“If God had been there, then…” As people of faith, at some point or another, we are going to say those words. We lose something – the pandemic hits and we lose a graduation, a Christmas Eve, a long-planned trip. We lose someone – cancer strikes, or the virus, or our beloved just doesn’t wake … read
Last week a post on Facebook caught my eye. Written by Sharad Yadav, a guy in Portland whom I’ve never met, he lists his reason for why people should consider joining a church. As I read it, I remembered that I was preaching on this story about James’ and John’s outrageous request, and that today … 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
On the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread, and broke it, giving it to his disciples saying, “Take and eat. This is my body.” When I was a kid in Confirmation, I remember the Catholic priest explaining to us how Christ was present in Communion. And I remember thinking, “See, we … read
This week I read an essay about COVID’s destruction of so many of our systems and foundations and what that destruction has uncovered. I found it fascinating—not only in the author’s observations but also in the metaphor it provided. Destruction is painful and traumatic, and yet it might enable us to see what we have … read
“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