Across the Preacher’s Desk: Jesus’ Transforming Power

January 28, 2021 - It was at a wedding feast, in Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle. They had run out of wine, a real social miscue in that day and time. So, Mary told Jesus the problem and then told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. Well, you remember the story.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: The Warmth of God’s Love

January 21, 2021 - Among the many fables given to us by Aesop is the one of “The North Wind and The Sun.” It seems a dispute arose between the north wind and the sun, each claiming that he was stronger than the other. At last they agreed to try their powers upon a traveler, to see which could soonest strip him of his cloak. The north wind had the first try; and gathering up all his force for the attack, he came whirling furiously down upon the man, and caught up his cloak as though he would wrest it from him by one single effort.

Across the Preacher's Desk: I Know

January 14, 2021 - Paul’s second letter to Timothy is the last of his letters that has been preserved for us. In chapter 1 and verse 12 he writes, “I know whom I have believed.” Dr. Moffatt’s translation reads: “I know whom I have trusted.”

Across the Preacher's Desk: How Can You Tell?

January 7, 2021 - In the “Sermon On The Mount”, Jesus tells us to “let our light shine before men” and he also tells us that we are “the salt of the earth”. What He means, of course, is that we are to live our lives in such a way that we bring honor and glory to Him and honor and glory to the church. Yet, I often wonder how well we are doing at that.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: The Scales!

December 31, 2020 - Have you ever thought about the role that scales play in all of our lives? Remember those scales outside stores years ago? The ones you put a penny in for your weight or a nickel and you got your weight and your horoscope. I remember getting on some talking scales one time, put in my money and the scales said “one at a time please!”

Across the Preacher's Desk - Don't Boil Over

December 17, 2020 - I was cooking my oatmeal the other morning, and before you could say, "how did it happen," it had! I didn't turn the heat down on the stove and my oatmeal boiled over. Now, let's be honest, any good cook turns the heat down when the pot begins to boil. There is nothing good accomplished by uncontrolled boiling. The food in the pot sticks to the pan and burns or bubbles over the side and is lost.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: God Is Near

December 10, 2020 - We had our young grandson Mason who is a little over 2 years old, staying with us for a few days during Thanksgiving. As you go from our den into our dining room, you go up some stairs or steps, about 5 of them to be exact. Well, Mason already has an independent streak. So, we would start up those steps and he would say, “all on my own” and hold the rail and walk up without my assistance.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: Wear A Smile!

December 3, 2020 - It’s been raining today (Wednesday), the sky is overcast and perhaps that is what made me think of this. I remember as a small boy (pretty good memory eh?) watching a country music show on television called “Jones Junction”. They always closed the program with the same song. While I do not remember all the words, I do remember it said, “Let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy, rainy day.” Perhaps something akin to that is what the apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote the words, “Rejoice evermore” in I Thessalonians 5:16.

Across the Preacher's Desk: My Cup Overflows

November 27, 2020 - The imagery that David presents for us in Psalm 23 is one of abundance. In writing of the gracious provisions of God as our Shepherd, he writes, “my cup runneth over”. Have you ever done that? Have you ever filled a cup to overflowing where it ran over the sides of the cup into the saucer or on to the table? Can you actually picture a more adequate description of the abundant blessings that we enjoy as the children of God?

Across the Preacher's Desk: Living In The Spin Cycle

November 19, 2020 - One of the great inventions of the 20th century was the washing machine. It totally changed the back-breaking way that laundry had to be done.

Shelby County Today

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Submitted by Tim Perkins