I am going to be very honest with you.  My heart is just breaking.  My heart feels torn apart by what we saw last Wednesday as insurrectionists stormed our nation’s capital.  What happened makes me feel like my heart has … read full post

The turning of the calendar year has a way of instilling an expectation of new beginnings, a promise of hope that life and present circumstances will get better.  And, quite frankly, as we think of the suffering the world has … read full post

Tonight’s gospel reading begins with three very important words: In those days!  “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.”  As we think about this treasured story, I am going to … read full post

I would like to share with you the words of a new Advent hymn by David Bjorlin, a hymn that so beautifully describes what I am feeling in the deepest part of my being at this present time.  These are … read full post

Walter Brueggemann, one of my favorite theologians, when reflecting on this time in the church year, writes the following, “Advent does not begin in buoyancy or celebration or in a shopping spree.  The natural habitat of Advent is a community … read full post

We all have certain things in life that provide us with a sense of comfort when we feel stressed out or feel we need a bit of solace.  Food is one thing that probably provides a kind of comfort for … read full post

Someone recently mentioned to me that it seems like our country has changed over the past years from one that wanted to be good to one that wants to feel good. I tend to agree. And, quite honestly, as we … read full post

Today, we come to the end of the church year calendar and the end of our year-long focus on Matthew’s version of the Jesus story.  And, as we read today’s gospel passage, we get high drama, harsh judgment, words of … read full post

I love the gospel of Matthew.  Matthew was written to communicate the Jesus story to early Jewish Christians and, let me tell you, the writer of this gospel really knew how to tell a story!  Beginning with Chapter one, verse … read full post

For those of you familiar with William Shakespeare’s work, you will remember that one line from his play The Tempest is “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.”  Over time, that line has morphed into the phrase, “Politics makes strange … read full post