“If you want to thank a soldier, be the kind of American worth fighting for.” And from Adlai Stevenson II — “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”

God of power and mercy, you destroy war and put down earthly pride. Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears, that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters. Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom and bring them safely…

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. — Acts 2:42 A couple of months after I retired from full time ministry, I had lunch with a more experienced colleague who had been retired for about a decade. I asked him what he missed about…

Thank you, Richard Boyd & Ed Raven — The rifle is affixed with a bayonet and inverted, signifying that the Soldier went down fighting. The boots signify the Soldier’s last march onto the battlefield. Dog tags are imprinted with the Soldier’s name and hung from the rifle so their identity will never be forgotten. The…

I have friends with a broad spectrum of preferences, opinions, experiences and prescriptions for how the world might be improved.  I appreciate you all.  As the masked and unmasked begin to mingle, give each other some grace.  Read scripture each day, keep an intercessory prayer list, support your pastor.  If you are a United Methodist,…

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread — Acts 2:42 Does “the breaking of bread” refer to regular meals or to The Sacrament of Holy Communion? My favorite answer to questions like that is an unequivocal “Yes.” As in, “Yes, both.” The more important question is…

“The ultimate purpose of the Decalogue [Ten Words, or Ten Commandments] isn’t about being a rule follower. It’s about learning to love God with the same depth of passion that He has for us.” — William B. Coker, Sr., Words of Endearment: The Ten Commandments as a Revelation of God’s Love, page 17

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship” — Acts 2:42 An old line you probably already know says that —- Wherever two or three Methodists are gathered together, we form a Committee. —- Sometimes we excel at doing the business of the church but neglect so much else. Sometimes we forget Who…

The hardest part of healing after you’ve lost someone you love is to recover the “you” that went away with “them.”

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings” — Acts 2:42 After being filled with the Holy Spirit, they became a learning church. How about us? Do we think we already know it all? Or are we “devoted to the apostles’ teachings” like they were?