How do you handle detours in life, situations that resist your efforts,  when life goes out of control?  Do you rail at others or God in anger?  Do you assume that you must have done something wrong, asking “What did… Continue reading

Jesus came to a chaotic scene. A boy was flailing about in the control of an evil spirit. His father was distressed and asking for help. The teachers of the law were arguing about the right response.  The disciples were… Continue reading

Pastors constantly deal with people’s problems. Broken hearts, failed dreams, strained marriages, and bad news are stuff of my daily life. Those who come to me need more than a poem and a pat on the back!  They want to… Continue reading

A male lion puts his head up, opens his mouth, and a terrifying sound comes out – the lion’s roar. It’s a sound designed to intimidate, a declaration of territorial control. A lion on the prowl is actually more dangerous,… Continue reading

Irreverently, when saying the pledge of allegiance, I sometimes replace “liberty and justice for all,” with “liberty and justice for the rich.”  I’m not exactly joking!  In this nation, which I love, injustice is rampant. Perhaps I am just a… Continue reading

Jim was taught that the world was a dangerous place, that people were terrible, that God was angry.  He was told that he had to work hard to make things right, that he never could let others get ahead of… Continue reading

There is a story in Mark of a man whose healing was at first incomplete.  Jesus touches the blind man’s eyes. He then asks him, “Do you see anything?” The answer is startling: “I see people; they look like trees… Continue reading

The ancient practice of fasting is little practiced in our era and when we do attempt it, it is often so symbolic that it becomes ineffectual.  Raised in a church that did not observe seasons like Advent or Lent, I… Continue reading

A lot of Americans are stressed and anxious. Anxiety shows up differently in our lives. Some of us become moody and withdrawn. Some eat too much! Some try to turn it off with alcohol or drugs. Some seek diversions in… Continue reading

Magicians fascinate me. They convince me to choose to believe that they can make people float on air or can cause the Statue of Liberty to disappear with a wave of their hands. Using tricks that divert attention, wires, and… Continue reading