I read something in 2 John this morning that both warmed and inspired me. Here it is, from 2 John 1:1-3: “The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth —and not I ...  Read More

I found another gift in an obscure place this morning. I think of Jude’s letter to the churches as pretty grim, a fire and brimstone sermon. But look what’s there, in teh greeting in Jude 1:1-2: “Jude...  Read More

Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are ...  Read More

Roads and paths tend to capture my imagination. They catch my eye – when I see an interesting road or winding path I want to follow it, to see where it takes me, to find out what’s at the end. I imagi...  Read More

Luke  3:15-18 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But one who is more p...  Read More

For four centuries there hadn’t been a prophet in Israel. It was as if God had fallen silent, and the people of Israel wondered if they’d been abandoned. Then the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth showed...  Read More

I was intrigued when my Advent devotional took me to 1 Samuel 2 this morning. I can honestly say I’ve never connected the story of Hannah and Elkanah, a childless couple, with this period of waiting f...  Read More

When will Jesus come? No one knows. He told us he’ll surprise us, coming like a thief in the night. It’s been thousands of years and we’re still waiting. Except a lot of people aren’t anymore. It’s be...  Read More

The sad story that has unfolded in Syria and Yemen over the past months just tears at my heart. Images of little children who were pulled from the rubble, or worse yet, little bodies in the streets, g...  Read More

General Douglas MacArthur said something like, “No one more than a soldier prays for peace, for it is he who must pay the ultimate price of war.” I thought about that a lot in the 25 years that I was ...  Read More

More and more lately, as I observe some particularly nasty act or see someone broken by a tragic event, I find myself thinking, “If only you knew God!” When I think that, I guess I’m recognizing that ...  Read More

Life can be hard. That may be why so many people feel ambivalent about Christmas. There seems to be a disconnect between the life we know and the saccharine-sweet images and scenes that we see in Chri...  Read More