“The Three Gates of Speech” is often credited to the 13th-century Persian poet and Islamic scholar Rumi, who supposedly said: Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: At the first gate, ask yourself, “Is it true?” At the second gate, ask, “Is it necessary?” At the third gate, ask, “Is it kind?” … read
When I was young, a favorite TV show our family watched– was Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. I especially enjoyed the comedian Flip Wilson, who told outrageous stories, and then confessed: “The devil made me do it!” To us, the devil can seem comical, and an archaic notion. But, hold on. . . think about what’s happening: the … read
How do you feel about power? Does the idea of it make you feel encouraged, wary, or nauseous? In our scripture for today, the word “power” is repeated three times and is the central theme in this passage. This week, I heard from a few people that they are very uncomfortable with power. It is … read
It went like this: People had difficulty trusting that God was with them when faced with uncertainty, change, and hardship. Though there were wise, inspired voices trying to convince them otherwise, the people clamored for a leader who promised to make them strong against the threat of other nations: to be first in the world. … read
Last Friday was a day designated “Friendship Day.” That made me think about various friends that I’ve had, including one friend who cared for me on one of the most difficult days of my life. She showed her love not through words but through her actions. My husband, Daniel, was in his last hours of … read
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Friends, those “who have not seen” is all of us. “All who have not seen” covers everyone since the time of Jesus. And “believing” is not about intellectual assent to a particular Christian doctrine but about what we give our hearts to. … read