Recently I asked a coworker, “How can I make your life easier today?” This is an easy question for me to ask since I am a volunteer without any specific duties except to help others. At first she laughed, then she had a few suggestions on things I could do that would be helpful. About …
From Worship Experiences
Left in the Dark
Have you ever been left in the dark? When Tom and I help close up the Visitors Center at Kings Mountain, one of the things we do is put “clubs” on the doors so they can’t be opened from the outside, even if someone has the key. We put clubs on the main doors, the …
Dogwood Tree Legend
The dogwood trees are, indeed, blooming here in South Carolina. In the south, the dogwood trees are a special symbol of Easter, because they usually bloom in early April. With Easter early this year, there was some discussion about whether or not they would bloom in time. But suddenly, from bare branches last week, the …
When Jesus Doesn’t Meet Expectations
Sometimes, as we go through Holy Week, we wonder how the cheering crowds on Sunday could turn into jeering crowds by Friday. The same people who shouted “Blessed be the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” also shouted “Crucify him!” The words seem like opposite responses to the same person. But they …
Standing Between the Living and the Dead
In Numbers 16 there are several intriguing stories about God’s chosen people. The people chosen by God and led by Moses are a bunch of whiny complainers. They don’t like the food. They don’t have enough water. They think all this talking with God has gone to Moses’ head. When a group of people tries …
Christian Parents
Christian parents: Hope and fear and keep you near; Laugh and cry and dry your eyes; Remind and nag and drag you to church, Sunday School, youth group, church camp . . . Read and pray and say “yes,” “no,” and “Hallelujah!” Work and play and make your days wonderful; Love with a love that …
The Bad Fig Tree
The Lectionary reading yesterday was from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 13, verses 1-9. In the first part of this passage (verses 1-5) Jesus talks about the lesson we should learn from bad things happening to “innocent” people – that we need to repent or perish. I suspect that most pastors who preached on the …
The Prodigal Son
This week’s lectionary (a set Bible reading for churches) was the Prodigal Son. This is a very familiar story to anyone who has read the New Testament or attended church regularly. Jesus tells a parable about a younger son asks the father for his share of the inheritance NOW, then the younger son goes out …
The Beginning of Lent
Ash Wednesday last week marked the beginning of Lent. Yesterday was the first Sunday in Lent. Lent always feels like the advent of spring to me: the time when you begin to believe that winter might loosen its icy grip on the world and have hope that flowers and other lovely things will break through …
Transfiguration Sunday
Last Sunday was Transfiguration Sunday in the church calendar. Tom and I returned to Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Shelby to worship at the 8:30 service. Transfiguration Sunday is celebrated the last Sunday before Lent, and because Easter is early this year, Lent starts on Wednesday. This was only our second Sunday at Aldersgate. We …