Salem members are to have “a family altar and daily devotions in the home” and give “careful attention to the religious training of youth” (Salem Bylaws I.B.). The beginning of a New Year is always an opportune time to reflect on our priorities and make adjustments as necessary. As noted above, the Salem bylaws highlight…

Advent and Christmastime are special seasons at Salem. There’s the beauty of the decorations in the sanctuary, the beauty of Christmas anthems and carols, and, most importantly, the beauty of the story of who God is for us as revealed in the coming of Emmanuel, God with us. Here we encounter THE great truth about…

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19 NIV). This month we’ll be observing several special Sundays that direct our attention beyond this life. The first Sunday of the month will be Memorial Sunday, a time in which we remember those…

When your last hour comes, I won’t be with you, neither the Pope; if then you don’t know the foundation of your hope and merely say: I believe what the councils, the Pope, and our fathers believed, the devil will answer: Yes, but what if they erred? Then he has won and will drag you…

  This month we’ll observe Labor Day. In America we have a long tradition of honoring labor, but it’s interesting to note that this hasn’t always been the case in other parts of the world and in other eras of history. There was a time in England when part of what made a person a…

School begins this month! Where did the summer go? Of course, summer breaks are much shorter than when I was growing up. We let out around Memorial Day and didn’t return until after Labor Day. Summer seemed to last forever. With the return of school, I’ve reflected some on my own growing up. Now with…

[W]e try to persuade others (2 Corinthians 5:11 NIV). As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our nation it comes at a time when many are concerned about the direction of our country. The shared assumptions of the past (the values of the Judeo-Christian tradition) are no longer the glue that holds us together.…

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12 NIV). This month we’ll be observing Father’s Day on the 20th. The idea of honoring and respecting one’s parents is deeply rooted in biblical religion. It goes all the way back…