During his ordination examination, a Presbyterian seminary student was being asked a series of doctrinal questions by an elderly conservative minister. He came to this question: “Do you believe in the Doctrine of the Total Depravity of the Human Soul?” His immediate smiling reply: “Yes, but I find it very difficult to live up to!” — But one of the main reasons…
Universalist ministers were often circuit riders. Hosea Ballou was one of these. There is a story told about him riding the circuit in New England, while riding over Hampshire’s craggy hills with a Baptist preacher one afternoon. Ballou told him that he used to be a Baptist as well, but that now he was a Universalist and went on to tell of…
Ah Xmas time, a time of peace-. from Children’s Letters to Santa- Dear Santa, Please give me a tank, a jet fighter, 20 green soldiers, and a bazooka gun. I’m planning a surprise attack on my brother. So don’t tell anyone. Thanks, Danny Or a mixing of myths- Dear Santa, Love, Lisa ‘And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him…
Christmas cards, which once were sent to wish others peace on earth, good will, and blessings of the season, now serve more commercial purposes. I love the story about an apartment building in New York City- it was early in December when all the residents awoke to find a greeting card taped to the outside of their apartment doors. The cards read,…
Laws Concerning Food and Drink: Household Principles ‘Lamentations of the Father’ by Ian Frazier Laws Pertaining to Dessert Rev. Max Coots, Minister Emeritus, Unitarian Universalist Church Canton, NY ‘For a Bountiful Harvest Of Friends’Let us give thanks for a bounty of people.For children who are our second planting,and though they grow like weedsand the wind too soon blows them away,may they forgive…
Shall we get spiritual? Whether or not we shall get spiritual is not up to me; ot at least not just up to me! It may not even be just up to you. It?s actually a little complicated to describe, but it?s much more simple for some us to HAVE a spiritual experience than others. Indeed, some of us don?t WANT a spiritual experience, thank you…
An atheist buys an ancient lamp at an auction, takes it home, and begins to polish it. Suddenly, a genie appears, and says, ?I?ll grant you three wishes, Master.? The atheist says, ?I wish I could believe in you.? The genie snaps his fingers, and suddenly the atheist believes in him. The atheist says, ?Wow. I wish all atheists would believe this.? The genie snaps his fingers…
In an English cemetery we find this last thoughtful epitaph: “Remember man, as you walk by,As you are now, so once was I.As I am now, so shall you be.Remember this and follow me.” To which someone replied by writing on the tombstone:“To follow you I’ll not consent . . . Until I know which way you went.” Ambrose Bierce, the…
We have lost one of our best and most representative ministers, As I?ve said, It?s a little bit like losing Emerson, especially if Emerson had stayed in the ministry! It?s hard to believe that Forrest Church is really gone. Partly, as he said, because he preached 5 farewell sermons! But also because he was larger than life. because he was my age, and because he was so…
The issue of same gender marriage is one of the issues that are being addressed today. Let me share some verses from the Bible to help clear things up. “A. Marriage shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women. (Gen. 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5) “B. Marriage shall not impede a man’s right to take concubines inaddition to his wife or…