Bret Hammond

Famously timid and fearful of death, Woody Allen was once asked, "Do you want to be immortalized by your work?" He replied, "No, I want to be immortalized by not dying." Asked again, "What do you hope people will say about you in 100 years?" His reply was, "He looks good for his age." What would we expect people to remember of us 100 years from now? I suppose if the Internet is still up and runnin...

The population of the planet is over 8 billion people. Set aside issues of overpopulation and food supply for a moment and simply consider the question, how unique can you actually be when compared to 8 billion others? Even if you're a one-in-a-million kind of guy, there are 8000 other people exactly like you! We come to the end of Micah's book, and he asks the question he seems to have been askin...

I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel like I lost at least an hour of sleep last night, maybe more! I just tried to make coffee without water in the coffee maker. I was taking my pills and cautiously tried to remember which ones were chewable and which ones weren't. I'm going to need clear and straightforward instructions this morning, and then I'm going to need a nap! Thankfully, we're i...

I know he can't defend himself, but I have to tell you, my son, Connor, is one of THOSE people. What people, you might ask? Connor is one of THOSE people who play Christmas music all year long! Yeah, I don't know where he gets it, either. It can be the middle of a blazing hot July, sweat dripping, the air conditioner doing its best to keep up with the humidity, and Connor will be blasting "Jingle...

Our friend told us a story from early in his ministry when a little girl asked him, "What does God look like?" How would you answer a question like that? What was she hoping to hear? "He's an old man in a white robe sitting on a cloud?" "He looks a lot like your grandpa, only not as chubby?" So my friend wisely took her to the Bible and showed her the attributes of God listed there. He's merciful...

I had my regular check-up, and the doctor is happy with my blood pressure and cholesterol. He says I'm looking healthy, but there's just one problem. I'm not sad enough. He's ordered sackcloth and ashes for me. Oh, and a viewing of "Old Yeller." Ok, so it's absolutely ridiculous that a doctor would prescribe sadness, yet that's precisely what Micah prescribes for his people. His diagnosis is that...

He's just some no-name preacher from a small town you've never heard of. I'm speaking, of course, of Micah of Moresheth. Wait . . . who did you think I was talking about?!?! Tucked in the back of your Old Testament is the little book of Micah. He's not a big name like his contemporary, Isaiah. He doesn't stand out like his neighbor in the Bible, Jonah. Micah's not flashy; he's faithful. He calls u...

One of the things I love about enjoying a variety of foods is connecting with the cultures behind the flavors. Korea's short growing season and cold climate made pickled and preserved vegetables a necessity (and delicious). Latin influences and an abundance of chili peppers gave us the tastes of the southwest. And bacon cheeseburgers are just one of the reasons America is awesome! If you're willin...

I can't tell you how often I've sat in a movie theater watching the previews for coming attractions and thought to myself, "What's the point of seeing the movie now? The trailer told me everything that's going to happen!" The bad news is that the trailer ruined the end of the story; the good news is I saved myself ten bucks by not needing to see the movie! But sometimes, the end of the story is no...

There are some people we know by name and others we know by shame. We know their stories and mistakes and how they've disappointed themselves, their families, and their communities. But everything we know about someone is in the past. So how do we look ahead and see the possibilities known only to God? In John 4, Jesus encounters a woman at a well. Everyone in her community knows her story and sha...

I never thought I’d be one of those old guys, but it turns out I am! I was standing in line at Walmart, waiting to check out. I turned to the complete stranger behind me, showed him the picture on my phone, and said, “This is my granddaughter!” It all happened so fast that I didn’t even realize what I was doing! And no, it wasn’t an isolated incident. It happens almost daily now. It’s really not m...

I call it my "Blurb," and I post it on Facebook every Sunday morning. In fact, you're reading this week's blurb right now! I try to keep it short and encouraging and use it as a preview for the sermon I'll preach later in the morning. My goal is always that the blurb will stand on its own, but if I've done it right, it might whet your appetite for what I'll be serving up in the sermon. I was in a...

