Central Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)

I am writing this particular column at the beginning of another week of Vacation Bible School at Central Christian Church. Every summer when VBS rolls around, I think about when I used to go to VBS – a long, long time ago. I may not remember many of the sermons that were preached back then, [...]

This Sunday is Father’s Day.  It also happens to be the Sunday in our series on the Ten Commandments when we consider the Fifth Commandment to “Honor your father and your mother.”  I wish I could say it was impeccable planning that juxtaposed Father’s Day and the Fifth Commandment, but I’m not that clever.  It [...]

I just dropped my daughter off at school for her last final exam of the year. I certainly miss the prospect of summer vacation – but I do not miss taking tests or lengthy term papers. Even now, several decades after my last final exam, I still am prone to nightmares in which I show [...]

With school coming to a close for many this week, I am reminded of my own summer vacations – way back when I was a kid, before dad said, “Okay, this summer you’re not going to sleep all morning and spend the rest of the day at the pool – you’re going to go to [...]

I have been doing a lot of reading preparation for the sermon series on the Ten Commandments which begins this Sunday. The more I think and pray about it, the more obvious the need to hear these words again becomes. I am excited to begin this journey with you as we explore the Ten Commandments [...]

Occasionally, the “natives” among us – those who have been around for as long as anyone can remember, need to be reminded what it feels like to be a “pilgrim” – a visitor on any given Sunday morning. What does it feel like to get up and go to a church where you’ve never been [...]

Some people carry a pocket knife, special coin, or other special item with them every day. My father, who worked on machinery everyday for decades, carries a little wrench around in his pocket. It is completely worn smooth and probably never gets used anymore. But it still does its job. Just like the other things [...]

Following the resurrection, Jesus appeared first to the women, then to the disciples and finally to Thomas, who was the last to see Jesus and the most unsure about the whole thing. When Jesus confronted Thomas, he said to him, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” In other words, blessed are [...]

Edwin Markham, the famous poet, once wrote these words regarding his experience of God: I made a pilgrimage to find our God: I listened for his voice at holy tombs, Searched for the print of his immortal feet In [the] dust of broken altars; yet turned back With empty heart. But on the homeward road, [...]

I am writing this week’s column on the first day of Holy Week. There is a lot yet to come. There is the betrayal of Thursday night – and the trial through the night and into Friday morning). On Friday, we remember Jesus’ crucifixion and death. It’s very important we not skip over these parts [...]