A man visited our little church when I was a teen and the song he sang that day has stuck in my head. I can hear his gravely voice singing, “’Til the storm passes over, ‘til the thunder rolls no… Continue reading

“Oh, God.” The words were a sigh of my soul, yet they were a prayer from my heart that looked to Him for strength. Sometimes our deepest prayers are those that are simplest, almost wordless. Ever see two people deeply… Continue reading

“I’ll give you this,” he said to me, “you are a ‘finisher.’”  His words were a compliment, noting my willingness to hang with difficult tasks until I saw them to completion. Others have seen the same trait of determination in… Continue reading

“I’m so done. I can’t do this any longer.”  Have you ever said those words – about a job, about a relationship? Me, too!  Situations come our way that test every bit of resolve in us. The high value on… Continue reading

A few moments ago, while my coffee brewed, I took out a pad of notepaper labeled “To do.”  In about 30 seconds, I made a list of things that need to be done on this ‘day off’ and then I… Continue reading

One of the privileges of my pastoral work is getting to be an ‘advocate’ for others.  Occasionally I am asked to help out with some snarl in government bureaucracy. “Pastor Jerry, could you help me, make a phone call, find… Continue reading

In March, 2014, when the oncologist told Bev and I about the severity of her cancer and it settled into my mind that without a miracle, she would be going home in the not too distant future, I felt something… Continue reading

  A by-product of our 250 channel cable connections, our smartphones that beep and chirp from early morning to late into the evening, and a consumer society formed around style rather than function, is an 11th Commandment – ‘Thou shalt… Continue reading

  I watched Ed’s JV football game yesterday with fading hope for a win. His team made a valiant effort but went down to defeat.  But, in the moments following the game, the coach gathered those players on the field… Continue reading

Monday is a day that usually finds me reviewing the weekend. Conversations, meetings, the worship service – all replay in my head. What could have been done better? What should be celebrated? Does anything need to be finished?  But, most… Continue reading