even have a doctor. But she had been having some strange, scary incidents with her health and, when examined, was told she had a rare blood infection that most antibiotics were not effective in treating. My new...
Recently I had what amounted to a cold. Along with it came some coughing and congestion. My son jokingly reminded me to drink lots of water. He did this because that has always been my “go to” advice when anyone is sick. Drink lots of liquids. What else is a person expected to drink? Soon my wife had similar symptoms. My son followed. He had a late-night coughing spell that did not sound good at all. Yet, he was able to go to work the next day. I inquired if he had access to drinking water at th...
A Christian colleague and I have recently teamed up to answer spiritual questions and share the gospel with a hospice patient. Our basic message and plea to him has been what is found in John 3:3 & 7 – “you must be born again.” The kind man told my friend something shocking as he considered his spiritual choice. He basically said, whether he goes to heaven or hell, he is at peace. That shocking perspective can only be explained by the fact that the man does not truly understand the reali...
Almost a quarter century ago there was a phenomenon in the Christian world that you may recall. People were wearing WWJD bracelets by the millions. Were they Blue Pirate fans proclaiming Williamsburg Will Just Dominate? Perhaps it was thirsty folks stating We Want Juice Delivered. Maybe it was snow-weary residents asking, “When Will January be Done?” We Want Jelly Donuts may have been the unhealthy cry. Maybe mellow music fans were celebrating the Wonderful World of John Denver. Of course, the...
It is said that all good things must come to an end. I do hope that my readers would say that my long series of articles examining and expounding on the book of Proverbs has been good. I am sure some folks are ready for something different. I doubt that I will ever tackle such a lengthy series again. I trust that you have learned some things and been challenged along the way as I have. In some ways, the final chapter is a bit unusual. For one thing, it is attributed a king named Lemuel. The...
The approach of Valentine’s Day means a lot of people will think and hear about love in the days ahead. I recall decorating shoe boxes at school to bring home those little cards that each classmate would get for one another. Charlie Brown would hang out at his mailbox waiting for cards to come. They came, but only for Snoopy. I remember when I was single looking forward to Feb. 15. My wife and I do not make much of a deal with the red, heart-themed day. We try to show love to one another e...
As January mercifully nears its end, our thoughts turn to springtime. However, no matter how much we may long for green grass and trees blossoming with warm temperatures, there is the reality of having to get through the short but cold month of February still. I have told people that I like the four seasons that Pennsylvania offers. The older I get the more I realize that I like three out of the four seasons. As much as I may wish for spring, the reality is that I must wait for nature and the...
For weeks, my siblings and our families planned our annual holiday get together on Jan. 2 at my younger brother’s home. About a week before that, his wife was stricken with COVID. Soon after, two others in their family also got sick. As I type this, my sister-in-law is improving in the hospital. She went through a terrible ordeal in order to finally be admitted. Not only did our party plans fall apart, but we were given a new perspective and drawn into intense prayer. Around that same time, I v...
Now and then I make the mistake of asking my hospice patients what is new with them. In general, nothing is new with a person who is in their final months or days. Now and then they may receive a visitor or gift. But typically, their reply to what is new is “not much.” Something was new with a lady I visit who is 103. For the first time, she held out her hand so that I could hold it. I did so for quite a while. Later, she made a fist with that same hand and waved it as if to say it was time for...
