In a recent sermon, the Rev. King Duncan told a story of a British soldier in the First World War who lost heart for the battle and deserted. Trying to reach the coast for a boat to England that night, he ended up wandering in the pitch black night, hopelessly lost. In the darkness, he […]
My friend Rev. Peyton Hopkins was one of the pastor at Community Presbyterian Church church. Sometime back, he shared with me that one of the families in his church had been audited by the IRS three times in the last several years due to their generous giving. Apparently one of the red flags they look […]
Today, I need to ask for your help. If you are able to make a donation to Dial Hope, any size gift will make a difference. Especially at this critical time, when so many people are feeling isolated, anxious and worried, your gifts will enable us to continue to spread ripples of hope. I don’t […]
Pastor and author, Tom Long tells about a time while he was at Princeton that he attended a nearby Presbyterian church that prides itself on being an academic, intellectual church. One evening early on, he went to a family night supper and sat down next to a man, introduced himself, told him he was new, […]
If you look closely at a map of Scotland and look at the West Country near Loch Lomond, you’ll see a spot on the map labeled, “Rest and Be Thankful.” That is not a mandate from the mapmaker, but actually, the name of a mountain pass noted for its breathtaking view. The place got its […]
Have you heard about the confidential report on several candidates being considered for a pastorate at a local church? Let me share just a few with you: Noah: Former pastorate of 120 years with not even one convert. Prone to unrealistic building projects. Moses: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator, even stuttering at […]
Today, I am deeply grateful for those of you who have supported the Dial Hope Foundation with a financial donation. So many people benefit from your giving! John Oppenheim once wrote, “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance. The wise man grows it under his feet.” Sometimes it is tempting to think: I would […]
Many years ago, we had two foster children join our family for a short time down in Sarasota – two sisters ages 4 and 6. These were children who came from a very rough home, and church was not a big part of their lives by any stretch. The first night they came to our […]
Presbyterian pastor and writer Frederick Buechner once wrote about a particularly low time in his life. “I remember sitting parked by the roadside once,” Buechner wrote, “terribly depressed and afraid about my daughter’s illness and what was going on in our family.” As he was sitting and reflecting on his daughter’s illness, he noticed a […]
You may have heard the apocryphal story about a small town where there were no liquor stores, until one day a nightclub was built right on the main street. The churches in the town were so upset that they held several prayer vigils. They prayed God would burn the sinful place down. Sure enough, a […]
