A band of brothers jealous. A family with a legacy of deception. A brother sold into slavery, stripped of his identity, moved across borders. One brother angry about the decision. A father in grief inconsolable. The oldest brother moves away, physically and relationally, from his family. In time, he too is overwhelmed by grief and … Continue reading Colossal Mess or Miracle?
What if Saint John was wrong? “The light shines in the darkness,” he wrote, “and the darkness has not overcome it.” Except when it does. When the line of cars awaiting food boxes in our church parking lot grows longer each month while the pallets of rice, beans, grapes, and oatmeal shrink as federal funds … Continue reading All The Light I Cannot See
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread cakes.” ~Genesis 18:6So Jesus was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like?…It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until it worked all through the … Continue reading Of Yeast & Generosity
The text message I received was simply “Dave lost his battle with cancer today.” My reply was simple too, “I’m so sorry to hear this.” The man was a friend of my brother’s living in a different country. Someone I had never met. Yet still a death with rolling waves of grief. A mere prayer … Continue reading Say Only That I Won
My pastor’s name is Robert “The Jazz Theologian” Gelinas and what follows is my 🎶 riff 🎶 on his sermon from Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43. “We’ve got bad news, boss.” I wonder how the workers decided which of them would deliver this report. Did they draw straws? Play rock-paper-scissors? Or maybe the most senior one stepped … Continue reading Who Weeds Out The Weeds?
Zeus. That’s it. Just Zeus. The only name I remember from grade school Greek mythology. The way I figured it back then, I knew God the Father, Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Ghost. What need could I possibly have to know the names of Greek and Roman gods? Decades later I landed on a … Continue reading Jesus, Zeus, and the I Am
When I am patient… I do not have to carry the regret of sharp words spoken. When I am generous… I do not have to struggle to fall asleep with coldness in my heart. When I am truthful… I do not feel the fear of keeping my story straight. When I am humble… I do … Continue reading Jesus, Jon Batiste, and A Freedom Song
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and … Continue reading Magi Conversations
Journal Entry December 26, 2022 Did I miss it again? I wrote that 11 months ago feeling miserable and disappointed with myself. It’s not as though I hadn’t tried. I had 90% of my Christmas shopping done by the Friday after Thanksgiving. Two days later I had finished Christmas decorating inside and out during another … Continue reading An Experiment: Stretching Out Advent
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven…and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke…but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” Revelation 10:1-4 Ever … Continue reading Ever Wonder What The Angel Shouts?
Lord, Come Quickly 