PlainSpeech Messages | Find YOUR way to GRACE.
I recently read a message I’d given in 1984 and felt a mixture of embarrassment and surprise. Embarrassed because it seems inadequate now, and surprised by how much my worldview has changed. Twenty-five years from now, I might read these messages and have a similar reaction. I offer no guarantee that my work or words will endure the eroding effects of time. I can only assure you these thoughts have been helpful to me, and perhaps a few others, today. With that qualification, I offer them to you.
~ Philip
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Things We’re Supposed to Believe, But Maybe Shouldn’t (3)
We are three weeks into this sermon series I’m calling “Things We’re Supposed to Believe, But Maybe Shouldn’t.” When I first began, I was thinking about theological clichés we’ve been taught that bear further scrutiny, but it occurred to me this week that there are...
Things We’re Supposed To Believe, But Maybe Shouldn’t (2)
VIEW VIDEO HERE I was visiting a friend a little while ago who’s been struggling with cognitive issues. During our time together, she asked me my name several times, then wanted to know where she was and whether or not she was married. What amazed me, and I’ve seen it...
Things We’re Supposed To Believe, But Maybe Shouldn’t (1)
I was thinking about my father this week, while reading the obituaries in our local newspaper and noticed one of the dearly departed was born in Vincennes in 1931, the same town my father was from. I reached for the phone to call Dad and tell him this man had died,...
Growing Up (12)
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this sermon series on the characteristics of grown-up people. This is the 12th sermon in this series, which makes it the longest sermon series I’ve ever given. Since God gave only 10 commandments, it feels arrogant to exceed that number, to...
Growing Up (11)
We have a friend whose son went off to college a few weeks ago. I was speaking with his father about it, who doubted his son’s ability to live on his own. “He won’t even make his own bed,” he told me. “I don’t how he’s going to succeed in school.” I had never seen his...
Growing Up (10)
Begin by listening to Tim McGraw’s song, Humble and Kind. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzNHuGqoMc This past Tuesday I couldn’t sleep, so I began counting how many sermons I’ve preached. Some people count sheep, I count sermons. 36 years of...
Growing Up (9)
I have a friend who’s getting ready to ride his motorcycle across the country and stopped by the house one night this past week to tell me all the details. He invited me to join him, but I’m uninterested in any motorcycle trip that doesn’t end in fried chicken, so I...
Growing Up (8)
Several years ago, I was in Virginia speaking at a Baptist Church. I’m always surprised whenever Baptists invite me to speak at their church, though I invariably enjoy myself. I gave my first sermon in a Baptist church in Vincennes, Indiana. I was 21 years old, their...
Growing Up (7) Self-Differentiation
A friend of mine posted a picture of a snake on a tree. The caption read, “Find the snake.” I looked and looked, but never could find it, because the snake was so well camouflaged I couldn’t see where the tree ended and the snake began. It was probably just as well...
Growing Up (6)
We’ve been babysitting our granddaughter Madeline this summer, while her mother and father work. Her other grandparents attend a conservative Baptist church and have made some effort to bring Madeline around to their way of thinking, so I’ve taught Madeline to say,...