Yesterday, I got a text message with a picture from a member of our church. The picture showed a beautiful new Cadillac  parked in front of a building.  It had a specialty license plate that said, “TITHER.” She wrote, “I’m not sure what to think about this.  Af first I giggled, then it made me … Continue reading Daily Devotional December 23, 2021 →

One of the greatest privileges of my job is performing funerals.  I do a lot of them.  This means, even though I see joy, I also see a tremendous amount of pain.  The Christmas Season makes the pain of losing loved ones even more pronounced.If you are one of those who has lost a loved … Continue reading Daily Devotional for December 22, 2021 →

A couple I dearly love moved to the Dallas Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.  I wanted them to commute to Temple on Sundays, but they decided driving almost three hours each way was too far, so they attend a church close to their home.  Their new pastors are friends of mine.Last week, this hilarious couple sent … Continue reading Daily Devotional for December 21, 2021 →

Mike sent the following story. He said, “Tom, for some reason, I thought you would like this one.”  He was right. “A man and his wife were lying in bed the other night when he noticed she had bought a new book entitled, "What 20 Million American Women Want.” He grabbed the book out of … Continue reading Daily Devotional December 20, 2021 →

Years ago, I arranged for police protection at the church.  When some of our members first saw patrol cars, I heard comments like, “I’ve lived here my whole life and we’ve never needed police.”  No one says that anymore.  The world has changed.Sadly, the world is becoming a much angrier, violent place.Road rage, domestic abuse, … Continue reading Daily Devotional for December 16, 2021 →

The names in this devotional have been changed to protect the innocent – but they will know I am talking about them.Last Thursday, I visited a wonderful couple in our church that, because of health reasons, have been unable to attend Sunday morning worship since the pandemic turned the world upside down.  But, even though … Continue reading Daily Devotional for December 15, 2021 →

Barbara sent the following song that is sung to the tune of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” or “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”  Sadly, it echoes what many of us experience this time of year. A Christmas Lament(may be sung to the tune of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" or — with some … Continue reading Daily Devotional December 14, 2021 →

  One of the rites of passage in our church is Mrs. Goodfellow’s children’s Sunday school class.  For generations, she has taught her little munchkins about the Bible.  She is a true expert in helping children really understand God’s holy word.  She is one of the true treasures of our church.  The culmination of Mrs. … Continue reading Daily Devotional for December 13, 2021 →

The most important book in the world is the Bible.  The most important part of my job is teaching the Bible.Some parts of the Bible really don’t need an explanation. Leviticus tells us we are prohibited from eating buzzards and vultures. (Leviticus 11:12-13)  If you have to have an explanation as to why you shouldn’t eat … Continue reading Daily Devotional for Decemer 9, 2021 →

Every year I have the exact same experience during the season of Advent.  The first Sunday is immediately after Thanksgiving. And while there is a liturgical shift, it really doesn’t  do much to shift me into a different season.   Then comes the second Sunday.  That’s when everything changes gears. For then last fifteen years, … Continue reading Daily Devotional for December 8, 2021 →