Preaching can be an emotional experience. Each person hears the sermon differently. Like any form of communication, it is only effective if the speaker and hearer are in a similar frame of mind. Think for a moment how hard it is to interpret emails. We think someone is angry when they aren’t. We can see …
Tag Archives: love
As sure as Death and Taxes
We are all familiar with Ben Franklin’s statement that nothing is as certain as death and taxes. And while it was said a bit tongue in cheek (at least about the taxes) we understand its truth. It is not even questioned. But in the church, we regularly see something else that is just as sure …
The Power of Interpretation
Recently I preached a message which inspired some confusion and several questions. It can be difficult, at times, to make sure everything meant in a message is understood. What I was saying is the Bible, as a book, is simply unable to answer plainly every question faced in an entire human life. Part of my …
Friends before Facebook
Think back about how many fights you have seen on social media. If your experience is anything like mine, you have probably lost scores of friends over various issues. Today I was reminded how easily this could happen when a Facebook “discussion” started with an old friend—we’ve been friends for 15 years, not just on …
What is Love?
Recently, I was asked, “What is love?” This question may seem simplistic to many, but it becomes pretty complex if you think about it. Rather than answering right away, I stepped back to consider it. The world, of course, has its own definition. This is part of the problem when we discuss issues with the …