matt tullos: writer
I was thinking this morning, (April Fools’ Day) how wonderful this day would be if Donald Trump held a press conference and said two words: “April Fools’!” Wow, Donald. You really got us. You got us good! We actually thought you were going to desire and win the office of President. You so funny. But […]
In the eighties, church job titles were pretty simple. We even had decision cards that you could fill out if you felt “called” to “special service.” You might feel called to be a _____ Pastor _____ Music Minister _____ Youth Minister _____ Minister of Education _____ Foreign Missionary (Check one.) That’s it. Check the nature of […]
My grandfather was 5 feet & 135 inches tall. Actually he was well under 6 feet but he was a giant, legendary figure. I grew up during my preschool days in Los Angeles. As a knee-high kid, my brother and I would fly for a number of weeks to live in Dry Prong Louisiana. Dry […]
I have more days behind me than I do in front of me so I am in a hurry. I can’t afford to be cynical, satisfied or slow. I don’t want to do anything halfway for You. I don’t want to be pulled away by self interest, pride, or opposition. I don’t have the time to live […]
It’s Sunday. And Jesus is with us! His obituary is in the paper and, for goodness sakes alive, He is sitting at our breakfast table! He is supposed to be behind a stone, flanked by Rome’s finest. Dead, dead, dead… But instead He’s hungry and wants fish this morning! And where has he been since […]
It’s Saturday. The tomb is sealed. The guards are in position. The sheep are scattered. The light is gone. There is nothing more than silence on the other end. These are the times when we look back and replay all our errors and missed opportunities. The words we should have said… The swords we should […]
Jesus remains on the cross, suffering unimaginable traumas. He is deserted by fearful disciples, surrounded by tormentors, thieves, murderers, and religious provocateurs. Soldiers gaming over the final scant possessions of the Master of creation, ignore the darkening sky. Jesus cries out: “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” On this holy day, God’s […]
It’s Thursday evening. Darkness falls on a Middle Eastern city and a group of men gather around a table. Some men want answers, others want power, others conceal their furtive motives and plans, and still others resign to die. Tonight is different. In the past, their times of feasting were filled with so much laughter […]
Fresh ideas energize a church. I’m no church historian but somewhere along the line someone said: “Hey! Why don’t we meet on Wednesday night?” “For what?” “To kind of give ourselves a midweek shot in the arm.” “We could pray for the sick, discuss church business and have youth worship with fog machines in the […]
This has been a difficult political season for America to say the least. Campaign presentations are louder, angrier and crazier than this country has ever experienced. However, I hear a faint whisper in my head that says “I’ve seen these people before.” Most pastors have. Who would these candidates resemble if they joined the church? […]