Monthly Archives: August 2016

The root of the English word “pray” means to ask or beg. As we’ve seen so far, there is a lot more to prayer than asking for stuff. Nevertheless, prayer of asking (or petition, to use the fancy term) is … Continue reading →

My wife recently completed a course of treatment at a local clinic. On her last day, the staff presented her with a “We care kit.” This kit consisted of the following items: An eraser- So you can make all your … Continue reading →

Did you ever feel like Norm, on the television show, “Cheers”? Did you ever want to? Norm would walk into the local bar & restaurant, Cheers, and the whole place would say, “Norm!” in greeting. The show’s theme song included … Continue reading →

 I had the privilege of spending a few days this summer with my whole family. For those marvelous July days we were all together: our grandkids, our kids, their spouses, and us “old folk”. Geographically we are spread across the … Continue reading →

​Our Sunday School class had been studying the apostles, and the teacher asked each of us to think and say with which apostle we most identified. When it came to me, several immediately commented that it was Thomas, and I … Continue reading →

It’s been 6 months since we’ve seen our grandchildren. Too long. Especially since they are all under 4 years old, and two of them are under one. That happens when you live states away. Yet somehow there is a real … Continue reading →

On my morning walk, I was overcome by God’s love and presence and spoke aloud to God saying, “I love you.” This is nothing out of the ordinary, but hearing a response from God doesn’t happen every time. This morning, … Continue reading →

Sometimes you learn something, but you don’t know you’ve learned it until years later.  When I started seminary I lived in an old house with three other seminarians–two seniors and a middler. The others taught me a Jewish table grace … Continue reading →

I was reflecting on all the things going on around us. A tumultuous primary season with prospects of more of the same in the upcoming election. The social unrest that seems to be an almost daily occurrence. In the midst … Continue reading →

 Christians mean? Really? How can it possibly be that people who follow Jesus are perceived as mean? Perhaps it’s because, all too often, we are. Dallas Willard suggests much of this comes from a tendency to mistake the “vessel” with … Continue reading →