Insights From The Rocking Chair

My title this time is not original, as you can probably tell by the quality. It is taken from a billboard ad of a popular trial lawyer. It has been several months since I noticed it and don't know if it is still being used, but I thought what a great title for a sermon. Since I am not a preacher (at least professionally) I will use it here. Of course, the lawyer was advertising for folks injured in a car crash, but life in general can be just as destructive as any car accident. None of us can deny that we are living in a perilous economic time. Major and minor corporations are laying folks off by the thousand's. And what about the gas prices. Anyone saying I'll pay more to go to work? I didn't think so! Life is hard and most of us, if we live long enough and are honest, will come face to face with a personal crash of some kind or the other. It might be the death of a child or some other family member or dear friend. Maybe your marriage is failing. Maybe your spouse is ...

On mother's day I wrote about my mom and I should be strung up and whipped if I didn't do the same of our day. I am sitting here staring at the cursor blinking wondering where to begin, because I have a lot I could write but really don't want to bore you to death. I called my dad this morning to wish him a happy father's day. I have to call early because he would have soon been out the door and down to the church where he pastor's to begin his usually busy Sunday. And I guess that is what describes him best. Being a pastor is who he is as well as what he does. I will try to better define that for you. A few years ago at 65 he retired. (ha!) Soon after, he went part time as an associational director, but it wasn't long he was back at the church he had retired from as an interim while they looked for a new pastor. Well that interim turned into coming out of retirement and back to pastoring. Before he committed for the second time, I believe I asked him why he woul...

This weekend I have the opportunity to participate in an historic event in our community. The church I attended for many years is celebrating it's 50th anniversary. Quite a milestone for any organization or marriage or just about anything, but this weekend is their day in the spotlight. If you are reading this as a Christian, then you know that the church is not a group of buildings, but is the body of believers that have banded together to worship and to re-charge the batteries. It is also that body going out from the building into the community to use the knowledge in the head moved to the heart to show God's love and compassion to everyone. As I sat and listened to 3 of the former pastors speak Friday night, they spoke of the commitment of the church members to do the things necessary to make sure that when people were in need there was someone there to help. My mind was taken back to a time that compassion and God's love was poured out on my family. I have told this st...

I once heard a visiting preacher tell a story about leaving a meeting in some town and while at the airport he needed to call home to let his wife know when to expect him. After making the call he hung up the pay phone he had used and the quarter came back. He picked up the phone and dialed the operator and told her that the quarter had returned. The operator said she knew. She said that she had recognized his voice when she helped him make his call. She had been in the meeting the night before when he preached on character. She had made the phone give the quarter back because she wanted to see if he practiced what he preached. I have been around people all of my life that were made from the same stock. Their word is their bond and you can take what they say to the bank. Now we will be watching two men vie to become the next President of the United States. If not for you, for me, character will be a big deal. I don't expect either to be perfect or believe exactly as I do, but I am ...