There I was, minding my own business. I had my nose in a book (surprise! surprise!) I had my usual seat at Starbucks--camped out at my favorite table with access to an electrical outlet for my battery-challenged computer... and he walked in. He got all of our attention. The place practically stopped in its tracks. The guy... Continue Reading →
Heading to Jerusalem…
Well. Here we are, again! At the start of another Lenten season. It's Ash Wednesday, and for the past few days, I've been wondering what I would do during this season. Traditionally, Christians are asked to fast during the 40 days (not counting Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. It is one of the... Continue Reading →
When Did We See You In Prison?
The question was posed nonchalantly, but suddenly a vision (actually, a memory) hit me hard and took my breath away. I saw "Joe's" face, sad and glum, tired and weary looking at us from behind a plexiglass window. Three of us huddled around a telephone. Joe picked up his phone on the other side of... Continue Reading →
Waking Up to the Devil, But Resting in the Lord
The devil tried to trip me up this morning. No, I wasn't literally tripped by a little demon with a pitchfork. But in a moment that was marked by selfishness and a lack of love, I felt my soul battered and beaten to the point that I wondered if I was making any sort of difference... Continue Reading →
Ascension Day Prayer
This is the day, dear Lord, when you were lifted away from us. This is the day when our eyes turn toward the heavens, searching for some trace of you, gazing at the sun and the stars and the clouds, wondering when you will return. But don't let me gaze to long at things not... Continue Reading →
A Plea to Christians Regarding the Burial of Tamerlan Tsarnaev
I realize that in this country, there are people of many different faiths. I would hope that our shared humanity would enable us to reach across our differences and find a common sense of good. But in this entry, I am mostly concerned with reaching out to my Christian brothers and sisters. The family of... Continue Reading →
Prayer For A New Week
Dear Lord, It is so easy to see you in the beauty of new life: the laugh of a baby, the perfection of a flower in bloom, the sun reflecting on the smooth surface of a calm lake... But I want to see you in the faces of the people you came to save: the... Continue Reading →
Talk About Sufferin’
There is an old Ricky Skaggs' song, Talk About Sufferin', that I have always found startlingly beautiful. The song itself is a prime example of mountain music: A blend of vocal harmonies without musical accompaniment, and a simple, repetitive verse and chorus conducive to memorization in an oral culture. While driving down the road, I find myself... Continue Reading →
Red Alert!
I am a Trekkie. I admit it. And I came about it honestly. My father was one of the original Trekkies and he instilled a deep love of all things Star Trek in his children at an early age. One of the ways I like to unwind at the end of a long day is... Continue Reading →
An Ode to Joy
This evening, after a visit to the veteran's hospital, I stopped at Starbucks, ordered a venti iced tea, and sat on the patio to read through some commentaries in preparation for this weekend's message. Today was one of those perfect spring days that you wish would go on and on without end. The sky was... Continue Reading →
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