Dr. Tony S. Everett provides us with a series of life-related sermons on the Old Testament lessons... the sermons are biblically and theologically responsible, not sacrificing the message for relevance... If I were in the pew I would be drawn to listen to this preacher and his examples and words would follow me into the week! (from the Foreword) Dr. H. Fredrick Reisz Jr. President, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Columbia, South Carolina Tony Everett's stirring messages are as interesting to read as they would be to hear. He is a brilliant wordsmith with a keen insight into the needs of people and the ability to address God's word to those needs. It is easy for us to seek "quick-fix" solutions to challenges of declining attendance, shrinking income, and disappearing volunteers. We search in futility for simple techniques that promise the moon. Unfortunately we soon discover that these gimmicks are like the River Platte in Nebraska; a mile wide, but only an inch deep. Invariably such feeble solutions flash for a brief time, then crash in chaos. (from the Introduction) Among the seventeen sermons in this book are: Why Did Pastor Hypnotize Jenny? -- Advent 1 Anticipation Proclamation -- Advent 3 Unexpected Joy; Undeserved Gift -- Christmas Eve/Day Reach For The Light -- Epiphany New Name, New Status -- Epiphany 3 Who's In Charge Here Anyway? -- Epiphany B Looking Back, Moving Forward -- Transfiguration Tony S. Everett is a summa cum laude graduate of Youngstown State University. He earned an M.Div. degree from Hamma School of Theology and a Th.D. degree from Boston University School of Theology. He served in the parish ministry for eighteen years in Ohio and Massachusetts, and was also the director of a community health center in Angola, New York. He is currently the Dewey F. Beam Professor of Pastoral Care at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, where he also consults with congregations in spiritual growth, leadership training, and conflict management.