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 […]
Tag Archives: religion
When we moved to Tennessee, a friend said, “you must go to a UT football game- it’s like a religious experience!” We tailgated and did the Vol walk, the band leading us in. It was fun. Now I grew up in Kentucky, and Big Blue Nation wears a lot of blue, you just notice the […]
Sent on a Spiritual Journey into the World! Back before cell phones, wifi, or even cable TV, we got bored every summer. We invited fun. playing home-run derby with a wiffle-ball or riding our bikes over a little ramp through the sprinkler like Evel Knievel. One day, we were all down at Joey’s when […]
In the year my Aunt Margarette died, and then my father, I began accompanying mother to Camp Nelson, Frankfort, Willisburg, and Rockbridge cemeteries. We cut lilacs, lilies, and Black-eyed Susans from her yard and placed them in coffee cans wrapped in aluminum foil. When mom moved into our home in Tennessee, we cut wildflowers from […]
Once upon a time, near a wide spot in a Tennessee road, lived Mrs. Grace. For forty three years Anna Grace taught algebra and calculus at the high school and played the piano every Sunday at a her little Methodist church. One afternoon Mrs. Grace dropped by church to get ready for choir rehearsal and […]
Lent begins with Jesus alone in the wilderness being tested by the Tempter. Temptations rarely beckon us to do something vile, terrible or evil. It’s unlikely any of you woke up laying plans to commit adultery, desecrate the sanctuary, or become consumed by anger. Temptations usually just pull us a little off track. I read […]
In seasons filled with division and loud voices, do we listen for the still small voice of God whispering peace into our souls? Do we let the Word of God trouble us, shake us up, challenge our notions and change our thinking? Today, I come preaching about seven qualities that God loves in any nation. […]
“Run in such a way that you may win the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:25). Perhaps the Apostle Paul was a runner or maybe all his missionary travels gave Paul an appreciation of race walking. Eckhard J Schnabel estimates that the Apostle Paul traveled some 8,700 miles over land and some 6,800 miles over sea in […]
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 […]
Jesus’ ministry began with forty days in the wilderness. Lent comes as a forty day spiritual journey towards Easter. Fourteen days since my hospital release, forty days seems like a long time. Jesus wrestled with the Tempter. I am wrestling with defining my being by my doing. My twenty two year internal church drive says: […]
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