Have you ever considered that the push towards making things easy might be a dangerous tendency? Today the Church commemorates St. David of Wales. He spent his life developing monasteries in Wales. There are many tales about his life, but few things that we know for sure. One tradition we have is that his monks were not allowed to use animals to help them plow the fields. St. David treasured what labor can do in the development of the spiritual life…. Read more

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” Lk 6:37-38 Have you ever wondered where Lent is in the Bible? The practice of lent is not something that… Read more

  What do you want to be the last thing you do on earth? St. Oswald was not a martyr, but his death is still one of the more inspiring among the saints. He died while washing the feet of the 12 poor men near his monastery. This was a daily lenten practice of his. I don’t know how I will die, but his life reminds me to live each moment as if it’s my last and to spend my… Read more

“As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” Mk 9:9 Have you ever been frustrated because you couldn’t understand what God was doing? You’re not alone. The scriptures are full of examples where God’s people simply aren’t given the whole picture. There are nine times in Mark’s Gospel where people get a glimpse of who Jesus is… Read more

If you were to worship in an Armenian Rite church this weekend the prayer you would hear as the Priest ascended to the altar would be the poetic prayer: “We beseech you with outstretched arms, Tears and prayers, As we appear before you, You, who strike terror in our hearts, Judge us as we approach with trembling and fear, Presenting first this sacrificial offering of Words to your power that is beyond understanding” This poem as well along with 94… Read more

Do you have a list of prayer requests?  I have a friend who has one of the most amazing prayer lists I’ve ever seen. It’s pages and pages of names with the individual requests named. This friend goes through the whole list each day. It’s one of the most powerful testimonies I know of for the power of prayer.  I find it interesting that Jesus never gives us a list of everything we are to pray for. This is probably… Read more

St. Alexander was a member of the generation who experienced the shift from the persecution of the Church into an acceptable and promoted religion within the Roman Empire. As the leader of the Church in Alexandria he was charged with addressing some of the early controversies in the Church. He appears to have been able to navigate controversy with clarity and generosity. His letters seem to draw from a rich well of spirituality and love of God. Consider this rich… Read more

Have you ever wondered how successful God would be as a business owner? A few years ago I started a business in Ypsilanti Michigan with a few friends.  At the time I had no real background in business. My education and experience were all about theology and ministry.   One of my earliest challenges was to figure out how to participate in the economy of my community well embodying the grace-oriented economy of God. It became clear very early on… Read more

It is said of Blessed Christopher of Milan that he “He was truly a Christ-bearer, for he carried Christ not only in name but in his heart and on his lips.” As the church honored, Christopher this week let us ask how we might connect our words and our loves more deeply to God. It’s easy to fall into a pattern of faith that is passive – we do what comes naturally and easily. Bl. Christopher set another example before… Read more

Ethelbert was a pagan King in a territory of south-east England in the sixth century. His wife came from a ruling family in mainland Europe in order to create a powerful alliance. What was unexpected was that his wife would bring her faith with her to England which would change the trajectory of the Island. Through her influence, the door to Christianity was opened. Not only did Ethelbert convert, but missionaries were allowed into the land.  This reestablished the faith in England… Read more