I was asked recently if I thought putting up decorations at the beginning of November is too early. I said that personally, I hate to see Thanksgiving get downplayed by the rush to celebrate Christmas, which has been largely secularized

Simply being a Christian in some countries & regions is extremely dangerous. It’s a subject that few are even aware of (thanks to most of the news media)…or even worse, they’re indifferent to. If you’re unaware, then this week brings

As you think about the future, how does it make you feel? Optimistic or pessimistic? Are you feeling anxious about the unknown–what’s going to happen to your job, finances, health, family, the nation, the world?! Who’s in control of your

With all the turmoil in the world, we can get rattled, burdened, & overwhelmed over the unknown & things beyond our control. Wars & rumors of war remind us that peace is a rare thing. Add in to that your

The Detroit Lions are at the top of the NFL rankings–who’d thunk it?! But as I’ve been saying…give them time. After living here for so many years I gave up watching them. Many years, like this one, they’d come out

Did you see the baptism of Kat Von D (Drachenberg) that she posted online? She was a reality TV tattoo artist that I was only vaguely aware of, but who has made headlines recently after dramatic lifestyle changes. She was

You may not be aware of it, but for several years October has been designated nationally as Pastors Appreciation Month. It seems to be intended mostly for those who are preachers or considered “clergy.” But biblically the Elders are the

I’ve been teaching an Ethics class recently focused in the last few weeks on human life & personhood issues: “Are Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia Ever Acceptable?”; “What About Modern Methods of Making Babies? (which dealt with issues like IVF, surrogacy,

A teenager approached me recently at church to ask about music. Is there some music that’s bad to listen to? That’s a question I’m glad he’s asking because most don’t seem to care. I told him that music isn’t the

It’s easy to get fooled by scams. There’s one I saw on Facebook a few times now with a photo of a traffic wreck that says: “Just died in an accident,” & it looks like it’s someone you know. But

Flying a combat mission during an attack on enemy installations in Vietnam, Jeremiah Denton was shot down on July 18, 1965. He spent the next 7 1/2 years as a prisoner of war. While imprisoned Denton provided the first direct evidence

Last week I wrote about going back to school, but did you know that some churches also capitalize on this season for going back to church? The thinking is that the people who have taken a summer vacation not only from school