As we look forward once again to the turning of the calendar, many of us have come to the threshold of 2010 carrying heavy concerns either for ourselves– or for others. So it might be worth thinking together about a statement that the Apostle Paul wrote in the middle of his own problems and concerns […]
At a recent family get together I was introduced to a game called Bananagrams. In some ways it’s a lot like Scrabble, but plays a lot faster. Everyone works with as many as 21 letter tiles of their own and tries to create their own connected words at the same time with a simple set […]
“Follow the money,” was the memorable quote from All the President’s Men. An unnamed source suggested to Bob Woodward that the key to understanding the Watergate mystery was the money. At the end of that path were reasons to be cynical. But change the idea slightly. Refocus on “follow the gifts” … and we find […]
The wonder of the magi may be worth thinking about. The mystery surrounding them seems to be by design. For openers, why is Matthew the only one of 4 Gospel accounts that mentions them? If they came “from the east” and saw a star “in the east” why would they travel west to Bethlehem? Who […]
On the threshold of the Promised Land, God told his people that even though they had seen him do many wonderful things through the rescue of the Exodus, and through the provisions of the Wilderness, they didn’t get what he was doing for them. More specifically, Moses wrote, “To this day the LORD has not […]
Last night Jewish people began lighting candles around the world in their annual celebration of Hanukkah. This morning an article in the Dallas Morning News says that two pastors of the Episcopal denomination are expected to draw hundreds, at 10 dollars a ticket, to their discussion of whether Christ is the only way to God. […]
Is it possible that some of us are so committed to defending “absolute truth” that we forget how “relative” our understanding can be? Admittedly, those who say “all things are relative” often mean that one opinion is as good as another—especially when they want their own opinion to be as good, or better, than anyone […]
Over the months I’ve talked every once in a while about how 12 Step thinking and process echoes basics of true spirituality. Even after the specific language of the Bible has been removed to make the Steps “accessible” to those who come with an aversion to the “religion” of their past, real wisdom remains. Step […]
Can we count on God to give us the ability to do anything we “believe him for”? The Apostle Paul wrote that he had learned how to do all things through Christ who strengthened him (Philip 4:13). But why then, on another occasion did he write, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. […]
What does trust look like when we can’t explain our trouble, or see beyond it? Listening to others as they try to show faith in crisis can be confusing. Some say they are “believing God” for a job, restored health, a reconciled marriage, or the return of a prodigal. Others say reliance on Him means […]
