Jump directly to the Content

For Heaven's Sake

The junior high boys' Sunday school class had just finished decorating their bulletin board. Unlike most bulletin boards, this one intrigued me.

THE PERSON I ADMIRE MOST was the title. Each student had decorated a colorful piece of construction paper with the names of his top-three most admired people. This ought to be interesting, I thought. Junior high boys are generally not known for their cogent observations or keen sense of values. I paused for a moment of amusement, wondering who would be honored. Hmmm.

No infamous criminals—so far, so good.

No cartoon characters—so far, so good.

No current presidents—so far, so good.

Hey, there is hope for this great country of ours. A surprising and encouraging trend turned up: more than half the boys listed "Pastor Jay Riley" as their most admired.

Huh? Weren't these the same guys who fiddled with their portable computer games or stared blankly at the ceiling during Jay's sermons? Weren't these the guys who had ...

March
Support Our Work

Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month

Homepage Subscription Panel

Read These Next

Related
Stale Sermon Illustrations?
Stale Sermon Illustrations?
These pop culture references belong in the dustbin.
From the Magazine
I Hated ‘Church People.’ But I Knew I Needed Them.
I Hated ‘Church People.’ But I Knew I Needed Them.
As I attended my second funeral in three weeks, two Christians showed me a kindness I couldn’t explain.
Editor's Pick
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
Understanding God and our world needs more than bare reason and experience.
close