In 1983 I became the pastor of a small church that, at the time, was four and a half years old. I made a commitment to God and to myself that I would not leave there until I was certain that it was time. I based that commitment on something I learned in the Marine Corps.

There are 11 General Orders that all Marines everywhere are to memorize and follow when they are on interior guard duty. The 5th General Order is this: “To quit my post only when properly relieved.” Read More»

A few years ago, while on study leave in Ireland, I had a few moments to relax at an outdoor cafe one January evening in Dublin. It was around 5 p.m. and very dark except for the lights of the city. Suddenly, the offices closed and young professionals streamed out onto the city’s streets. Read More»

Two weeks ago, six people were killed and 14 wounded in what has been called the “Tucson Tragedy.”

One year ago, 200,000 people were killed and 1.5 million remain homeless as a result of a devastating earthquake in the nation of Haiti.

One decade ago, some 3,000 people were killed in Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington, D. C. on Sept. 11. Read More»

Auburn University is the national champion and the best team in college football. Or are they?

This week they were 2 seconds and 3 points better than the University of Oregon. Certainly, they are the best in the Southeastern Conference, which can, without much doubt, lay claim to being the best college football conference in the United States, having won five national championships in a row. Read More»

According to Wikipedia, “The ‘fog of war’ is a term used to describe the level of ambiguity in situational awareness experienced by participants in military operations. The term seeks to capture the uncertainty regarding own capability, adversary capability, and adversary intent during an engagement, operation, or campaign. The term is ascribed to the Prussian military analyst Carl von Clausewitz, who wrote: Read More»

Where is Jesus this Christmas? In many churches, he will be found as a child occupying a manger in a Nativity scene. Some will find him in the songs of the season. Some songs will ask, “What Child is This?” while others will place him in a little town called Bethlehem. Still other musical works will marvel at how the herald angels sang or how silent was the night at his birth.

Yet other people, with all sincerity, will ask, “Where is Jesus?” Read More»

“Are you Santa?”

The question came from a little boy about 4 years old. I was sitting in a low beach chair enjoying the sand and sun of Florida a few years ago. I heard the shy voice and looked up from my book. The little tyke was staring intently and waiting for the answer to his question.

Looking around, as if to see if anyone were listening, I motioned him, to take a step or two closer, put my finger to my lips, and said, “Shhhhh!” Then I added, “Even Santa needs a vacation.”

His eyes lit up and he exclaimed, “I won’t tell anyone. I promise!” Read More»

I am an Auburn War Eagle ...at least for the next month.

It has been said that there are two dominant faith groups in the South: the Baptists and the Southeastern Conference and that it a good thing for the Baptists that the SEC plays its football games on Saturday. Read More»

Several days ago, a 15-year-old young lady said that she hadn’t decided what to give up for Advent. After a brief discussion, we clarified the fact that she had confused Advent with Lent. However she wasn’t exactly wrong. Read More»

So, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is instituting new screening procedures for the flying public. One method involves a sort of X-ray that is apparently pretty revealing. The other is an “enhanced pat-down.” Plenty of people are terribly upset about this claiming that the procedures violate privacy and are a violation of the 4th Amendment prohibitions against unlawful search and seizure. I am not among those people. Read More»