There’s a few special elements we believe rock solid, and getting in tune and in time certainly ain’t a bad start.” — Billy Gibbons of the band ZZ Top. We’d wait. We’d watch. In garage bands, we’d wait and watch the ritual. We’d wait and watch each other, one at a time, listen to the sustained…

“There’s a few special elements we believe rock solid,” Billy began. Billy Gibbons was speaking about an upcoming tour sharing the spotlight with Jeff Beck. Both are guitar players. Billy’s one-third of the trio known as “that li’l ol’ band from Texas,” ZZ Top. Jeff Beck has a stellar career as “a guitar player’s guitar player.”…

“The only thing that’s changed is everything,” say the ads for the new iPhone 6s. Sounds familiar. Saturday afternoon it was my honor to preach a funeral that was a Celebration of Life in every sense.  Part of the liturgy was this Scriptural promise: I make all things new. (Revelation 21:5) The net result of Christ’s resurrection? “The…

When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,”     my heart leaped for joy. — Psalm122:1 To whom have you said, “Let’s go to the house of God” this weekend? There’s still time. Take action.

It’s in a print ad. In lotsa magazines. And it’s a great line! It starts this way — “Joy will take you further.” You and I have stories that prove that true. Real life stories. Things that we know happened. “Joy will take you further” than bitterness and anger and other easy-to-get-stuck-in thoughts and feelings. Things that…

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. — Philippians 4:9 “Put your other hand here,” she told him. She was the manager, and he was busing tables. As he put one hand on the edge of the…

Angela said I could share what one of her young daughters asked her yesterday — I am getting the girls ready to go to a visitation/funeral, and one just asked me if it was my funeral. I was starting to smile but then I read Angela’s next sentence — Way to put life in perspective, kid.…

“What’s different about this place?” he asked the college seniors. They’d been sitting on some steps. He asked if he could join them, and they said yes. His name is Rich. He chairs our Conference’s scholarship team for that school, Africa University (www.africau.edu). It’s our United Methodist school in Zimbabwe. Their answers varied of course, but all…

Do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. — 1st Thessalonians 4:13 “My son passed beyond tragedy into eternity.” That’s how my friend and colleague Paul Simpkins began his public email last week about his son’s funeral arrangements. And that’s Paul Simpkins, right there. See why he’s such loved and respected pastoral colleague?…

Do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. — 1st Thessalonians 4:13 Paul is a highly-respected deeply-loved colleague with whom I’ve shared joys and sorrows. Paul’s wife’s funeral was a couple of years ago. Paul’s son’s funeral was two days ago. Saturday, by his son’s hearse, after all the words and hugs and…