Jelly Roll is not really a pastor, but he certainly gave a powerful sermon at the Grammy Awards last Sunday evening (February 1, 2026). He had just won three of the top music awards, and he gave Jesus Christ the credit for turning his life around. In case you missed it (I always […]
3148) Pastor Jelly Roll Read More »
Are you a loser? If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, Ted Turner would say you are. Do you remember Ted Turner? Multi-billionaire Ted Turner was a major player in the business, sports, and entertainment world in the 1980’s and 90’s. He was an early visionary and
3131) Are You a Loser? Read More »
At Eternity’s Gate (above) is an oil painting that Vincent van Gogh made in 1890. The painting was completed in early May at a time when he was convalescing from a severe relapse in his mental health troubles, and just two months before his death, generally accepted as a suicide. The painting was
3114) At Eternity’s Gate Read More »
Last Tuesday Ben Sasse, age 53, wrote a “Letter to America” announcing that he had been diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer. Sasse served as a Republican Senator from Nebraska from 2015-2023. He resigned from the Senate in 2023 to become the president of the University of Florida. The following year, he
3107) “Friends… I Am Going to Die” Read More »
Above image: WILL THERE BE CHOCOLATE IN HEAVEN? ************************************* (…continued) Pastor Rob Kemppainen wrote many songs. He wrote for the worship services at his congregation, for his confirmation classes, for his Barbershop Quartet, and just for the fun of it. The six songs below each have a spiritual message, told with winsome and
3106) My Friend Rob and His Music (2/2) Read More »
Above photo: Reverend Robert A. “Rob” Kemppainen November 28, 1951 – April 27, 2024 ——————- When my good friend Rob died, his wife Marilyn asked me to say a few words at the end of the funeral service. In today’s meditation you can read what I said. I am posting it now, the day after
3105) My Friend Rob and His Music (1/2) Read More »
(…continued) This may seem like a morbid meditation for Advent. We’re busy getting ready for birth not death. We are preparing to hear again ‘that old, old story of Jesus and his birth.’ But Advent celebrates not only the first coming of Christ. It also reminds us that He is coming again, at
3098) It Ain’t Too Late… Yet (2/2) Read More »
The story at the beginning and some of the ideas for this sermon (from several years ago) were found in “Look Up: An Advent Meditation” by William Willimon, Christian Century; November 30, 1983. ———————————— Luke 21:25-28: (Jesus said), “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in
3097) It Ain’t Too Late for You… Yet (1/2) Read More »
Geoffrey Canada is an African-American man who grew up on the streets of Bronx. He is the author of the book Reaching Up for Manhood: Transforming the Lives of Boys in America. In it, he shares some of his personal experiences and tells how he overcame many adverse circumstances. He gives great credit to his
3083) Leaning on Grandma’s Faith Read More »
A while back an old friend told me he didn’t go to church anymore. He said, “It’s the same old thing: ‘things are bad now,’ the preacher always says, ‘but someday Jesus will return and then everything will be better.’ I’ve heard it all before.” My friend knows I am a
3078) Advent… Again Read More »
