I find it amusing that we often equate difficulty with legitimacy. What I am talking about is the idea that unless a person has struggled with [fill in the blank], they have no legitimate claim to share. Alright, let’s look in the Bible at 2 Kings 5, the story of Naaman. ...

Mark 4:24-27 has a very interesting story. To paraphrase, Jesus is teaching and a foreign woman, (not Jewish) begs for help with her daughter. It seems her daughter is possessed by a demon and is doing her harm. Jesus is hesitant to help. He informs the woman that he was sent to focus on the Jews, not everyone else. ...

“Schools out, Schools out, teacher let the mules out; One jumped in, and one jumped out, and one jumped in the sauerkraut.” I remember singing that as a youngster while riding the bus home on the last day of school before summer break. I remember thinking about all the things I was going to do and all the fun I was going to have. For the most part, summers were fun...

“What is truth?” This is the question that Pontius Pilate asked Jesus when Jesus proclaimed himself as the giver of truth. But today we have so many truths. How do we know which one is the real truth? I mean, we have the “truth” as told to us by those in power. We have the “truth” proclaimed by those who want to be in power. We have political truths and religious truths. Quite frankly, you can probably find a truth that fits your needs if you look hard enough...

On Wednesday April 24, 2024, at approximately 4 a.m. plus or minus, we had a huge loss. The Doniphan United Methodist Church at 305 Plum St. caught fire. It was a 136-year-old landmark. It was the oldest religious building in town, having been built in 1888. It was a religious hub, a community center, a meeting place and…...

Many times, as a pastor, I have been asked what a person needs to do to follow Christ. I find it rather interesting that when I am asked that question, the person that is asking already knows. In fact, we all know how we can make a difference, what we need to do to bring about change in our world. ...

Easter has passed. We continue to rejoice in the Risen Savior. The weather is warming, and the days are getting longer. Rain has been falling and planting is going. Times are changing. Some of our children are now going into the world. Some of our adults are no longer with us. Times are changing...

Winter is coming full blown upon us. For the next few weeks, according to some experts, we can expect cold, maybe snow, and wintery weather. There may be school closures and even postponements. Winter in Southeast Missouri is often unpredictable...

The biggest mistake we make around Christmas is we think that after the decorations are put away and all the toys are broken, it’s over. (until next December). We often forget that Christmas is really the beginning, not the end. Matthew 2 is the only place where we learn of the Magi. ...

I know that I am going to stir up some controversy in what I am about to say, so here goes. I think NHRA drag racing is better than NASCAR. (I can hear the collective inhale of breath as you read this.) I realize these may be fighting words, but quite frankly, I was raised around dragsters. When my uncles and my dad tuned engines, they were tuned for the hole shot, not the left turn...

In June 1942, a child was born. The child had many, many health issues and according to the doctors, he needed to be institutionalized. He wasn’t going to live long, and the young couple needed to concentrate on building a strong family...

Advent is defined as “the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.” As of Dec. 3, we are fully in Advent. Advent also marks the beginning of the church calendar, which consists of the four weeks before Christmas. Now this is not to be confused with the 12 days of Christmas. Those start on Dec. 26, and end on Jan. 6, or Epiphany (we’ll talk more about that later)...

There is a beautiful story in the book of Luke. In Luke 10:38-42, we have a scene set in Bethany. Jesus and the boys have stopped by to visit a good friend, Lazarus, and his sisters Martha and Mary. As Martha gets supper ready, Mary sits and listens to Jesus with the rest of the guests...

July 2, 1505, was a stormy day. Martin Luther was on his horse during a thunderstorm. As he sought shelter under a large tree, the tree was struck by lightning. The fact that he survived led him to go from being a lawyer to being a monk. He felt that God had saved him for something, and that was his “Come to Jesus” moment...

Early in my journey through ministry, I had the privilege of organizing our youth to go on a mission trip. We were to go to Alabama and help with hurricane cleanup. The kids and parents were all excited until I shared what the cost would be. I had planned for a few fundraisers to make the trip. The response I received was, “You really expect me to pay so I can work?” As an inexperienced pastor, I was at a bit of a loss on how to answer that. Now it isn’t much of a problem...

I asked a fellow amateur radio operator which radio brand he thought was the best. There are so many to choose from and I was sure his expertise would guide me in getting that “perfect” radio. His response to me was this, “The best radio is the one you have.”...

Matthew 6:25-34 is a great passage to go too when you are anxious or worrying. Verse 33 is of particular significance to me — “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”...

As I write this today, Israel is in a multi-front war. Terrorists have infiltrated its borders and went on a killing spree. The Israeli death toll has reached over 1,000, including United States citizens. We haven’t much of an idea of the toll on the citizens in Gaza, or the number of terrorists that have been killed. Regardless, it is the innocents that pay the price for war...

Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, and others, was written while in prison at Rome. He was waiting for an audience with Nero, then emperor of Rome. It evidently was quite a wait, but while waiting Paul put his time to good use. The “prison letters” really help us focus on what it means to be a follower of Christ. ...

When we turn on our respective entertainment devices, we run the gamut of advertising paraphernalia. The ads just don’t stop. They each vie to be the first and foremost on your mind. Whether it’s a new mower or a juicy hamburger, advertisers want you to think of them first. Even churches advertise to let you know they can out do, or out preach another church...