One day, a little girl was asked by her teacher to name the four seasons. She thought for a moment . . . then catching a burst of insight quickly responded, “Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar!” Solomon, the song-writer-poet, preacher, sage and king, reminds us in his book of seasons that there is a time [...]
By John Coulombe In my 45 years of pastoral ministry I have enjoyed four sabbaticals which, in looking back, allowed us fresh starts after some pretty long hauls. I’ve had friends over the years quit their ministries in the heat of battle, regretting later their hasty decision and realizing only too late that perhaps they [...]
Some Thoughts on Change by John Coulombe I read a recent article entitled “12 Things that Became Obsolete This Decade.” It was a stunning read and a wake-up call regarding how quickly our world is changing! Note the facts, and I’m sure we could add to the list: Calling (replaced with text messaging, Instant Messaging, [...]
By John Coulombe In a recent AARP Bulletin, an article appeared entitled “Farewell to a Dreadful Decade.” The gist of the editorial? This is not the end of the world, but it perhaps is the end of the world—as we know it! Was it not Bob Dylan, the 60’s prophet/troubadour who reminded us “the times, they [...]
Whether in good health or ill, whether our mileage in life is low or high, whether bodies and ‘tents’ are weathered or in tip top shape, it’s always important to evaluate one’s life’s directions and purposes.