Family Resemblance
When our first child was born, one of the nurses told me that newborn babies supposedly look more like dad than mom so that dad will develop a strong bond with the child. I don’t know if that’s really true or if it’s …
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Blessed to Give
You’ve heard the saying: “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” Where’s the blessing in giving? Given the choice, wouldn’t we rather be on the receiving end every time? We certainly know that giving can be a …
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The Joy of Giving
You know the old saying: “Money can’t buy happiness.” It’s true, unless you give it to others. Nothing compares with the feeling we get when we share with others, when we bring others joy, or when we help other people. …
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Stone Soup
There’s an old story about some hungry travelers who came to a village, only to find that none of the villagers would share any food with them. The travelers had a cooking pot, so they filled it with water, dropped a …
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Against the Flow
You probably know the feeling of moving along with a crowd of people. Maybe everyone’s headed down into a subway platform, or out of a stadium after a concert or sporting event. In any case, there aren’t a lot of options …
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Logs and Splinters
You’ve heard the judgmental comments people make: “Why don’t they discipline their children?” “Does he realize how ridiculous he looks wearing that?” “They’re taking another vacation? How can they afford that?” And …
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Me, Worry?
I’m not generally a worrier, but we all have our moments. Sometimes, for example, when it seems like all of life’s i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed, I worry that perhaps I’m actually forgetting something significant. …
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Old Habits
Some years ago I was preaching for a small worship service at a nursing home. The attendees were residents with a background in the Christian faith, but many suffered from dementia and were largely unresponsive during …
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Eyes, Teeth, and Cheeks
We’re all familiar with the expression “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.” It comes from the Old Testament, and refers to the idea that punishment or recompense should match an offense that has been committed. This …
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Opposite World
Thanks to a strange development in the English language, the words “flammable” and “inflammable” mean the same thing. Frequently, we use the prefix in– to mean “not,” but not in this case. The word “inflammable” is based …
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