In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, the first spirit foretold by Jacob Marley is The Ghost of Christmas Past. “It was a strange figure,” Dickens writes — a white-haired apparition with the face of a child and jet of light beaming from its head. The Spirit of Christmas Past...

Everybody knows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge  —  the “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner” of Charles Dickens’ immortal novel, A Christmas Carol. The very mention of the name “Scrooge” conjures up the image of a stingy, spiteful old man, and his most famous catchword, “Bah, humbug,” has become a staple...

Last year at about this time, I got a letter from my doctor. He wrote that my PSA was high, which is a blood test to detect prostate cancer. He advised me to find a urologist and get a biopsy. I stared at the letter, dumbfounded, for several seconds before...

  I sat uncomfortably in the nicely-furnished room of the doctor’s office, trying to make small talk with my wife. Finally, the urologist walked in, exchanged brief pleasantries and sat down. I was trying to read his face, but it was as deadpan as a professional poker player’s. “I don’t...

  Take a deep breath – it’s almost over. The last presidential debate has been aired and ballots will be cast in a few short weeks. Then we can go back to “business-as-usual.” Or will we? It’s no secret that this has been one of the most contentious campaigns in modern...

  Summer dog days have slipped away and the cool air of autumn has arrived like a friendly visitor. Did you know that the Bible has much to say about the seasons? The following verses remind us that the seasons can teach us much about God and ourselves. Daniel 2:21 “He...

  The sign was emblazoned with red letters: “Jesus Christ Superstar? NO! Lord and Savior!” My youngest son and I had to make our way past the protestors if we were going to watch the classic 70s rock opera penned by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. A balding man...

  A pastor friend was chatting with me a few months ago about his daughter. One day over the phone, she was moaning about her job. When she finished, my friend asked, “Who said work was supposed to be fun?” Some people view work as a chore, others tackle it with delight,...

  Over the past year, “safe zone” has made its way into the English vocabulary. College campuses have carved out physical safe zones where marginalized individuals are included. Some of these spaces are lifestyle- or worldview-specific, including only those who are, for example, homosexual or feminist. Dissenting voices are forbidden. Many Christians treat the...

  With the election of the first lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church, a few people have asked me, “What are you going to do?” My answer has always been the same: “I am going to continue doing what God has called me to do.” It’s really as simple...