A lot of people don’t know this, but the founders of the Christian Church, people like Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone, were wary of having ordained clergy in the church. They were afraid if the church hired paid ministers that everyone else might lose sight of the fact that the church is called to be…

Years ago, President Franklin Roosevelt suspected many of the people around him weren’t really listening. So, one evening he decided to find out. As each person came up to shake his hand, he flashed a grin and said, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” People would automatically respond with comments like, “Keep up the good…

In the Gospels, Jesus says: “You must become like little children to enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” I once heard a preacher say that children were welcome into the kingdom because of their natural innocence. Whoever said that obviously never had any children of their own. The reason I think Jesus picked children as…

When I was in high school, I went out for the basketball team because after years of playing in my driveway, I could dribble and shoot like a pro. Or, at least, I thought so. What I quickly discovered is that raw talent is no substitute for hard work and years of being coached. While…

A couple of years ago, about a minute after midnight on New Year’s Eve, my brother laid claim to the New Year as “the Year of Brook.” Now, every year someone else makes the claim. My brother’s theory was that everything was going to go his way. Of course, he also has a theory that…

Christmas is almost here! This coming weekend we will be having all four of our regular worship services and then a full slate of Christmas Eve services on Sunday afternoon and evening (see page two). It’s going to be a busy weekend! Afterwards, I plan to settle in for a “long winter’s nap” and enjoy…

This past Sunday afternoon at the Community Christmas Concert, “One Solitary Life,” by Danny Hahlbohm was read. I was struck again by its power. Here is a shortened version: “Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He worked as a carpenter until he was thirty.…

I believe in the power of community. Indeed, the theme that is guiding our programming this year is “Building Community.” But I’m always amazed and awed when I see authentic community in action. Over the past few weeks, I’ve watched as our church came together to provide 178 beds for children in our community. It…

Thanksgiving is behind us. Over the rivers and through the woods, we’ve returned from Grandmother’s house to begin preparing for Christmas. Although you rarely hear the word, this season of preparation has a name: Advent. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word Adventus – which means coming. It’s a time, not only for decorating…

Occasionally, when I’m talking to someone who has a lot of unhappiness in their life, I’m tempted to ask, “What is the one thing all of your problems have in common?” Of course, the correct answer is “ME!” However, since that approach isn’t usually received too well, I generally try to use a more pastoral…