10 years ago — January 19, 2009 “Some convergences of timing … reflect little more than a coincidence. That an African-American would be inaugurated as the president of the United States just 23 days before the 200th birthday of the president who proclaimed emancipation for African-Americans is just such a coincidence.” The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies chose “A New Birth of Freedom” as its theme. “Those words came from the Gettysburg address, wherein Abraham Lincoln expressed hope that the sacrifices of those who died to preserve the union shall lead to ‘a new birth of freedom’ for America.” Just as Lincoln selected rivals to be part of his cabinet so too has the president-elect. The hope is that out of the varying points of view will derive direction for our nation. In the church we too need to hear the variety of viewpoints. It is our Lord who brought us together into this family. The hope for the new year is that we can hear and appreciate the variety of … [Read more...]

70 years ago — January 17, 1949 Peter Marshall, Presbyterian minister and pastor of New York Avenue Church in Washington, D.C., was retained by the U.S. Senate as Senate chaplain. “Dr. Marshall’s short, pungent and pithy – and deeply reverent – supplications are well calculated to stir his Senate listeners. Consider a sentence from his invocation at the opening session Monday: ‘May they (the Senators) be aware of a mandate higher than that of the ballot box, a mandate from Thee to legislate wisely and well.’” The Manchester Guardian shares a “story of the young preacher in the North of England, whose petition was reminding the Almighty that He was omnipotent and omniscient, eternal and infinite when a devout old saint in the front, after waiting patiently for a time, interrupted with: ‘Eh lad! He knows He’s all that. Ask Him for summat!’ In simple language, with a keen awareness of the needs of the legislators to whom he ministers the Rev. Dr. Marshall usually asks the Lord for … [Read more...]

40 years ago — November 6, 1978 As almost every Presbyterian knows, our denomination is made up predominantly of smaller congregations. Without them, we would be vastly poorer not only in spirit, but also in size. … There are possibilities inherent in a small church situation that are very difficult to come by in a large congregation: opportunities for small-group closeness … strong personal ties between pastor and people … and … less of the “red tape” … . Many in our ranks seem to be rediscovering the biblical truth that “bigness” is not necessarily “best”; and thus they are starting to see that smaller churches both need and deserve ministers who are the most competent, not the least. … It’s not surprising to find that the smaller church has its not-so-favorable side … . Smallness of size is used as an excuse for smallness of mind. … And an atmosphere conducive to personal growth degenerates into an arena for personal conflict. … The smaller church has an almost limitless … [Read more...]

20 years ago — October 26, 1998 “Like it or not, 21st century globalism is the context in which Christians need to reassess their missions, their theologies and their world views. The risk … is an intensifying of sentiments and persuasions” that lead to a protectionist attitude and even terrorism. “An alternative to fanatical fundamentalism and its terrorism is difficult and demanding, namely education, if it is the right kind.” The right kind of education can be found in the church-related institutions of higher learning. Here students can “be guided to explore the diversities which characterize the landscape of this global village. Helping people gain a depth of understanding of and respect for differences is alone the way to keep them from becoming divisive. Nurturing in individuals a confident love for the neighbor, increasingly likely now to be someone ‘different,’ is a sure way to envision community that does not demand conformity. … It is, after all, perfect love which … [Read more...]

10 years ago — October 6, 2008 “The Bible offers a whole spectrum of migration examples … . Migration is frequently portrayed as an act of faith of the people of God. Adam and Eve are forced to migrate as a result of their disobedience. Cain was condemned to migrate and be a foreigner and a wanderer … . Abraham was called to migrate … . The Jews migrated to Egypt looking for economic prosperity and survival.  Joseph in Egypt was an immigrant … .” Daniel was an immigrant in Babylon and Esther in Persia. Moses returned to Egypt to lead a great migration. Some of the prophets were political refugees migrating to flee persecution from political and religious powers. Jesus experienced “the painful process of migration. Immediately after his birth his family migrated to Egypt fleeing from Herod’s persecution. During his life, Samaritans criticized him because he was a Jew and Jews criticized him because he was Galilean. His situation was the same experience as immigrants’ today in many … [Read more...]