Values Under Attack

In a speech at Hillsdale College, Jack Kemp quotes Pope John Paul II whose Veritas Splendor warns of "the risk of an alliance between democracy and ethical relativism." Says Kemp: "Too often from our culture's commanding heights -- in government, the media, and academia -- we hear that all moral judgments are purely...

News We May Not Want To Hear

Three men were in a hospital waiting room when the nurse arrived from the nursery ward. She said to the first man, "Sir, you're the father of twins." He said, "That's amazing, because I'm a member of the Minnesota Twins baseball team." The nurse said to the second man, "Sir, you're...

Generosity

A church member stopped the pastor and angrily complained that the church had purchased five new brooms, an expenditure he thought completely unnecessary. The pastor was surprised at the man's reaction, and mentioned it to the church treasurer, who said, "It's understandable. How would you feel if you saw...

Encouragement Can Transform

Fred Craddock tells of the time he and his wife slipped away to the mountains for a few days of relaxation. As they sat in a little restaurant, they saw a man going from table to table greeting diners. Eventually he made his way to the Craddock's table and, learning that Fred was a minister, he insisted on telling them his story....

Anxiety Surrounding The Crucifixion

Each person in that crowd surrounding Jesus' cross had his or her own reason for being there. She wanted to be there because she felt it was a significant event and she wanted to be able to share with her grandchildren what it was like that day on Golgotha. He wanted to be there because of a deep-seated hatred for the...

The World Rejects The Cross

A recent newspaper article carried the title, "Court Rules Against Crosses." The article was about a Supreme Court decision not to overrule the judgment of a lower court prohibiting San Diego County from maintaining two large crosses in public parks. It's nothing new, though. The world has been ruling against the...

Our Hearts Seek Christ

When we're shopping for the right answers to today's questions, we've got to look in the right direction. It's like the little boy who answered the telephone. Asked the speaker, "Can I speak to your father?" "No," the little boy whispered, "he's talking to the police." "Well, can I speak with ...

Change Can Bring Conflict

In I Ching, the Chinese book of changes, the first hexagram is called "the creative." It is an image of a dragon hidden in the deep which awakens, leaps into flight, then returns to its hiding place. Most pastors can relate. Changes aren't literal dragons, but they may as well be. The dragons stay hidden until they see a point of...