Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 5:1-22; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Luke 16:10-18 Have you ever dropped a ceramic cup onto a hard floor? Clay can be molded, shaped, glazed, and fired in a kiln to make a useful and beautiful item. If you are not careful, when handling a cup, it can break and no longer hold what it was designed

Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 4:32-40; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Luke 16:1-9 On the surface this parable is very confusing; dishonesty seems to rule. But that is not the case at all. Note how this dishonest manager demonstrates initiative, and when put to the right purposes, initiative is a good thing. Initiative has a role in our life in

Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 4:25-31; 2 Corinthians 1:23–2:17; Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 Turning sixty did not bother me, nor did turning sixty-five. But the day I received my Medicare card in the mail, it struck me that I have crossed a significant milestone into a more “elderly” phase of life. I rejoice in the wisdom I have gained,

Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 4:15-24; 2 Corinthians 1:12-22; Luke 15:1-10 When I was in kindergarten, I would never have imagined my teacher having a thought about me after the 3:20 bell. She had better things to do. Whatever grown-ups did when they drove away in their cars, she did that. And I was gone from her mind

Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 4:9-14; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Luke 14:25-35 Great crowds accompanied Jesus. They walked with him along the way while he taught and ministered in the power of God his Father. He tells the crowd that they must hate their families and the life they have chosen before they can be his disciples, his followers,

  Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-9; Revelation 7:1-4, 9-17; Matthew 12:33-45 In Revelation 7, we are given a vision of a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne of the Lamb — wearing white robes which were washed and made white in the blood of

Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 1:1-8; 1 Timothy 6:6-21; Luke 14:12-24 We learn an important lesson in our reading from Luke 24: nothing is to come before accepting God’s invitation to his kingdom. Responding to a man who stated, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God,” Jesus told the parable of a

Today’s readings: Ruth 4:1-22; 1 Timothy 5:17-22 (23-25); Luke 14:1-11 Wedding receptions are always a bit troublesome for me. I don’t usually know too many people other than the bride and groom. As the pastor who officiated at the wedding, I usually go to the reception alone and am never sure where to sit. If I