Gaining a heart of wisdom
Sunday Scripture Ready or not, soon we will be immersed in Christmas scenes and memes, countdowns and shopping guides, and among them will be the exhortation to believe in the magic of Christmas. Every year, snowy backdrops and Santa hats inspire us with the single word: Believe... John's Gospel sets the word believe on center… Continue reading What Do You Mean When You Say You Believe?
Sunday Scripture The 1971 Broadway musical Godspell was controversial among Christians in small town New England, but a brave choral conductor dared to have her high school ensemble sing selections from it at a concert I attended as an elementary school student. Remember cassette recorders? My parents recorded everything with ours, and I nearly wore… Continue reading See, Love, Follow: What Keeps You from Seeing Clearly?
Sunday Scripture If eyes could wear out a page, there would be a hole in my old maroon Bible where Isaiah 41:10 lives: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Anxiety was my default… Continue reading Why You Can Trust the Promises of God
Sunday Scripture Autumn has landed in the Northern Hemisphere, and with this seasonal change comes early darkness, chilly mornings, and the subtle warning that winter is on its way. Of course there's the compensatory aroma of apple pie and the eye-popping beauty of bright foliage, and the truth is, I have a choice to make… Continue reading You Are NOT at the Mercy of Your Feelings!
(And Be the Real Deal) Sunday Scripture Because we have been friends since we were teens, and because we were teens during the Cold War, my friend Judy and I have a long standing tradition of greeting one another with, "Hail, Comrade," and making frequent references to Soviet-era spy terminology that are funny only to… Continue reading Sure Fire Signs to Help You Spot the Real Deal
I love it when our kids call home. Often, it becomes a three-way (or even four-way) conversation, but sometimes our sons call and ask specifically to speak with their dad. When that happens, I know there's likely a decision in the pipeline, or they're working through a wrinkle in a relationship and want to vent… Continue reading Listening In to One Side of a Father/Son Conversation
Sunday Scripture Long ago there lived a great king with great wealth and great power. He had everything anyone could ever desire until, one sad day, his beloved wife died. The king set about the building of a majestic tomb, a memorial in her honor, and every day the king devoted himself to the task… Continue reading Pray for a Focused and Uncluttered Heart
Sunday Scripture My youngest son leaves for college at the end of August--or at least that's the plan. College in the age of COVID-19 involves a certain amount of uncertainty. To date, four of his seven classes have been declared "remote," but no one has even come close to answering his questions about how one… Continue reading What Does Suffering Have to Do With Hope?
Sunday Scripture I'm fascinated by the spiritual growth of my grandchildren. At 5 and 2, they know for sure that God made them. They know he loves them, and whenever we have "theological discussions," I am usually the one who walks away enlightened, because their thoughts about God come through uncluttered and full of joy.… Continue reading What Do You Know for Sure About God?
Sunday Scripture From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear,no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him."Isaiah 64:4 Once again, Israel was in trouble. Enemies on every side threatened to swallow them up, and this time, instead of turning to the Living God, they were… Continue reading What Does Waiting for God Look Like?
Living Our Days 