Author Archives: Josh

First Commandment/First Amendment

Good morning, Friends! Today’s topic is a pretty controversial one. I think most of you will probably agree with what I have to say, but if you don’t agree with me – that’s OK. This week is the 4th of … Continue reading

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If only they could talk

Good morning, Friends! Today’s story is one of the funniest passages in the whole Bible. It’s not one everybody here may be familiar with. When we read it together in our Wednesday night Bible study a few months ago, not … Continue reading

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Vision

“Without a vision, the people perish. . .” – Proverbs 29:18 Has anybody here not heard the proverb, “Without a vision, the people perish”? Usually, we hear those words applied to groups or to businesses or churches or other big … Continue reading

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A hope and a future (Graduation Sunday)

Good morning, Friends! It’s Graduation Sunday! You know, graduation is really tough for grownups. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home, and now their kids are grownups, too. After 18 years of being Mom and Dad, all … Continue reading

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Swords and plowshares

Good morning, Friends! This weekend is Memorial Day, which for a lot of people is just another 3-day weekend for people to get their garden planted, or go to the lake, or shop for summer clothes. The school year is … Continue reading

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How did it all end?

Good morning, Friends! It’s been three weeks since Easter. I expect most of you all have probably moved on since then. We’re back to our daily routine. Things haven’t changed that much for us. For Jesus’ friends though, the changes … Continue reading

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The power of prayer

One of my best friends for many years was a woman named Sue. I passed her office every day as I walked to the meetinghouse, and I stopped in to see her often to talk or to laugh together. Sue … Continue reading

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Memorial Day (May 2017)

When I was a boy, Memorial Day marked the beginning of summer. At the end of May, people were still putting their gardens in, evenings were still cool, spring peepers were calling from the ponds, and farmers were getting in … Continue reading

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Are we ready to change? (May 2017)

Last spring when I came to Springfield to interview, the Transition Committee told me they had done a meeting-wide survey. Everyone in the meeting, the committee said, agreed on three things: 1. We want to be non-judgmental2. We want to … Continue reading

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Doubting Thomas

Good morning, Friends! Last week was Easter, and it’s always tempting to say, “There! That’s all done for another year! The trouble is, Easter is really the beginning of the Christian story. In a way, the gospels and all of … Continue reading

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