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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When I graduated from seminary, I was pastoring a little Quaker meeting in the city, but wanted to work my …
Read MoreA few times each week, I drive over to Brownsburg to pick up our granddaughter Madeline at her other grandparents. …
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I had two experiences these past few weeks I want to tell you about. The first happened when I was …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (10)
When I was in junior high school, I thought about running for class office. Our class had four officers—president, vice-president, …
Read MoreThe above cartoon by Gary Varvel appeared in the September 23rd edition of the Indianapolis Star. I’ve taken the …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (9)
In 1979, the year I graduated from high school, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and Jimmy Carter, our president at …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (8)
When I was a kid, my father became active in politics, so my brothers and I were drafted to help …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (7)
Shortly after Joan and I began dating, some 36 years ago, a child was born down the road from her …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (6)
It’s been an exciting week in Danville. On Monday, our town board passed an ordinance that allows people to drive …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (5)
When I was seven years-old, my mother began teaching at St. Susanna School in Plainfield. Up until then she had …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (4)
When I was 18 years-old I began attending Plainfield Friends Meeting, after the young women at Danville Friends Meeting kept …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (3)
We’ve been thinking about the characteristics of responsible nations, and today I want to talk about the difference between can’t …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (2)
Joan and I were out for a drive this past week and went past the house where my family lived …
Read MoreHow Shall We Live Together (1)
Well, it’s good to be back with you. I thank you for the expressions of concern we received when you …
Read MoreWhat I Remembered and What We Can Be
I’ve been thinking about families this month, what with the marriage of our younger son Sam to his fiancé Kelsea …
Read MoreAfter my mother died and my father got kicked out of the assisted-living center for smoking in the bathroom—now that …
Read MoreI’ve Been Thinking About The Children
Last Sunday was our first Mother’s Day without Mom, which I was dreading, until Joan told me to snap out …
Read MoreChris Gautier and his men’s group stayed at our farm last weekend and phoned to report that a large family …
Read MoreKitchen Tables, Temples, and Where God Lives
When Joan and I were first married, we needed a kitchen table but couldn’t afford one, so I went to …
Read MorePower and Character – Easter 2018 (Matthew 28:1-9)
We drove to Georgia last weekend to see our younger son Sam and his wife Kelsea. We stayed at his …
Read MoreThe Myth of the Normal Family: Impulse Control
Joan and I begin every morning eating breakfast and reading the newspaper. We’ve come close, several times in our 34 …
Read MoreThe Myth of the Normal Family: Malleability
Billy Graham was laid to rest on Friday in what was described as a private funeral service to which 2,300 …
Read MoreTh Myth of the Normal Family: Self-Awareness
For my tenth birthday, my parents bought me a pup tent and sleeping bag and suggested I spend more time …
Read MoreThe Myth of the Normal Family: Accept Responsibility
When Joan and I were married, we went on our honeymoon to Colorado, and on our way there stopped at …
Read MoreThe Myth of the Normal Family: Healthy People Make Friends, Not Enemies
We were visiting with our younger son Sam on the phone the other day. He’s getting married this summer and …
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