Pastors Paragraphs
The Real Abundant Life
Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann wrote: “The Bible starts out with abundance. In fact, Genesis 1 is a song of praise for God’s generosity.” From the stars in the night sky to wild animals and cattle and even creeping things,...
June 13 Operation INASMUCH Summary
The following is a snapshot summary of a few INASMUCH projects. On June 13 FUMC people went out into the community and offered friendship and little "helps" that made a difference. Jesus states, "Inasmuch as you do…to even the...
Living Amid the Wilderness of Our Lives.
Have you heard that tale about the rabbi who one day, while wandering through a wooded wilderness, discovered he was lost? For three days and nights he was unable to find the way out. Exhausted, he ran into another man and said...
"You Are the Light of the World"
If you read carefully on the corner of Hymnal pages you can find lots of significant information about many of the hymns. The hymn This Little Light of Mine (#585) was first an African-American spiritual song. It is based on...
Summer Camp Memories
Each summer, I spend a week leading the Junior High church camp at Bay Shore Camp in Sebewaing, MI. Every spring, as camp approaches, I find myself wondering, “Why am I doing this again? Why do I volunteer to spend a week with...
“Is Easter about Jesus back then, or it is about me right now?”
Did you know that Easter is one of the few floating holidays in the calendar year? It is because it's based on the cycles of the moon. Tradition asserts that Jesus was raised from the dead on the first Sunday after the first...
An Easter Legend
This may be premature, in one sense, as this edition of Mainspring should arrive at your doors prior to Easter Sunday. Yet it contains a word we need to hear. Have you heard this quite beautiful story? It is actually a legend,...
Does God Care?
Paul Tillich was one of America's 20th century great theologians. He was a thinker about God and creation. His writing could be difficult to understand. For instance he described "faith" as "ultimate...
The Truth - Paul Harvey's Take
Paul Harvey Aurandt , better known as Paul Harvey, was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1918. He died last February at the age of 90. Paul Harvey News was described as the "largest one-man network in the world" as he was broadcast on...
Reconciliation In The Afterlife?
Last Sunday I spoke from the pulpit on the nature of the interim loss we experience when those we love depart earth to "run on ahead." I was asked a question about a "longed-for" reconciliation that appears will never happen in...
On Believing and Disbelieving
Musician Ralph Vaughn Williams depicts the meaning of November's All Saints' commemoration beautifully in his hymn, “For all the saints, who from their labors rest…” picturing countless hosts marching through “gates of pearl.” ...
The Era of Uninhibited Belligerence
Yesterday, I listened to a radio talk show host make the claim that we are entering an era of uninhibited belligerence. In response, a caller pointed out that happened long ago. I concur. For some time now, the disappearance...
Center-of-the-Universe Thinking
Don Marquis (1878-1937) was an Illinois-born writer, humorist, newspaper (remember them?) columnist. He is remembered best for creating the characters "Archy" (a cockroach) and "Mehitabel" (a cat), supposed authors of humorous...
What Music Should Be Used in Worship Part II
In the last Mainspring I cited an article from The Parish Paper on the issue of hymn preferences. Below is the concluding part that will hopefully bring further light on the issue of church music. The article...
What Music Should Be Used in Worship
The Parish Paper is a simple two-page bi-monthly newsletter that is always well worth time spent in its reading. Its editors Herb Miller and Lyle Schaller, describe their publication as providing "Ideas and Insights for...