I’m not sure when Christians in Arizona stopped fighting and began embracing legal and public gambling. Perhaps it started when Arizona voted to approve a lottery in November of 1980. Perhaps it began in 1988 when Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to promote self-sufficiency and economic development for...
I’ve been inundated with questions from members and friends on, “Why didn’t you endorse a candidate last year?” and “Who did you vote for?” To the frustration of many, I didn’t endorse a candidate or a party, nor have I announced who I voted for in the presidential, senatorial, and...
Congratulations! Your party has won the presidency as well as control of the Senate and the House. That puts a significant responsibility on your shoulders for leadership in our country. And though I have many policy differences with you, I want you to know that my prayers are with you. ...
On November 3, America will choose a President. It may be our existing President Donald Trump elected to another 4-year term. Or it may be that we elect former Vice-President Joe Biden to a term. I’m not good at making political predictions, so I won’t even make a guess. What...
I vote. And I encourage you to vote. But let me state right up front that I am not going to tell you who to vote for. I don’t endorse candidates and I don’t endorse parties. I know some pastors endorse candidates directly, and I know many more who do...
We are now deep into election season, which seems to get longer every year. It’s easy to get cranky and frustrated—and maybe even more than a little bit angry—during political season. As a matter of fact, candidates want us to get angry. They know that an angry person is more...
Like many families with school-age children in the 1960’s and 70’s, my parents bought a very expensive but very helpful encyclopedia set. It had 30 volumes and came with 10 years-or-so of annual supplements that provided us with new knowledge and corrections. It became for us (after the Bible of course)...
Many churches have used their church parking lots as a drive-in worship service. The concept is pretty simple. People drive to church, stay in their cars, and listen to the worship service over loudspeakers or on their FM radios. It is one way of doing church while trying to maintain...
“”I don’t know if this is true or not.” I know it’s not true, but I wanted to get people’s reaction.” “I just reposted it. It’s not my job to verify it.” “I know it’s not true, but it’s funny!” “I’m not sure whether it’s true or not, but this...
Questions I Ask Before I Vote As a pastor, I do not publicly endorse candidates, nor do I share my party affiliations publicly. I’d rather be known as a follower of Jesus than a supporter of ‘Candidate X.’ In the same way, our church does not endorse a candidate, and...
