As I ponder weak and weary,
the sermon that is bleak and dreary

Here's some comfort for you preachers this morning: Dr. James Forbes, newly retired pastor of NYC Riverside Church, gets criticized for his preaching. See today's NYtimes.com for the article.

Is there hope for the rest of us if this wonderful homiletician has church members who don't like his preaching?

Whoa. He's one of my favorite preachers on the planet. I heard him first, in the 70's, at Columbia Seminary and to this day, I can recall what he said. He's a native North Carolinian (why is it that so many great preachers are from NC?)whose sermons are a wealth of intelligence, love of the Gospel and prophetic witness.

What do those crabby Riversiders want? A lock-jaw speaking, thin-lipped dry preacher?

Puleeze! Let's just say that we all may take comfort when even Jim Forbes has detractors.

I'm off to Little Church in a few hours. God willing, my sermon will come together before I cross the town limits,

St. Casserole