STORY #1    Many years ago, Al Capone (pictured above on left) virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for gambling, bootlegging, bribery, narcotics trafficking, bank robberies, prostitution, and murder. He once said, “It’s not that I enjoy robbing banks and killing people; but it keeps me out of […]
2885) Two Stories Read More »
By Paul Harvey, Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 1992 ***************************** We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I’d know better. I’d really like for them to know about hand-me-down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf. I really would. My cherished grandson,
2881) These Things I Wish for You Read More »
By William Willimon, Pastor, pages 99-100, Abingdon, 2002 Â Â Â Early in my ministry I arrived at a hospital room where a woman in my church had just given birth. Â I had been told that “there were problems with the birth.” Â A couple sat in the hospital room waiting for the doctor. Â The doctor appeared
2833) Reasonable? Read More »
   A while back I saw a you-tube clip of Louie C. K. (1967- ) on Conan O’Brian’s late night show. Louie C. K. is not my favorite comedian. Like so many entertainers today, his routines are filled with profanity, and his outlook on life is cynical and ungodly. But he oftentimes does speak
By Rev. William Willimon, Pulpit Resource, First Quarter, 2009, page. 12 Â Â Â I have met a number of parents who have gotten the notion that, while parents should train their children in academic and vocational skills, they should not “impose” ethical or religious values upon their children. Â “We simply tell our children what we
2814) “Imposing” Church on Children? Read More »
By Fred Craddock (1928-2015), Craddock Stories, ed. by Mike Graves and Richard F. Ward, 2001, Chalice Press, pages 23-24. ————————    When I was pastoring in Tennessee, there was a girl about seven years old who came to our church regularly for Sunday school, and sometimes her parents let her stay for the worship service.
2789) Party Time / Prayer Time Read More »
An experience Peter Marshall (1902-1949), the great Scottish-American preacher, related during his ministry; from A Man Called Peter, by Catherine Marshall,  pp. 230-231, 272-273:   On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Peter Marshall preached to the regiment of midshipmen in the Naval Academy at Annapolis.  A strange feeling which he couldn’t shake off led him to change
2782) “Mother, What is it Like to Die?” Read More »
By Fred Craddock, Craddock Stories, pages 126-127 (adapted). ——————————————–    Up near where I live, at Fannin County Hospital, ministers around take turns being chaplain for the week.  I took my turn, and the week I was on watch, there was a baby born.  Not many are born in that small, thirty-bed hospital.  But I went
2628) “Do You Think She’ll Remember?” Read More »
People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them.  But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of
2599) Act Your Age? Read More »
By Anne Lamott (1954- ), Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, Pantheon Press, 1999, pages 99-103.    Sam is the only kid he knows of who goes to church. I make him go. He rarely wants to.    This is not exactly true. The truth is he never wants to go. What 7-year-old
2553) Why I Make Sam Go to Church Read More »
