If you have not read the SHACK by William P.Young, you will at least have heard of it. If you have not heard of it, give it some time, and you will. I am not much on doing book reviews, but this book is worth the read. My father told me about the book and how much he loved it. GenerallyI never read anything my dad recommends but there was something in his insistence that made this recommendation more promising than books by Dickens, Tolstoy,Fyodor Dostoevsky and other classics that he usually tears up about. I read the book half way through and could not get past God being portrayed as a large black woman, Jesus as a small bearded Asian man and the Holy Spirit also as a woman. It did not help that certain watch dog groups warned of certain sections in the book smacked of heresy. I live with the mantra not to judge a book before I have read past the cover, or something like that. (Actually that is the first time I have really said that). So, I gave it another chance, and after only a  week I finally put the book down last night in tears. It was the most refreshing, renewing book I have read in a long time. Time and space do not allow me to say more, but if you get the book, read it. If you struggle with God portrayed as a woman, remember the scriptures uses a Lion and Lamb to describe Him. Once you have read the book, send me a note and let me know what you got out of it. In the meantime, don’t judge ... Read More

Many of us are wearing pins that say, IT’S OK TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS. I have one thing to say that will take the wind out of the efforts of pagans who refuse to acknowledge the true purpose of this Season. Didyou know the word Holiday comes from the word HOLY (holy day) and did you know the word HAPPY comes from the word BLESSED (or even joyful)? So when you insist on keeping Christ out of Christmas by wishing us that seemingly non-committed- mean nothing - be sure not to offend anyone greeting of HAPPY HOLIDAY you are in fact doing us a great favor. You are wishing us a Blessed, Joyful Holy Day and for that we agree with you and are truly grateful. Thank you foryour willingness to join us in acknowledging the true sacredness of this season. And for the rest of us who cringe when we are wished a Happy Holiday, nowyou can thank the greeter for wishing you a Blessed Holy Day!  Any comment? Click on my name above!

The Following is the script from a talk I gave to a group gathered in the town square for a lighting of the lights service for The Relay for Life Organization.

I am speaking to you for a few moments not as a pastor but as a father and husband who has had to see two sons suffer from cancer and my wife suffer also from cancer all in the past ten years. I mention this as someone who all my life has been very competitive. I have never liked to lose whether it has been in sports or in life. When I was younger and played basket ball and soccer, losing a game would bother me for days. I never agreed very well with comments that some made that it does not matter if you win or lose it is how you play the game. Well, I played to win and losing bothered me. When I watched three precious members of my family suffer from cancer, I wanted to win. I could not deal with this possibility of loss and the attitude that it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose what matters is how you play this game did not seem to fit in this fight. It might work in sports, but not when it comes to this. I watched one of my sons die of cancer and it seemed a loss. I saw my wife suffer and recover from cancer but with a lot of impact on her life, and more recently I witnessed my other son recover from cancer and he thankfully he has been in remission now for two full years.

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What I am thankful for this week?

A Family to Come Home To!

Knowing that Jesus loves me, no matter what?

First Alliance Church...A Great Church with a  Grand Mission!

Tough times, because without them, I would lean on my own strength....and collapse.  ( I am not much to lean on and besides it is hard to lean on yourself. Always wobbly!)

That we are merely passing through!

That this is more than a journey, but there is definite destination! (To all my emerging Christian friends)

Tell me what you are thankful for! Click on my name above!