It’s PINK Tuesday and I am on the road… again. In the air, rather, and en route to the gathering of some of my favorite kinds of folks – youthworkers. Tired. Overworked. A little cranky. A little crazy. (Sounds a LOT like ME!) You can ask them – my family will tell you that […]
“The fact of suffering undoubtedly constitutes the single greatest challenge to the Christian faith.” –John Stott It’s been this way since time began. The fact that you are still reading tells me that nothing has changed… SUFFERING a LOSS raises questions and doubts and fears and anger as it CHALLENGES our ability to […]
One hundred is a big number. A sizable number. One worth noting. If you’re a collector and you have one hundred items in your collection, it’s worth sharing with others (possibly worth investing in your own museum for proper showcasing)! If you’re a cook, the day that your personal specialties numbers one hundred dishes is […]
Life is HARD (can I get an ‘amen’?). Life TOGETHER can be harder. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but today’s topic is DISCIPLINE. I know – we’re as crazy about discipline as a biting toddler or a teenager whose driver’s permit is burning a hole in the wallet. Spiritual discipline, as with […]
Some people walk into a room and suddenly… it’s full. Full of talk. Full of words. Full of opinions and agendas, served up without invitation for the rest of us to join in. Full of energy – positive or negative – that proceeds to drive every conversation and interaction in its direction. Full […]
I know, I know… you’ve heard all of the quotes before: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Reinhold Niebuhr “If you don’t create change, change will create you.” “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” “Change […]
This has been a season of wrapping things up for me – more so than ever before. Every year the school year ends. Every year a class of Confirmation students is welcomed into Church membership. Every year we celebrate our graduates and applaud their achievements. But this year has been different for me. This year […]
My home church has a beautiful tradition of encouraging faith development in our youngsters. At baptism, each child is presented with a meticulously hand-made wooden chest. We call them Faith Chests, and when we give them to our children we explain that they are intended to house the items of faith that they will acquire […]
Jesus was teaching and the crowd of curious and eager listeners was growing. With Him were His traveling companions – the Twelve (His students), and some women whom He had healed from various diseases and evil spirits. Apparently, once healed, these women did not wish to leave His side. So they traveled with Him and […]
The WORD “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:27 (New International Version) “I tell you the truth, some people standing here will see the kingdom of God before they die.” (New Century Version) “Some who have taken their stand […]