Here is an interesting quote from a book I read (can’t remember the title or author):

“A congregation in a small town in Tennessee flew apart rather than staying together. Their place of worship had a sign in front that read, ‘LEFT FOOT BAPTIST CHURCH’. It seems a number of years ago, there had been a split in this local congregation that practiced foot-washing. An argument had broken out over which foot should be washed first. The group insisting on the left foot taking precedence finally withdrew and split off to organize its own church and named its congregation accordingly!”

I’m all for standing up for our beliefs, but that takes the cake. I wonder how many people in the area were attracted to that church by its new name.

Tags: division, fights, unity

Two weeks ago our son, Adam, got married to Layna Houser. It was a great ceremony and not much went wrong. But, it is the unplanned that makes the memories.

Our four year old grandson, Reuben, got a little confused with his words. He couldn’t say, “tuxedo,” and kept saying “Texas” instead. “I’m wearing my Texas”, he was heard saying.

Reuben was the ring bearer. However, my wife hid the pillow with the fake rings so it wouldn’t get lost, and no one thought to ask her where the pillow was. So, Reuben had to walk in without the pillow. So he held the hands of Nathan, the best man, and Isaac Houser, the bride’s brother. Half-way through the ceremony he began to do the “potty dance” and asked them both to help him, to which they both said, “Not now.”

After squirming for awhile, his eyes got real big and he ran down to his parents sitting in the third row. “I pee-peed in my Texas”, he reported. Now that’s a memory for the books.

Tags: humor, wedding

Comedian Emo Philips explains how easy it is to divide God’s people:

In conversation with a person I had recently met, I asked, “Are you a Protestant or Catholic?” My new acquaintance replied, “Protestant.”

I said, “Me, too! What franchise?” He answered, “Baptist.”

“Me, too!” I said. “Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?”

“Northern Baptist,” replied. “Me Too! I shouted.”

We continued back and forth. Finally I asked, “Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist, Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist, Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?”

He replied, “Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist, Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.”

I said, “Die, heretic!”

Lutheran reformer Philip Melancthon proclaimed, “In the essentials, unity; in the non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity [love].”

It seems that some believers keep picking until we find something to disagree on. Perhaps it would be more godly to look for things we agree on rather than hunt until we find what we disagree on. Be a bridge builder this weekend.

Tags: denomination, division, unity

Here’s an article that I submitted to The Hamilton News for publication this week:

Over the next few days we’ll probably eat pretty well. Thanksgiving Day is a special occasion in America even for those who aren’t thankful. The old preacher Harry A. Ironsides was once sitting next to a stranger in a restaurant. When his food arrived, he bowed his head to give thanks.

The stranger interrupted him, “One of those, huh? I work hard for my money. When my food comes, I just dig right in”.

“Yes,” replied Ironsides, “I have a dog that does that, too.”

The main difference between animals and humans is that humans have the capability to relate to God through the Spirit. Animals do not.

In the Gospel of John chapter 6 there is a story of Jesus feeding a crowd of 5,000 with five small barley loaves and two small fish. Verse 11 says, “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish”.

After the meal was finished, His disciples gathered up twelve baskets of leftovers for another day. The Bible clearly called that a “miraculous sign” that convinced many that Jesus was the Prophet.

The next day people came from all around to see this Jesus who had performed the miraculous sign. John 6:23 records, “Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.”

Note that John connected the miraculous provision to the Lord giving thanks. Perhaps there’s more to giving thanks that a quick prayer before we dig in. Perhaps thanksgiving is a heart attitude recognizing God as our Provider.

What might happen if we were not intimidated by our unbelieving Uncle Charlie, and lead a sincere prayer of thanks to God for His abundant provision this Thanksgiving? I suggest we give it a shot before we enjoy the bounty. Perhaps a miracle will follow.

Tags: thanksgiving

This year I’m thankful for several things.

• I’m thankful that Layna Houser has joined our family as my new daughter-in-law. She’ll be good for Adam.
• I’m thankful that Ruby Diehl’s adoption was just finalized, giving us a new granddaughter.
• I’m thankful that God is giving us responders to our new emphasis upon making disciples. That’s a cultural shift that’s just beginning.
• I’m thankful that Anita and I will get to spend Thanksgiving Day with our daughter and family in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a first.
• I’m thankful for faithful supporters in the church who do not run from their responsibilities.
• I’m thankful for new leaders Christ is bringing in from other churches. They have a foundation already laid that we can build upon.
• I’m thankful for five new converts that just made decisions for Christ this past weekend.
• I’m thankful for the five believers who were just baptized last weekend.

What are you thankful for this year?

Tags: thanksgiving

In his book The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer wrote, “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are aut0matically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned not to each other but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.

So, one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity-conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”

If all Christians of every denomination were focused upon being like Jesus, I think we would soon lose the denominational differences. Let’s use Jesus as our standard and our petty differences will seem like nothing.

Tags: music, unity