As we are yet again in the throes of another presidential voting cycle, I was reminded recently of navy vice admiral, Commander William Stockdale, whom Independent candidate Ross Perot chose as his running mate back in 1992. Stockdale famously—or perhaps infamously!—began his vice-presidential debate by asking: “Who am I? Why …
When you first meet someone, what’s the first thing you tell them about yourself? Maybe your name. Or what you do for a living. Perhaps a comment related to the occasion of your meeting—how you know the party’s host; or the couple that is getting married; or the parents of …
The first time I attended Linebrook Church while visiting Ron back in February of 2014, what impressed me the most about the service was the music. I love to sing so you can imagine my delight when I saw how central the singing of hymns—lots of them, both ancient and …
Back in 1995 Joan Osborne released a song written by Eric Bazilian, entitled One of Us, that became a hit on the charts and a worldwide success. The song begins by asking, “If God had a name, what would it be? “And would you call it to his face? “If …
Years ago while driving along in my car I burst into tears. I had just recently moved to Illinois for a job opportunity, leaving behind a dear church family and friends in order to do so. I didn’t know anyone in Illinois. I had not yet found a church. I …
The more I read Scripture, the more I’m struck by how completely counter-cultural its teachings can be. A snapshot of some of our culture’s teachings and values can be found in some of its slogans and exhortations: Look out for number one; Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps; Winning …
As I was preparing this morning’s sermon, I was thinking about different things that Ron and I have learned about each other in the five plus years we’ve been married. Hard though it may be to believe, I don’t think I ever cooked a brussels sprout until he mentioned that …
This evening I want to spend a few minutes reflecting with you about peace. As we’ve officially entered the Christmas season which Thanksgiving kicks off each year, don’t we find ourselves longing for peace as we deal with lines at malls—and lines at grocery stores—and lines at gas stations—and lines …
I grew up in a public school system in New Jersey that, looking back, I believe was quite ahead of its time in being so environmentally conscious. I still remember a class field trip, when I was about ten years old, in which they took us to the Great Swamp …
Even those of us who should know better sometimes buy into the misperception that the God who has disclosed himself in the Old Testament is a God of wrath whereas the God who has disclosed himself in the New Testament is a God of love. This is a misperception because …
