Submitted by Tim Perkins

Across the Preachers' Desk: Laughter

March 11, 2020 - A laugh may be the sweetest or the most bitter sound that comes from the human voice, according to the sentiment it expresses.

Laughter is not an unimportant incident in a happy life, but a gift of God to serve a definite purpose, and is even more useful in less happy lives.

Laughter is one of life’s greatest shock absorbers. Many of the things at which we laugh would be very annoying if we did not think them funny, and laughter is nature’s device for taking up the jolt.

Across the Preacher's Desk: Being Fair with the Church

March 5, 2020 - One of the things folks sometimes have a hard time doing is being fair with the church. There are some Christians who are very active in finding fault with the church and its faithful members.

Across the Preacher's Desk: Friendship

February 27, 2020 - To have a good friend is one of the highest delights of life. To be a good friend is one of the noblest and most difficult undertakings. Friendship does not depend on fancy imagination or sentiment, but upon character. There is no man so poor that he is not rich if he has a friend.

Across the Preacher's Desk: Two Gates

February 13, 2020 - According to the teachings of Jesus, every person is going through one of two gates. Either they are choosing to enter the narrow gate and the narrow way or they are choosing the broad way which leads through the broad gate.

Of course, these two ideas represent two ways of life. One represents the way of good while the other represents the way of evil. The thought taught by Jesus in Matthew 7 is that more people will follow the easy, popular way of life than the one prescribed in the scriptures.

Across the Preacher's Desk: Try Prayer!

February 6, 2020 - I read a quote not long ago that said, “If a congregation wants a better preacher, it can get one by praying for the one it has.” I thought to myself, how true that is not just for preachers, but for everyone. Often we complain about our families, friends, coworkers and neighbors, but of course nothing comes of that but more discontent. We try to change others and invariably fail. We must stop trying to change others by our power and allow the power of prayer to make the difference.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: Stubbornness

Across the Preacher's Desk: Consumerism and Christianity

January 23, 2020 - In our day and time, we have become obsessed with the consumer mentality. To be sure, it has permeated every aspect of our lives. We look for a restaurant with the best price, menu, atmosphere and location. We shop for clothes at a store that carries our size, has our taste in clothes and the best sales.

Sadly, many take this same attitude with them when it comes to church. To be sure, we call it “church shopping”.

Across the Preacher's Desk: Leaving The Lord

January 16, 2020 - Take a leafy branch from a tree. Lay it carefully aside and watch. Slowly the color fades, the leaves go limp, they curl up and it is dead.

Take a fish out of the lake. Lay it carefully on the sand and watch. Frantically it twists, and struggles and gradually weakens, moving its gills slower, then quivers and it is dead.

Living For Jesus in 2020

January 9, 2020 - I once read where someone said the most dangerous thing in the world is to try to leap over a chasm in two jumps. That ranks right up there with the story of the young boy who cut his puppy’s tail off an inch at the time so it wouldn’t hurt so badly by cutting the entire tail off all at once. Both of those little stories illustrate the tragic mistake many people make about Jesus.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: No Room In The Inn

December 18, 2019 - There is a sad and tragic statement in the Gospel According to Luke in regard to the coming of our Savior into this world. Dr. Luke tells us that when Jesus came into the world he was “wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn”.

We read that passage through the prism of 2,000 years of history and are quick to speak harsh words about the innkeeper who forced Jesus to be born in a stable with the animals. We wonder why he could not have found a room for a woman who was great with child.

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