Across the Preacher’s Desk: “Transformed Lives”

October 9, 2025 - To my mind, “Sonnets From The Portuguese” is one of the most beautiful works to come from the pen of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The most familiar passage from that great work reads, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” My favorite is a bit more obscure.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: “Is Jesus Relevant?”

October 2, 2025 - Is the message of the cross relevant for today? What is there for men and women of the 21st century? Can the events on a hill so long ago affect us now? Can the death of one man by crucifixion affect men and women when thousands can now be killed with one bomb? The answer is yes, yes the message of the cross is current and relevant. There are two short words in John’s Gospel (John 19:28) that show us how current this message is. Those words are when Jesus says, “I thirst”.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: “Faith Is The Victory”

September 25, 2025 - Faith is a common denominator in all of our lives. We daily express faith in something. In fact, we cannot live a single day without exercising faith. To be sure, we have faith in the physical world.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: “That’s What You Get!”

September 19, 2025 - Did you ever wake up early Sunday morning, the neighbors are all in bed, the streets are quiet and the yards are empty? The world is asleep as you prepare for worship on the Lord’s day. That’s what you get for being a Christian.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: “Minor Imperfections...”

September 11, 2025 - Have you ever seen items on sale at a greatly reduced price and in the fine print you read “minor imperfections?” Have you ever thought about how that describes us? The church is composed of folks that have imperfections.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: Father, Forgive Them...

September 4, 2025 - Can you see by an eye of faith, Jesus, as he is hanging on the cross? He has been hounded, betrayed, denied, tried before an unjust court, led out of the city and nailed to a rough hewn wooden cross. Yet, hanging there, his first words were not a complaint. Though he was innocent, his first word was not a plea for his own innocence. Neither was his first statement a cry for vengeance against those who crucified Him.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: A Man Of Few Words

August 28, 2025 - Jesus was a man of few words, that was His general character. He was not one of those who would tell you how to make a watch. Neither was He one who used flattery or exaggeration. When Jesus complimented someone, the things He said were very few.

When Jesus gave someone a compliment, it was not superficial. It had nothing to do with a person’s clothing or style. It had to do with their heart and their character.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: One Step At A Time

August 21, 2025 - It is an exciting time when a toddler abandons crawling and takes those first faltering steps. Once that happens, it is not long until they are going to attempt to climb the stairs. If they have reached the talking stage, they will inform you that they will do it “all on their own”.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: I Can’t...

August 14, 2025 - It was Mark Twain who said, “They did not know it was impossible, so they did it.” When you give that some thought, it is a very inspirational concept. It conjures up thoughts of perseverance, courage and accomplishment.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: Turn Down The Heat!

August 7, 2025 - 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.

Shelby County Today

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Submitted by Tim Perkins