One clear sign of a recession is that it will be harder to pinch pennies in the coming months. The Mint will stop making the penny when the one-cent blanks run out sometime in early 2026.  The last order for blank pennies to stamp has already been shipped. Apparently, it costs 3.69 cents to make each penny. Fun Fact: it presently costs 13.78 cents to make a nickel, 5.76 cents to make a dime, and 14.68 cents to make a quarter. I suspect the nickel may not be long for this world, unless they find a cheaper metal that cannot be easily counterfeited. The Federal Reserve 2022 Report estimated that $14 billion—about 60% of all coins in circulation—are kept in jars. The Wall Street Journal indicates that businesses will likely round up or down to the nearest nickel, but state and local governments are going to need to enact legislation when it comes to sales taxes such as the price of a gallon of gas at the pump, or a candy bar. And what about the penny loafer? It won’t be the same.

Hobbyists collecting pennies will increase. Grandchildren will inherit these collections with the hope that one day, maybe, they will be worth something. Banks will begin to take pennies out of circulation and the Treasury will seek to reclaim the metals. Cashless transactions will be first to round up (not down) quickly. If you can’t count on a penny anymore, what can you count on? 

A couple of days before his crucifixion, Jesus answered a question and later shared an observation about the place of money in our daily lives. To the anti-tax crowd, Jesus asked for a coin; to the religious crowd, Jesus pointed to a widow who understood gratitude to God. The Almighty Dollar, Gold Bar, or Crypto Currency is a petty little god. Choose wisely.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. A penny for your thoughts. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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“I Cannot Say the Lord’s Prayer” was written by an unknown believer. It speaks to the selfishness and greed of our times. Read it prayerfully.

I cannot say…Our—if my religion has no room for other people and their needs. I cannot say…Father—if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily life. I cannot say…Who art in Heaven—if all my interests and pursuits are earthly things. I cannot say…Hallowed be Thy Name—if I who am called by His name, am not holy. 

I cannot say…Thy kingdom come—if I am unwilling to give up my sovereignty and accept the reign of God. I cannot say…Thy will be done—if I am unwilling or resentful of having Him in my life. I cannot say…on earth as it is in Heaven—unless I am truly ready to give myself to His service here and now.

I cannot say…Give us this day our daily bread—without expending honest effort for it or by ignoring the needs of my fellowmen. I cannot say…Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors—if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone. I cannot say…Lead us not into temptation—if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted. I cannot say…Deliver us from evil—if I am not prepared to fight in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer.

I cannot say…Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, the Glory—if I do not give disciplined obedience, if I fear what neighbors and friends may say or do, if I seek my own glory first. I cannot say…Amen—unless I can honestly say also, cost what it may, this is my prayer!

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Live truthfully. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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There is no such thing as too many books for those of us who love to read and explore. My personal library of books on shelves and in closets is well over 2,000. A wonderful lady named Mickey Allio catalogued my books for 15 years or so. She made an old-fashioned library card catalog of each book by title, author and subject. Mickey, along with Mary Harlan, Alice Emminger, Irene Gant, Raedelle Plummer and Pansy Beaman, created our church’s versatile library. They loved knowing that I worked my way through college and seminary working in those schools’ libraries.

My personal library is partially for research. Good research involves learning the various viewpoints from a variety of authors with diverse backgrounds. If I am not willing to be taught to expand my thinking, I will only stagnate in my own limited understandings.  I weed my garden of books once or twice a year. I place those books in a box to give away or sell. I cannot bear to see a book destroyed. I oppose the banning of books and the arts. There should be restrictions for age appropriateness, of course. A church library has concerns about appropriate content that differentiates it from public or personal libraries. Librarians are skilled in making wise choices.

I take heart to know that I’m not alone with my enjoyment of books. One of my mentors said that any book was worth the price if it provided a good sermon illustration. I still use that excuse to read more books. Some people tell me they have not read a book in a couple of years or more—too busy, too tired, too much TV, and the ever-present phone in hand. Wander through a library, visit a bookstore or let me give you a book. What do you need to discover today?

 Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Open your world. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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Anna Jarvis (1864-1948) is the recognized founder of Mother’s Day. At the close of a Sunday School lesson in 1876, Anna’s mother is quoted as saying, I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it. Thirty years later, after her mother’s death, Anna led her Methodist church to have a memorial service commending the role of mothers, handing out 500 white carnations on May 10, 1908. By the 1920’s she became disgusted with the way Mother’s Day had been commercialized and loudly voiced her regret at being its founder: A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment!  Anna Jarvis never married and had no children of her own.

Mother’s Day is a day for reflection on the role our mothers have played in our lives, yet, for many it is a day filled with conflicted emotions and regret. The first Mother’s Day after a mother has died is often incredibly painful, as well as all the Mother’s Days following the loss of a child. As a pastor, I feel the heart cry of the couples who wanted children, but it did not/could not happen. I hear the pain of the “unwanted.” I listen to incredibly difficult stories of mother-child animosities and abusive addictions. I see the broken hearts of the grandmothers who have their grandchildren torn from them by divorce or court order. Yet, God has given us a rich gift in our complicated and sometimes messy families. Through it all, you and I have become who we are because God’s love has embraced us, nurtured us, and redeemed us. 

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Encourage a mother. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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