“I believe” are two of the most important words we can utter. Why? Because what we truly believe determines how we live. As a camp meeting preacher once proclaimed, “The reason some of you don’t live anything is because you don’t believe anything!” 

t’s kinda sad to see the chocolate bunnies, eggs and marshmallow peeps in the Publix discount bins. Like the folks who take their Christmas trees down on December 26, the “fun stuff” goes away a long time before the celebration’s over! 

Well, it’s Sunday morning when I’m writing this, and we’re at Tralee in the southwest of Ireland. The trip is going well, but I really miss you all this morning. 

Yes, I do mean that! 

We’ve seen some magnificent scenery (sheep, rock walls, ruined castles and abbeys,  gorse and grass)  and have eaten some really great food (that is, if you like lamb and blood pudding — which I do). 

I’ll be out of town this weekend, but if I were in town, I would be preaching from John 20:19–31, a passage about “Doubting Thomas.” Since I won’t be here, I thought I’d share a few thoughts.  

Well, I missed it this year! Since 1975, I’ve caught at least part of The Ten Commandments on television during its annual showing. Normally, it’s broadcast on Easter weekend, but this year, because Passover was last Saturday, they showed it a week early! 

And I missed it. 

Sometimes I will jokingly say that Christ Church is a church for “smart people.” 

But it’s really no joke. 

One of the first things we decided about Christ Church was that Bible study would be a major priority. After all, in Acts 2:42, we learn that the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” I’m not an apostle, but my degree is in Biblical studies, and I’ve been a student of the Bible pretty much all my life. If someone really wants to learn and study the Bible, Christ Church is the church for them! 

At my advanced age (and thank you all for your birthday wishes!), it’s possible I’ve told the story below before. If I have, please indulge me this once. At least.

Imagine this: the year is 60 AD, and the Emperor is coming to your town. What would you do? You would spruce everything up. You would clean the streets. You would give everything a fresh coat of paint. You would prepare the people to know how to properly greet the emperor. You would make sure your town was a well-ordered slice of “Rome away from Rome” that would please the Emperor. 

Have you ever visited a lighthouse? To see one rise majestically above the rugged coastline as the waves break violently against the rocks, silently beaming light out into the darkness is alone (well, that and the seafood) worth a trip to the eastern seaboard!  Catch one on a foggy night and it is magical.

I’ve given up writing the Pastor’s Note for Lent.

Just kidding! In a recent meeting, Kim, Dorene and I were talking about how all three of us came from traditions that didn’t practice Ash Wednesday and Lent. I thought their testimony about the impact Lent made on them would be encouraging for everyone to read, so I’ve asked them to write something for the newsletter. This week, Kim is writing about observing her first Lent. 

If you ask any doctor or any other health expert, they’ll tell you the key to weight loss and general well-being begins, not with a fad diet, but with a healthy lifestyle: nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. It’s got to be more than an emergency weight-loss; it needs to be a healthy way of living. Then the pounds stay off, the blood pressure stays down, etc. 

So, what are you giving up for Lent?

That’s a question I didn’t hear growing up. The tradition I was raised in, and the tradition of the religious school I attended, didn’t practice Lent. 

Looking back on it, both traditions could’ve used a good dose of Lent!

Well, I wasn’t expecting that!

You all surprise me all the time with your love and generosity. Whether it’s Pastor’s Appreciation month in October, staff love offerings in December or any of the numerous expressions of your love throughout the year — and that’s on top of your generous giving to the missions and ministries of the church — you absolutely outdo yourselves!

Forty years. That’s how long Israel wandered in the wilderness. Forty years. Life begins at 40. Forty years. There’s something about that number . . . 

This past Monday marked my 40th year in ministry. Isn’t that crazy? I know. I don’t look that old. 

Every Sunday is important for the life of our congregation. In Sunday’s text, we saw how Jesus went to the synagogue every Sabbath. If it was important for Jesus, therefore . . . you fill in the rest! 

I’m not a beach person. Those of you who are . . . you are welcome to it! Too much sand. Too much salt. Too many people. . . 

For some, Monday’s inauguration was the beginning of a “golden age.” For others, it was the beginning of the dark ages. Some friends of mine were drinking champagne during the inauguration; others were sitting with their blinds drawn, watching reruns of Friends (at least that’s what they were saying on social media). 

I don’t know why I didn’t have at least one friend of mine say “Sane people don’t remodel their kitchen in December.” You’d think someone would care enough! Advent/Christmas is busy enough without adding the stress of having your house in construction chaos!

I was stupidly optimistic. When I started this in mid-November, I thought I’d have it finished in time for the progressive dinner and we’d have the dessert course at my house. 

I should have known better. 

My first week of full-time ministry was Valentine’s week back in 1985 (yes, 40 years ago this year!). It was supposed to start several weeks earlier, but I came down with the flu.

So I postponed starting.

“Rabbit! Rabbit!”
— Pastor Terry on January 1. 

Happy New Year! And . . . Merry Christmas! (it’s only the 8th day – you have 4 more days to celebrate!).

I love the traditions around the New Year. Growing up in the South, we always had some sort of greens along with black-eyed peas and hog jowl on New Year’s Day. Later on, while living in Kentucky, I had some Yankee friends who introduced me to Corned Beef and cabbage for New Years, so that’s been part of the menu ever since.