You may not have heard that expression, but if you imagine the basic shape of a hockey stick, you can figure out that it is a lighthearted way to try to spell “Hell.” People have varying reactions to the idea of Hell. For me, as a kid, I was raised in a church that was … Continue reading H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks

Ok, so this a thought that will encourage some, and aggravate others: One of the un-noticed byproducts of the past “Covid-year” is the gradual alteration of the very meaning of the word “Church.” In the original language, the word for church is “ecclesia” and it literally means “Gathered together.” Sadly, a pandemic hit, and we … Continue reading Changing C-h-u-r-c-h

We've been dwelling on the theme of "the Butterfly Effect." The phrase was coined in the 1960's after a scientist (mathematician and meteorologist) curiously quipped, "If a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, could it set off a tornado in Texas?" The short and answer is "no"...not exactly, in fact, not even close. There is … Continue reading Butterflies in the winter

It's hard to believe we are already in February 2021! When a new year arrives, we tend to get our hopes up for wanted change, and "turning the page" in life. Perhaps no year in recent history had our hopes up like 2021. I believe most of us were weary of 2020; from a pandemic … Continue reading What to do without good news?

Supposedly there was a conversation between some scientists, and one posed a question: "If a butterfly flaps his wings in one remote location could it cause a tornado in another?" (Not an exact quote, but think Tokyo and Tennessee.) It's a cool and intriguing idea rooted in what is called chaos theory, but the bottom … Continue reading Can you make a difference? Really?

I had the privilege to speak at the chapel service of a local elementary school this week. The 15 minute drive brought back memories of when I drove our two kids there in elementary school on my days off. (In fact, I stopped at McDonalds and bought me a sausage McMuffin with egg in memory … Continue reading Your daily gift for 2021

Last Saturday I had the honor of officiating at the goodbye celebration (funeral and graveside service) of David Saylor. Before moving to Dayton, Dave grew up in the hills of Kentucky; we've been friends since my wife and I moved here 37 years ago. "Doing funerals" is part of what I do for a living … Continue reading Some final words from my friend Dave Saylor

We say "Happy New Year" amid record coronavirus cases, a questioned election and more civil unrest. I must confess feeling deeply troubled at the state of our world. We'll begin a new sermon series this weekend at CLC: "Hindsight is always 2020…a healthy re-set for a new year." Oddly enough, in this series I'll try … Continue reading Troubling Times

I am typing this on December 31, 2020 shortly before midnight. I just turned off the TV showing an empty Times Square that is normally filled with a million partiers. It is a strange ending to a strange year. I wish I were one of those people who meticulously journaled their year, and always had … Continue reading At least one positive “takeaway” from 2020

Christmas is less than two days away from the time of this post and the first Christmas is over 2,000 years ago. Looking back, I'm sure there were at least a few people who said two words they learned to regret; we know at least one person did. I suggest it was the innkeeper who … Continue reading Two words they wish they hadn’t said at Christmas