RUMINATIONS OF A REVEREND

It's amazing how quickly life can change, isn't it? I had the opportunity to visit my family and an old friend from high school this past week. I hadn't seen or spoken to my high school friend in about twenty years. We reconnected a couple of years ago on F acebook and we were finally able to visit face to face. It was great seeing him again, meeting his children, and reminiscing about the past. I realized that either my memory is not what I thought it was or that my brain has an auto suppress feature that enables me to forget my less glorious acts as a human being. Unfortunately, my dear friend didn't have that same feature and reminded of some activities I had long forgotten. There was one event he recalled that I still can't fully remember. I have some vague recollection of the event buried deep within my memory banks, but it is cloudy at best. However, considering what I know I did as a teenager, I am not surprised that I also carried out this particular juve...

Well, did you get your tax forms filed today? I think I did. I remember signing the forms, and I think I put it in the mailbox, but I'm not 100% sure. I'll probably need to call my tax preparer to double check. Everybody has an opinion about paying taxes. Even in Jesus' day people had their opinions on taxes. Rome ruled the then known world and required all of their subjects to pay taxes. Roman citizens, however, were exempt. Many Jews of Jesus' day didn't feel they should pay taxes to Rome, because Rome was an occupying force in their land. God had given Israel the land and they shouldn't have to pay a foreign oppressor. Rome didn't share those beliefs and would often have soldiers stationed with the tax collectors to make sure people paid. Corruption abounded as well in Jesus' day. Tax collectors made their wealth by collecting more tax than what was required. Zacchaeus may have hinted at this practice by indicating that he would pay back four times th...

I had a wonderful (albeit busy) Resurrection Weekend. I hope you did as well. The president and his family also attended a Resurrection service this past Sunday at Allen Chapel Church in southeast D.C. neighborhood. When the early word got out that the president would be attending, people started lining up outside at 3 a.m. to get a good spot in the 700 seat sanctuary. I've heard of sunrise services, but that's pretty early. Late comers who maybe hadn't heard the president would be there were turned away because the sanctuary was full. I have a friend who use to attend the church where Cris Carter's family attended in the Twin Cities. They had children the same age and he would visit with his wife. One Sunday I told the congregation I was serving that Cris Carter would be coming to speak at our service the next week. I told the people about my friend who went to Carter's church, which allowed me to make the connection. I put a flyer in the bulletin about it and peop...