“Fish or Cut Bait”–a common phrase often used when relationships have grown increasingly troubled or have been stuck for a long time. Either fish, and move ahead with it and commit to it, or cut the bait, recognize that it is over, and move on. Quit dabbling, quit pretending, quit making excuses for delaying the decision. Make up your mind. I think Jesus said something like this to people who said they wanted to follow him but that they had... Read more
“Do you not know . . .?” so begins the biblical writer with this reminder: “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” Our physical selves, these hodgpodges of muscle and bone, blood and fat, brain cells and eyelashes, together constitute a place of holy habitation for the Spirit of God. What simple act would show welcome to this honored guest whose presence generally remains unacknowledged? There’s an old, old song called “Count Your Blessings.” The easy tune bounces... Read more
Christmas Eve, Krum, TX, 2009 The snow was coming down heavily by 1:00 p.m. that day. Trustees appeared at the church, braving the 40 mph winds and stinging snow. They strung a set of Christmas lights along the driveway to guide people into the parking lot and away from the drainage ditches. Others were inside, mopping up melting snow carried in, preparing for the services. Our 4:00 service was intended especially for children, and they were given the opportunity to... Read more
At this time of the year, what is are the questions in my mind? For me, it is hardly, “What am I going to get for Christmas.” I’ve already got plenty and the receiving of gifts, while quite enjoyable, doesn’t really occupy much of my thinking. How about, “What am I going to give?” Now, that’s a question more in my mind, but most of that has already been taken care of. Gifts for grandchildren have been purchased and sent... Read more
It was a quiet Friday morning. I slept late, knowing I need the extra rest as I’ve fought cold after cold all fall and am clearly not treating my body well. As always, I woke to spend some time in prayer, offering thankfulness for another day and then way too quickly, moving to what I’m so prone to: the complaining prayers. The ones that effectively say to God, “Get with my program here and make it quick.” I let the... Read more
What are some of the problems we face as those who inhabit our planet? Let me list a few: 1. A worldwide political system that permits millions of people to suffer desperate poverty and hunger with few options for relief and improvement. 2. An economic situation so bad here in the US that illegal immigrants are now receiving money from those they left behind rather than sending money back to their families. In other words, those who, at great danger... Read more
Systemic child abuse by Roman Catholic priests in Irish Orphanages, the climate change email scandal, the Tiger Woods marital mess: what do these three apparently disconnected things have in common? Simply this: the human tendency to compromise the truth and to then do damage control rather than come clean and address the real core of the problem. In each case, people have violated public trust by ignoring their stated baselines of moral behavior. The Roman Catholic Church stands strongly on... Read more
As much as I really prefer longer days and more sunshine, I also enjoy the magic of the early darkness and the Christmas lights that are appearing on many buildings these days. Those decorations often look bare and a little forlorn during the sunlight hours. Yet when darkness falls, the forms take shape and the spaces are filled in with the glow from the lights. The tiny bulbs generally used each put out very little light on their own, so... Read more
It’s the day before Thanksgiving, 2009. I had intended to just have a lazy day, relaxing, reading, drying what seems like bushels of basil I’d harvested from the garden before what I figured would be the first freeze of the season. Mid-morning, my phone rang. Unfamiliar number–no name with it. When I answered, the voice introduced himself as someone I had known years ago, and had recently seen at a gathering for my and his parents Sunday School class. He... Read more
My desk is covered with appeals for funds. Most of these are organizations I have supported regularly or sporadically in the past. I have huge respect for what they do. Some are for educational institutions, but most are for agencies who work to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, release the captive, give sight to the blind. For the biblically literate, those phrases speak of the prophetic call on the life of Jesus when he first began... Read more
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