The Cross: Love is Like that

Luke 23:33-34  “When they arrived at the place called the Skull, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.’ They drew lots as a way of dividing up his clothing.”   John 19:25-27 “Jesus’ […]

If “the Earth is the Lord’s”, then how do we treat God’s Creation?

In retirement, my notoriously frugal parents went on vacation for many years with equally frugal friends. On their first morning in Florida, the condo’s clock radio began blaring AC-DC at 4:30am. Jarred awake, in unfamiliar terrain, Dad struggled for his glasses, detangled his c-pap and fumbled for the mute button. You should know, my Dad […]

Off the map- navigating an unseen land

On our way to the Grand Canyon, we camped one night at Bryce Canyon National Park. We took shorter hikes to scenic overlooks, saving our energy for our upcoming hike to the bottom the Grand Canyon. We had additional tents, but found it easier for all five us to sleep in a poorly named 5-person […]

Jesus Brings A Hopeful Sign

  Walls can do great things. Walls hold in the heat during winter and hold up the roof that  keeps out the rain. Sometimes people put up walls to keep others away! Signs on those walls might read: “Keep out”, “Private”, “No Trespassing”, or “Members Only.” How do you feel when someone  tells you to […]

Priscilla, put on hat when you preach!

Somewhere during college, I began struggling to fit the pieces together. Growing up as literalist, I found it harder and harder to work the Biblical puzzle. For example, how can Paul say in 1 Timothy 2:11-12, “I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent,” when […]

What does this mean? remembering

With more luck than planning, we visited Gettysburg on the 150th anniversary of the battle, arriving early enough to park in the closest parking lot. The next day, we celebrated the Fourth of July in Philadelphia, toured Constitution Hall, and saw the Liberty Bell through the glass wall. We then drove to New York City, […]

no time for questions

A seldom celebrated, yet vital part of any good preaching is asking questions.  Questions are more dangerous than declarative statements for they demand an answer.  We brush off a hard statement. It is harder to shake a good question.   Jesus asked questions all the time.  Here are a few: Is not life more than food? Do not even […]