I sat looking out the window of the train traveling from Wittenberg to Naumburg last week. I knew I had only 5 minutes to make a connection to a second train to Frankfurt once we arrived in Naumburg and we were already late. Just as I began to feel anxious, the comforting voice of the omniscient female announcer came on and said, first in German, then in English: “Our train will be 10 minutes late coming into Naumburg. But rest... Read more
I spent the weekend at a screenwriter’s workshop at the Taos Summer Writers Conference in Taos, New Mexico. I am not a screenwriter. And I don’t think I plan to be one, at least not in the near future. I wanted to take the workshop because I’m planning a course next spring on Preaching as Story, and screenwriters know how to tell stories. I had emailed the workshop leader, a screenwriter named Michael Amundsen, ahead of time, asking if someone... Read more
Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;those who open wide their lips come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3) Have you noticed that sometimes public figures say the wrong things? Sometime it’s a profanity into a live mic they didn’t realize was live. Other times it’s just a poorly worded, off the cuff remark. On any given week you can find at least one or two glaring examples in the public sphere. A poltician makes an overstatement about how business owners owe... Read more
Later this summer, my husband Murry and I are going to Europe. Half the time we’ll spend in France and the other half in Germany.That means, summer language brush up. I have the I Speak French and the I Speak German Apps on my iPhone. Plus, I have been working my way through both French for Dummies and German Phrases for Dummies. I’m hoping my language preparation will help me avoid a repeat of the bad experiences I’ve had in the... Read more
I admire problem solvers, situation handlers, risers to the occasion. These are the people you call on to change a tire in record time, figure out exactly why your computer isn’t running like it should, sync any of your devices to any other, pinpoint the reason water is dripping through the ceiling of your garage, and perform an emergency tracheotomy. You know people like this. Maybe you are one. If so, I bow to you and pay you homage. There... Read more
We got the news Friday May 18, 2012, that our choir director Rusty King’s daughter Ann Michele had entered into Hospice care. The family has graciously given me permission to share this meditation. Ann Michele, a beautiful, vibrant twenty five year old woman, was nearing the end of her valiant eight year battle with cancer. Rusty, his wife Stephanie and their daughter Emily were at home with Ann Michele, loving her through her final days. I had only met Ann Michele... Read more
Monday, May 28, 2012 at 11:30 am, Lee Dell Thomas, Jr. climbed up into a construction crane on the campus of Southern Methodist University where he held out in the sweltering heat for over 15 hours in a standoff with police. Bystanders stood with binoculars observing his every move. I heard them say things on the evening news like, “Now he’s taking off his shirt.” “Now he’s tearing off a paper towel and wiping something up.” “We’re not going home... Read more
“Throw away everything from before May 2012.” These were the instructions from Dave, our team leader. Sunday afternoon I joined a group of 15 or so volunteers from my local church in a clean up day at the temporary residence facility in a neighboring community called Samaritan Inn. The Inn houses 100 people in transition at a time. There are rooms for singles and apartments for families. Our group wore matching red tshirts that said “Change the World Weekend.” We... Read more
It was a sunny Monday morning in June and I was sitting at my home computer wearing t-shirt and shorts making a list of details to take care of for a conference on preaching I was organizing. The phone rang. It was Herbert Coleman, Director of Recruitment and Admissions at Perkins School of Theology where I work. I feel it is ok to mention him by name since this story in no way reflects badly on anyone but me. Herbert... Read more
“He Ascended into Heaven…” Thoughts on Ascension Day 2012 Ascension Day is rapidly approaching. What are we to think about this mystery? What are we to teach and preach, if our task is to communicate its meaning to others this Sunday? I like to break mysteries down into what, why, where, when, and who. At least then I am clear about what I can never fully understand. The “what” of the Ascension is Jesus’ bodily rising into heaven and being welcomed by... Read more
Knack For Noticing
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