Author Archives: salooper57

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About salooper57

Husband, father, pastor, follower. I am a disciple of Jesus, learning how to do life from him. I read, write, walk, play a little guitar, enjoy my family.

The Danger of Misplaced Trust

Posted on May 6, 2017 by salooper57

On May 7, 1915, a German submarine torpedoed the British ocean liner Lusitania just off the southern coast of Ireland, mere hours from port. The Lusitania was one of the largest and most luxurious ships of its time. It carried … Continue reading →

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The Virtue We Wish We Could Do Without

Posted on April 29, 2017 by salooper57

When the Tribune Chronicle stopped carrying Sydney Harris’s column, I abruptly cancelled my subscription. It was my habit to turn first to “Strictly Personal,” and only after that to check out the rest of the paper. Harris’s famous aphorisms and … Continue reading →

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Acquire Inward Peace, Change the World

Posted on April 22, 2017 by salooper57

Before “Wayne’s World” was a movie with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, it was a Saturday Night Live comedy staple. The sketches were frequently based on some daydream fantasy of the stars – things that did not, and perhaps could … Continue reading →

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Good Friday Service

Posted on April 15, 2017 by salooper57

Below are the messages from the Coldwater Area Ministerial Evening Good Friday Service. I hope it will be an encouragement to you – it was to me! The area pastors are friends an co-workers in the kingdom of God – … Continue reading →

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Easter: More Than a Promise of Life After Death

Posted on April 15, 2017 by salooper57

Most pastors have more than a passing acquaintance with death and dying. They are frequently called to people’s bedsides at the time of death. They spend hours in rooms over which a pall has already been cast, where people speak … Continue reading →

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Get Rid of the Litter in Your Life

Posted on April 8, 2017 by salooper57

My wife and I walked down our country road this week, picking up litter. We took a thirty-gallon trash bag with us on our usual two-mile walk, thinking that we would pick up trash as we went. But we had … Continue reading →

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Shame and Shamelessness in Contemporary Culture

Posted on April 1, 2017 by salooper57

“I feel like a garbage can, full of ugly, nasty things.” That’s how a young woman once described herself to me. She was in her late teens or early twenties, and had been raised with a sexually abusive father until … Continue reading →

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What’s Wrong with Making America Great Again?

Posted on March 25, 2017 by salooper57

President Trump campaigned on a simple promise: he would make America great again. His rhetoric about America’s decline and her need for renewal resonated with enough voters to usher him into the Oval Office. The opposition scorned Trump’s message. Mrs. … Continue reading →

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Is it Possible to Say Anything True About God?

Posted on March 18, 2017 by salooper57

Do a Google search for God and you’ll have over one-and-a-half trillion results to wade through. People think and talk a lot about God. What they mean when they talk about him, though, is not always clear. Who or what … Continue reading →

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Why Do People Fast During Lent?

Posted on March 12, 2017 by salooper57

The students in our church have begun what they’re calling “Fast Week.” It has nothing to do with how fast they drive their cars or how quickly they can get what they want. Quite the contrary: it’s about their willingness … Continue reading →

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