Affective
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Long Awaited, Unexpected
They had waited so long for the Messiah, but they did not expect a child. Mary and Joseph did not expect a pregnancy. The shepherds did not expect a sky full of angels. Herod did not expect the Magi. The wedding guests did not expect the best wine at the end of the reception. The…
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Immigration … Maybe They’re Both Wrong
Support for immigrants cost him his party’s nomination for President. Instead, Lincoln went on to become President in 1860 instead of William Seward, who became the Secretary of State in Lincoln’s administration. Later, Republicans opposed illiterate immigrants; Democrats opposed importing “pauper labor” to do the menial jobs. That was the 1896 election between William Jennings…
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Depression Is Real. Deal With It!
Monday evening social media exploded. Many say they are mourning. Most are simply remembering a great entertainer; mourning our loss of a source of entertainment. Robin will be missed because he brought joy and laughter. I never met Robin Williams. Most who did meet him probably didn’t KNOW him. But genuine mourning for Robin…
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Trash Talking In Front of a Minister
If it wasn’t for trash talking in front of a seminary student during a rugby scrum this weekend might be very boring. Jim was a senior at the Presbyterian College of Theology in Montreal. It was 1890 and one of Jim’s friends blurted out a “profanity” during a rugby game. He quickly apologized giving the…
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When Tolerance Masquerades As Grace
John, a disciple of Jesus, said, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth . . . From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.…
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Is Grace Available?
I got a phone call from God on Wednesday. Actually, it was from one of those telephone sales people, but I’m sure that God was behind it. Wednesday afternoon was busy, as usual, and we were short-handed in the church office. When one of the secondary phone lines started to ring, I knew it must…
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The Lone Ranger Wasn’t Really Alone
Growing up in America, I’ve learned a few things that are as American as apple pie and Chevrolet. The Cubs will probably never win a World Series Championship. You can remember the names of the Great Lakes because each lake starts with a letter in the word HOMES. Columbus discovered the New World; or was…
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Even Peyton Longs For Community
I watched the Indianapolis Colts’ preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks last week and something that John Madden said caught my attention. He said that Peyton Manning said something that Madden hadn’t heard in twenty years. Peyton startled him by asking, “Do you know what I love about training camp?” John Madden’s broadcasting partner interrupted…
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