Imagine yourself as Simon Peter about ready to lead the church. Peter may be the first Christian. The Gospels tell us Peter leaves behind his boats, nets, and fishing business to follow Jesus. For three years, Peter traveled from village to village with Jesus hearing Jesus preach. Like most first century believers Peter committed most […]

John’s Easter story begins, “While it was still dark Magdalene came to Jesus’ tomb.” Do you think Magdalene made her way while stars still filled the night sky? When did you last stand far enough away from electric lights to see the Milky Way’s star-dusty tail? Thousands of years ago, Abraham and Sarah gazed at […]

The Palm and Passion Sunday lectionary texts can almost jolt us. We start singing loud Hosannas and suddenly we gaze upon the cross.  This week, the mystery of Jesus Christ’s humanity and divinity comes into focus: God is crucified.  Charles Wesley asked, how can that be? “Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies! Who can explore […]

I just remember I was alone, hungry, and cold as I bowed my head over my lunch. I don’t remember where I was eating or even what I was having…maybe soup. Still, the lovely smell pulled my face closer towards the bowl; as I leaned in steam rolled up my face. Cognitive psychology tells us […]

Our passage begins “at that time” or, in the New Revised Standard version, “at that very hour”.  “At that very hour” invites us to keep in mind what comes before our passage. Jesus had been teaching and healing, moving from town to town making his way to Jerusalem, when someone asked, “Lord, will only a […]

 Lent begins the smudge of ashes right in the center of our foreheads. Ash on your forehead may garner weird looks. The ashes sometimes sprinkle down from our foreheads onto our nose, mask, or collar. Younger children may wonder if the ashes are hot?  They are not! Once I forgot to quickly wash my hands […]

If I could speak like an angel (isn’t that the dream of every preacher, poet and playwright?),  if my influence stretched to 777million followers, but if my content lacked Love, then my words just add to the noise.  If you could prophecy and help guide us into a better future;  if you had an answer […]

Our word Bible comes from the Greek word “biblia”, a plural noun meaning “the books”. Think books of the Bible like Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The first books were scrolls. Bound books opening on a hinged spine were a newer technology that the early church adopted and spread with evangelistic zeal. It would be 400 […]

In 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech*. Before lifting us up to dream of a soul-force that might “transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood”, King grounds these lofty dreams […]

Last year when 3 inches of snow fell on Nashville, Connie and I donned our winter gear and walked through the winter wonderland. Falling snow mixed with Christmas lights or even a streetlight makes for everyday magic. We watched children playing in the snow, pushed a few cars from some slick spots, and even offered […]