Worry is the exact opposite of faith. We find it very easy to worry about money. What if I lose my job? Suppose I get laid off? How am I going to pay for college? How much will I need to retire? Suppose I get sick and can’t work? These are all things we worry […]
Billy Graham described his close friend and colleague Harry Denman as “one of the great mentors for evangelism.” We, in the United Methodist Church, must agree with Billy Graham. We give the Denman evangelism award every year to a Virginia pastor who does a great job of evangelism. Harry Denman was known for his passion […]
Have you ever attempted something in life and realized that you were a failure at it? Phillip Brooks has. He studied to be a teacher. He graduated from college but soon realized he was a failure at being a teacher. He was compelled to resign. He cried out, “I don’t know what will become of […]
A mother’s influence left a momentous mark on the life of John Yates. Yates’ mother carefully recorded entries in her tithing book. “If the hens laid 15 eggs one day, she noted the fact in the evening, and then in a special column she wrote down, ‘one-and-a-half eggs.’ ” When John was only 14, he […]
Someone asked American statesman Daniel Webster, “What is the greatest thing that has ever come to your mind?” He pondered a bit, and replied in a simple and brief comment. “A sense of my responsibility to God.” Webster had served in Congress, as a senator and U.S. secretary of state, and yet the greatest thought […]
Many times we pray and ask to have more faith in God. These are usually days when someone is very ill and seems to have no way of getting well. Often, these are days when everything seems to be going wrong. Dwight Moody confessed once that he spent hours on his knees praying for faith. […]
“Look, Daddy, that church has a plus sign on the steeple!” A young child exclaims. All I can say is Amen! I wish all of us would look at the cross on the steeple and realize what a “plus” that is. The Christ on the cross brings a plus to life. I often see people […]
“One man is no man at all,” the old Latin proverb reminds us. It’s when we learn to do things together that humanity has known its highest joys, thus we pray: “Our father, who art in heaven…” My father used to say there are too many people who are presidents of the “I Love Me […]
We’re a strange people! We talk about how bad the times are, but the bottom line is what my father always said, ”These are the best bad times we’ve ever had!” Our economy is growing – the unemployment rate is down, and yes – wages are going up. We get so caught up in the […]
Years ago, we needed to replace our refrigerator. My first stop was to the closest mega hardware store. It didn’t take long to find a refrigerator on sale that matched our needs. Spotting an employee, I asked, “I see an interesting refrigerator. Can I ask you a few questions?” He smiled and said, “I’m sorry, […]