A pulpit generally looks just fine-when it's seen from the pew.

Commanding center stage-except in a divided chancel-it can be quite impressive. It's the main focus of attention, a kind of Mount Sinai, from which a preacher hands down divine pronouncements every Sunday.

Maybe that's why so many floral arrangements find their way to the front and sides of the pulpit. Flowers make Mount Sinai seem a little softer and friendlier.

A pulpit is so awesome, some call it a "sacred desk"-a strange name really, because no one ever preaches from a desk or writes at a pulpit.

But if you think a pulpit looks awesome from the front, you should see it from the back-the view the preacher and choir get. If the front of a pulpit resembles Mount Sinai, the back resembles the valley of Hinnom-Jerusalem's garbage dump.

You just can't imagine what's buried under the "sacred desk." An inventory would likely include an earring, keys to a Chevy Corvair, a copy of last year's Christmas program, half a glass of water- ...