I am married to Susan (Allender) and we have two grown daughters (Cristin and Miriam), two dogs, and two cats. I am the pastor of Graham Friends Church (http://grahamfriends.org, Graham, NC), the chaplain of the town’s Police Department, and a member of the Rotary Club (http://grahamrotaryclub.org).
October 16, 2011 – 4:09 am
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, October 9-16, 2011 Monday Morning Acts 8:14-25 Our journey through Acts has been dealing with Saul of Tarsus. We last encountered Peter in these verses. Peter had dealt with Simon the magician and his desire to pay for the gift of the Holy Spirit. He had a basic misunderstanding of the gospel. [...]
October 16, 2011 – 4:08 am
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, October 10-16, 2011 Sunday Morning An audio reflection on my translation of Acts 9:23-31: 9:23 And when many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him. 9:24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they also guarded the gates day and night so that they might kill him. 9:25 [...]
September 26, 2011 – 9:24 am
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, September 26 – October 2, 2011 Monday Morning Psalm 145:1 One mistake that some Christians make is in their assumption that our task is to fill the pews or get people saved. Of course, the latter is important but it is a by-product of a greater aim. King David knew [...]
September 19, 2011 – 5:43 am
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, September 19-25, 2011 Monday Morning Psalm 27:12-14 G. K. Chesterton once answered a London Times query that was put to a number of authors: “What’s wrong with the world?” Replies of a variety of lengths were offered but none so brief or profound as Chesterton’s. His answer was simply, “I am.” This [...]
September 12, 2011 – 6:38 am
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, September 12-18, 2011 Monday Morning Judges 6:12 I have never had an angel of the Lord speak to me. I bet you have also never had this experience. Or have we? The English word comes from the Greek, (angelos); it is simply a transliteration of a word that really means [...]
September 5, 2011 – 9:24 am
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, September 5-11, 2011 Monday Morning Galatians 3:1 Simon the magician or sorcerer believed in Jesus, it seems, because he thought Jesus was a magician who imparted to his students a stronger magic than they might already possess. This approach to Christianity is religious; it is following for what one gains. Christianity [...]
September 2, 2011 – 12:49 pm
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, August 29 – September 4, 2011 Monday Morning Matthew 10:23 Here is a job that is never finished: evangelism. Even sharing the good news with Israel is a never-ending task. Everywhere one goes in the Name of Jesus, there will be someone to send you packing. Bold testimony will always bring persecution. The upside [...]
September 2, 2011 – 9:42 am
I saw this broken paver while on outreach Thursday night. For some reason, it made me think of Ohio. And then at a beginning of the year party for where Susan works… …broken sidewalk at this old Duke family mansion: Here are some more photos from that party. It was a gathering of five departments [...]
August 30, 2011 – 6:34 am
I took this photograph on Route 33, south of Columbus, Ohio. It reminded me of Henry Alford’s hymn (1844). If you’d like to sing along, here is the midi of St. George’s Windsor by George J. Elvey (1858) from The Cyber Hymnal. Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest home! All is [...]
August 22, 2011 – 8:53 am
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, August 22-28, 2011 Monday Morning Psalm 37:12-13 The world never changes, especially the religious people in the world. The eyes of the righteous are ever on the Lord. But the eyes of the unrighteous — especially if they are religious — are ever on themselves. Their day is coming, says [...]