Sometimes I am truly surprised and humbled by the way God orchestrates events to help others.Listed below is a letter BJ sent me last week.  God is good.“Pastor Tom,It is 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning and I can’t sleep because I want to tell you how children’s time on Sunday brought back some treasured memories.When you brought … Continue reading Daily Devotional for August 13, 2024 →

Comments prior to yesterday’s 8:30 worship service.Allan is the head usher for the 8:30 service.  He said, “I think I’m going to give this Christianity thing one more week.”  He’ll be back.I complained to Michael because I didn’t want him sitting so close.  He usually sits on the second to last row.  We are both good with that.Michael explained … Continue reading Daily Devotional for August 12, 2024 →

Melissa is “Doer of All Things,” for our church.  Technically, she works for me, but I’ve noticed she is the one giving the orders and I am the one taking the orders.Tuesday morning, Melissa walked into my office and began to vent.  I said, “Err on the side of grace.”Melissa responded, “We all know you have more grace than … Continue reading Daily Devotional for August 8, 2024 →

One of the greatest privileges of my job is going to visit people in the hospital.  Sometimes it is happy.  Sometimes it is sad.  Each visit is different.The procedure for entering the hospital entails presenting my driver’s license, explaining where I am going, and wearing a visitor’s sticker.  While there are times when the lines to get into the … Continue reading Daily Devotional for August 7, 2024 →

My favorite artist is Kenneth Wyatt.  He was an ordained Methodist minister who painted western and religious themes.  If you’ve ever walked down the hallway of a church and seen individual portraits of the Apostles hanging on the wall, you’ve seen his work.  He died in 2021.I am blessed to have eight of Kenneth Wyatt’s prints hanging in … Continue reading Daily Devotional for July 31, 2024 →

Josh and Nicole have three sons.  They are absolutely wonderful.  They are little walking tornadoes.Josh has to travel a lot because of work.  This means there are times when Nicole has to ride herd solo.  Being the only parent at home is not easy.This past Sunday, during the children’s time, I asked the children to raise their hands if … Continue reading Daily Devotional for July 30, 2024 →

Because of Shannon’s traumatic brain injury, she has to have someone with her twenty-four hours a day.  Jo, her caregiver is with her forty hours a week.  I am with her the other one-hundred twenty-eight hours.  Taking care of Shannon has been the greatest privilege of my life. Jo and Shannon have really hit if off.  They are true buddies.  Having … Continue reading Daily Devotional for July 25, 2024 →

I have come to the conclusion that I was born in the wrong decade.  That’s because all the members of our staff and much of our church think that texting is a good way to communicate.  I don’t, because I always mess it up.The only good text message I’ve ever seen, is based on God’s rules for … Continue reading Daily Devotional for July 24, 2024 →

Toni makes sugar cookies which she meticulously decorates with icing.  Each one is a work of art.  They are the best I have ever eaten.  Her husband, Buzz, agrees with me.Because I am always whining, begging, and pleading for Toni to make me some cookies, she did.Yesterday, just prior to the staff meeting, Buzz presented me with a … Continue reading Daily Devotional for July 23, 2024 →

Because it is so darned hot, for this month, on Sunday mornings, the staff is observing No Tie July.Knowing that would be a big change from our usual formal Sunday attire, I decided on the first Sunday of July to explain what was happening.  As I addressed the congregation, I was very clear, succinct, and brilliant … Continue reading Daily Devotional for July 15, 2024 →