I have a confession to make: I don’t like the word “repent.” It’s a little embarrassing, but it’s true. As a faith leader and a theologian, I know that repentance is a key part of our Christian walk, but I still feel a little uncomfortable every time I hear it. I think part of the reason for this is that the term has been hijacked. It has been used as a weapon by people who seem to feel better about... Read more

It happens more than I would like to admit. I say something, and I immediately regret it. I can almost see my words drift toward someone, and I wish I could just reach out and grab them out of the air. Most of the time these moments happen when I’m tired or hungry. I’m not being mindful, and I say something hurtful. It happens too often, and oftentimes the words are directed at someone I love. We’ve talked about some... Read more

Sometimes being nice is hard work. I learned this many times when I worked in customer service. I have had countless customers who have been rude to me, who have blamed me for things that were outside of my control, and who used me as a convenient subject to vent their own frustrations. In these situations, being nice can be an act of strength and courage. It takes character and grit to withstand a barrage of verbal abuse and respond... Read more

Today marks 9 months until Christmas. It is a day when many Christians remember the story of the Angel Gabriel coming to visit Mary, the mother of Jesus. The story always impresses me. I imagine Mary had a lot of emotions as she heard the Angel’s words.  But in spite of all the inevitable challenges this would create for her, Mary received the news with an open heart. She believed that, in spite of her life being turned completely upside-down,... Read more

Today is the International Day for the Right to the Truth, an observance concerning human rights violations and the dignity of victims. It’s a day that was established by the United Nations on March 24th because it marks the anniversary of the assassination of Oscar Romero. Romero was a pastor in El Salvador who stood up against abuses that were happening to poor and vulnerable people in his country. His message was seen as a threat and he was killed... Read more

There is one gift that each of us has been given in equal supply: hours in the day. All people on earth have the same amount of time, from the richest to the poorest. Each of us spends it all every day. We’re given 24 hours each day and our whole life happens within the space of that daily gift. All the moments we want to share, the things we want to learn, the gifts we hope to give, and... Read more

Today marks the 4th Sunday of Lent. Traditionally this is called “Laetare Sunday” and Laetare is a Latin word that means “rejoice.” This Sunday serves as a reminder that in the midst of the penitential season of Lent, we are called to rejoice. I think this is an important thing to remember, particularly in times like these with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is easy to focus only on what we are not experiencing and what we are losing in this... Read more

A few years ago, our family adopted a dog. He was experiencing some less-than-ideal living conditions and we knew we were able to give him a good home. I like having him around. I grew up with a dog and I wanted to ensure that my sons learned the same lessons that I did about care for other creatures and a respect for animal life. I do not, however, always love the things he does. I don’t love that he... Read more

For many Christians, March 19th is a special day to reflect on the life and example of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and guardian to Jesus. As a father of four boys, I often pray that God would give me the courage and humility that we read about in the life of Joseph. Joseph is a silent figure in the Bible. We never hear him speak, but perhaps that is part of his strength. He is a man who is... Read more

I’ve spent much of the past twenty years working to ensure that everyone in the community has access to food. This work has taken a lot of different forms. I’ve worked with churches, political lobbying organizations, non-profits and food pantries. Each of them has taught me something essential about care for those living in poverty in our community. One of the things I have gradually come to recognize is that in many cases, material poverty can result in another dangerous... Read more