I was remembering Father’s Day from the perspective of childhood. Around age nine, I wanted to do something very special for my dad for Father’s Day. Shopping with my mom, I spotted a men’s brown suede vest with long fringe. It sort of looked like something Daniel Boone or maybe one of the Beatles would … read
What is our prayer for this new year? Right off the bat, I can think of about a hundred things I would like God to take care of this year. The coronavirus, obviously. Climate change. Poverty. Cancer, Alzheimer’s, ALS. Gerrymandering that benefits whatever political party. Depression and anxiety. Catalytic converter theft. I could go on, … read
I’ll bet you didn’t expect a sermon on salvation to begin with a reference to the old TV show Gilligan’s Island, but here you are. For those of us who grew up watching Gilligan’s Island every week, we remember the deserted island somewhere in the Pacific, with the Skipper; Gilligan; millionaires Mr. and Mrs. Thurston … read
The scripture today is the most powerful and pertinent in our Bible, and maybe it’s even the most important articulated anywhere: Love your enemy. And, in practice, it has been summarily dismissed by most of Christendom and the world. In our culture of violence this commandment to love the enemy strikes us as impossible, weak, … read
Have you ever wondered about the power of naming? How does it shape our identity and future? There are some funny (true) names that have left me wondering. When I was in high school, there was my dermatologist: Dr. Rashleigh. I wondered, did he go into dermatology because of his name? And there was the … read
A friend of mine has a new grandson who just turned six weeks old. Being around this child and his loving, attentive parents is a reminder of how vulnerable we are all in the beginning, as human babies, born into this world. The infant relies upon parents for food, diaper-changing, safety, mobility, and most importantly: love. Think of it. All of … read