There are some remarkable things in the passage that Eileen just read. One is that when Jesus was in his own hometown, he was limited in his power. “He could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.” Another remarkable thing is the … read
A message caught my eye this weekend at the Presbytery meeting in Salem. It said “Love everyone. I will sort them out, later.”—God I believe it is safe to say that right now, globally and nationally, we are not doing a very good job of loving everyone. But we are good at sorting each other … read
Who remembers preschool or kindergarten, and cleaning out an empty half-pint milk carton, cutting off the top, pouring dirt into it, and then burying a lima bean in the dark soil? Do you remember looking at the dirt doubtfully? Nothing interesting is visible for a while. We water the dirt. Now, we have a cup … read
In this beautiful slice from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, the great apostle is making the case for hope. Hope! That thing with feathers that perches in the soul, as Emily Dickinson says. Desmond Tutu says that hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness. Hope … read
“Church people.” When you hear those words, what comes to mind? Some of a certain age will remember comedian Dana Carvey’s incarnation of the Church Lady, in a gray wig, fake pearls, making multiple references to Satan, and the expression, dripping with sarcasm, “Isn’t that special?” “Church people” might conjure up an image of any … read