It's Christmas morning, and not a creature is stirring except for me (and one cat). My mornings usually start early anyway, but this morning I found myself lying awake in bed, contemplating getting up, contemplating Christmas on a Sunday, thinking about the old, old story and the new sermon I'll deliver today. I finally decided it was time to get up a little over an hour ago. The cat was already w...

It's such a small detail and seems so insignificant. All babies were wrapped in swaddling cloths in those days! Why does Luke feel the need to mention it twice? Because there's mystery in the ordinary for Luke and there's God wrapped in strips of linen at the beginning of his Gospel, and then again . . .

A dog chewed up my first image of Jesus. I should probably explain that better, right? When I was a child, we had a Christmas tree ornament that was a tiny nativity scene. I was allowed to hang it on the tree, and, being tiny myself, I hung it on a very low branch. Unfortunately, the following day we awoke to find that our normally well-behaved dog, Trixie, had destroyed the nativity. It was chewe...

DNA kits have become a popular Christmas present in the last few years, enabling people to discover connections they never realized they had. In some cases, these have led to awkward conversations about family secrets thought long buried. In other cases, it has led to amazing reunions. For example, I’ve been following the case of Melissa Highsmith, who was kidnapped 51 years ago and raised by her...

There’s some debate on whether or not we should call them “Wise Men.” Matthew uses the word “magi,” from which we get “magician.” Scholar Richard Vinson wonders if their presence is an allusion to the incompetent advisors in the Daniel story or even Pharaoh’s court in the time of Moses. While guided by a star, they’re still misguided, needing to stop in Jerusalem to get directions (no self-respect...

My first pastor passed away yesterday. Dave Butts was, among other things (like a friend and former boss), my pastor for many years. I realize that much of my ministry has been shaped by how I saw Dave, Rich Carmicheal, and others live out their callings. As I look at my sermon text for today, I'm reminded of a quality I always appreciated in Dave—his trust in God's timing. Our church used to have...

His Love Endures Forever; Psalm 136 by Bret Hammond

This past Friday, I gathered with friends to say goodbye to a wonderful lady named Joyce Hemingway. Joyce's generous spirit was repeatedly mentioned at her funeral—not just generous in how she gave but in how she welcomed. Every holiday, there were always a few extra at Joyce and John's table. They had a practice of welcoming international students from Denmark, Japan, and the Middle East into the...

I stopped into my favorite hideaway yesterday for a cup of coffee and a little time to myself. Within a few minutes, the sound system started playing “Winter Wonderland.” Next up was “Run, Run Rudolph,.” A few minutes later, Freddy Mercury belted out, “Let it be Christmas every day.” I sighed while I drank my chestnut praline latte and wondered why we allow Christmas to run roughshod over Thanksgi...

This week will mark the twenty-third year since my brother’s death as a victim of suicide. Twenty-three years is a lot of time for perspective. I know mine has changed over the years, and I sometimes wonder how Brad’s perspective would have changed if he had given it time. Would the burdens that felt unmanageable at forty-nine years old have been just distant memories at seventy-two? I would like...

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that the church is the body of Christ, comparing the church's individual members with the members of the human body. I've always heard this as a metaphor for how we serve together. Hands and feet of Jesus, working and moving us together. Eyes and ears, seeing the needs around us, and hearing the cries of our neighbors so we can reach out to them better. However, m...

Mary Johnson’s story is moving and inspiring. In 1993, her 20-year-old son was shot and killed by 16-year-old Oshea Israel. Rather than being consumed by bitterness, Mary began visiting Oshea in prison, eventually telling him that she forgave him. When he was released, Mary welcomed Oshea into her home. In an interview with the two, Mary said, “I treat you as I would treat my own son.” Can we even...

"No one ever said that to me before." My neighbor had stopped by for a talk. The day before, he told me of his wife's health and how he was caring for her. I told him I would be praying for them both. "No one ever said that to me before." It was as much a shock to my system to hear him say those words as my pledge to pray had been to his. All my life, I had known people were praying for me (even b...