Citizenship is a hot topic of discussion in our country right now. There’s talk about how to keep non-citizens from entering our country, and talk about how to take immigrants who are already here and make them citizens. During past elections, there’s been talk about which candidates may or may not be “natural born…
Shaped BY the cross into the shape OF the cross
Sermons by Alan Smith
There’s a saying that I’m sure you’ve all heard before — “Clothes make the man.” But what you may not know is that phrase dates back to sometime around the time of Christ. But it was Mark Twain in his spiffy white suits that made that phrase popular. He actually said a little bit more…
As I’ve said before, things have changed a lot in our lives over the past year because of COVID. One of the biggest changes is that we now have so many rules. We’ve always lots of rules. But over the past year, it just seems like we’ve added so many new rules. Rules about…
I heard recently about a 5-year-old little boy by the name of Nick who came home after spending two weeks at Pre-K and proudly announced to his grandmother that he was the smartest kid in the class. His grandmother, of course, was very proud of Nick and asked him if that was what his teacher…
This morning, I want us to take a break from our study through the New Testament. Next Sunday, we’ll pick back up with 2 Corinthians. But this morning is Easter morning, and I want to spend some time reflecting on the significance of what happened some 2,000 years ago. I heard about a Sunday…
I don’t need to tell you that, over the past year, COVID-19 has changed life for all of us. One of the areas that has probably changed more radically than any other is the workplace. The abrupt closure of many offices and workplaces last year ushered in a new era of remote work for millions…
Back in 1967, there was a song written that still remains popular among people of all ages. The Beatles wanted to write something that would speak to people of all nations. So, John Lennon wrote the song, “All You Need is Love.” And that song became very popular. Probably (1) because it was the Beatles,…
Have you ever had somebody say to you, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news, which one would you like to hear first?” With a show of hands, how many of you would rather hear the good news first? OK, how many of you would rather hear the bad news first? Research shows…
Have you ever noticed that if you’re holding a camera and you point the camera at something, the thing you’re pointing the camera at suddenly becomes much more interesting to everybody else? Pointing is a powerful thing. Try it for yourself when you’re out in public: find the least interesting object around, something totally ordinary,…
In June of 1858, the United States of America was not very united at all because of the issue of slavery. There were 17 free states and 15 slave states, and there was a lot of animosity between those two groups. It was at that time that Abraham Lincoln was campaigning for a US…