14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not … read
No one reads sermon titles anymore; nevertheless, I still give my sermons a title. On the off chance that you read this title, I want to be clear, it’s not just me who doesn’t want to preach this sermon. No one wants to preach this sermon. If you were considering awarding preaching medals to the … read
Who is your mirror? Who is in your mirror? The loved ones in our lives are often the best mirrors. I recall when my oldest son was young enough to be restricted to the car seat in the back. As I drove us around, he was like a sponge, taking in all my actions and … read
A friend of mine recently asked me how living in this time of pandemic is affecting my faith. Truth be told, I hadn’t really reflected on that. I’m more of a “put-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other” kind of person, and getting through this pandemic has meant, for me, buckling down in that particular way. Of course, all of us … read
One Sunday morning as I made my way to church, I sort of reveled in how relaxed I felt—unlike most Sundays as I headed out to beautiful rural Estacada to preach. As I sank into that unaccustomed sense of calm, I noticed I was still wearing my slippers. Who knew that what one wears has … read
A fourth grader in our neighborhood, Elsa, has created her own small business making and distributing fabric face masks. It’s called “Fancy Faces.” She learned how to sew in March, watching her mother make face masks. Elsa and her younger sister deliver orders to Alameda neighbors. Creative, innovative, thoughtful—right? Now, for some undefined period, all … read