I took a class in college called “Contemporary Theology”. We all called it “Contemptible Theology.” I found it really irritating. We would read the works of famous theologians and comment about what they said and have discussions about what they said. I didn’t fit well into that setting because I kept trying to address the topic at hand by saying something like, “But the Bible says … “

When I see a comics page from the newspapers, I’ll read every comic strip presented. If I stumble across a cartoon on-line, I’ll read it. And, of course, I draw a comic strip which appears in 6 newspapers. So, I feel somewhat qualified to present a list of the comic strips that I believe are—or were—the best.

Now, with commentary, I’ll present the best the comics page has ever had to offer.

I want to talk this morning, and for the next few weeks, about some of the parables in Scripture. Mainly, I’m going to be focusing on Jesus’s parables, but I’ll be touching on some of the parables used elsewhere in the Bible.

In Matthew, Mark and Luke, we’re told that Jesus spoke many parables. Why would he do that?

Jesus’s disciples asked him that very question. Jesus answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” (Matthew 13:11, ESV)

Governor Perry's reference to secession—and even his subsequent assertion that he wasn't advocating secession—has set off a fire-storm of criticism and acclaim. It has also fueled some additional thoughts in my own mind.

The objection that I keep hearing (the rational objection, I should specify, as there is plenty of moronic vitriol on every side of every issue these days) is that secession is not legal. When Texas joined the United States, it was agreed that it was permanent. John C. Calhoun tried to debate this point and lost over a hundred years ago.

All right, I’m going to go ahead and admit that secession wouldn’t be all peaches and cream. That would be if Georgia seceded. In Texas, it would be pecan pie and Dr Pepper.

Just kidding. A decision like secession would obviously bring up some big questions which I, personally, don’t have the answers for. Still, I’d like to ask them in case someone else does. So, in no particular order:

Those of you who know me, know that I like making lists. Call it a mental issue if you wish, but I do make them. So, in keeping with my recent list of favorite movies, I am now presenting an accompanying list of my favorite TV shows.

Notice, though, that I could only come up with a "definitive preference" for the first three positions. The rest are shows I love, but the more I tried the more I realized I couldn't rank them. So, they're only sort of in order of preference.

[My sermon for the 10:45 service was a dramatic reading of the arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection--organized chronologically from all four gospels--and accompanied by music and a slide program. So, here's my 10 minute sermon from our Sonrise Service.]

I was trying to think of something to say for this service and I found myself asking why we have a Sonrise Service at all. It’s obviously not a new idea with NPCC. Churches have been doing it for centuries.

“You must remember, my friend, that if we leave the governing to others, then others will govern, and possibly not as we would like. In a country such as this, none of us is free of responsibility.” --Louis L’Amour in "River's West"

What constitutes “Science Fiction”?

This is probably one of those questions you’ve never bothered to ask yourself. Fans of the genre, however, ask it a lot—and write about it a lot. Some of them even get angry about it.

Take a look at the following titles of movies and books (that I hope you have at least heard of): Star Wars; Plan 9 From Outer Space; Star Trek; Buck Rogers; Flash Gordon. Which of these would you consider science fiction?