Roger

You probably know that John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible. It packs a punch!  John writes two words that echo across the years – from the Garden of Eden to the tomb of Lazarus, to the end of this age:  “Jesus wept.” This powerful verse describes what Jesus Christ did during an emotionally charged event – a funeral.   What makes this so unusual?   After all, people often cry at funerals.   Yes, but on this occasion we see God crying at a funeral.   Many suggest He cried because His good friend Lazarus had died.   And that may be partly true; however, I believe He cried for reasons that go much deeper. First of all, Jesus Christ did not simply cry – He wailed.   His eyes were more than moist.   An emotional dam broke deep within the Master, as tears cascaded down His face and a loud moan overrode the already high-pitched sounds of paid mourners.   Surely, our Savior’s thoughts traveled back in time to the Garden of E...

Church culture comes replete with its own preacher jokes.  The other day an acquaintance of mine asked me, “Do you know what it usually means when a pastor says, ‘Now, in closing?’” “Absolutely nothing,” he laughed!   Billy Graham loved to tell this story about a long- winded preacher:   Two men were sitting on the front row in church when one took off his shoe to throw at the preacher.   However, his aim was way off and the shoe hit a man in the head sitting across the aisle.   After a few seconds the second man yelled, “Throw your other shoe, I can still hear him!” My homiletics (art of preaching) professor in Bible School was famous for saying, “Stand up so they can see you, speak up so they can ear you, and sit down so they will love you.”   Long-winded preachers have been the butt of jokes forever, but the fact remains that “our ears can only hear what our seats can endure.”   Years ago, my family and I went to hear a nationally acclai...

The dictionary gives several definitions for the word “Disconnect” – all of them play into a heavy concern of mine as a pastor.   Let’s consider four of them: “To sever or interrupt the connection of or between.” “To detach.” “To withdraw into one’s private world.” “A lack of communication or agreement.” So, what’s my concern?   To fully explain my thoughts, consider a passage in Acts 2, which describes the lifestyle of Christians in the Early Church: ”They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.   Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.   All the believers were together and had everything in common.   They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.   Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.   They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and en...

When it comes down to it, there’s nothing as wonderful as family, except of course, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Life is meaningful and rewarding because of family ties.  Our family of origin shapes our values, morals and important life principles during our childhood and then in our adult years, we draw on precious memories that transport us across the years – memories that last a lifetime. As I reflect upon my childhood, I remember the following incidences that still bring smiles and even laughter when recalled: My dad’s name was Paul, so to avoid confusion everyone referred to my brother Paul Robert as Bob.   No one ever called him by his given name.   During roll call on his first day in kindergarten my brother did not respond when the teacher called his name.   That evening he matter-of-factly said to my mother, “Mom, guess what?   A boy in our class has the same name as dad and when the teacher called his name he did not answer her...