In the kind of church in which I grew up, a common question among Christians was “What is your favorite verse?” I always thought it was a pretty dumb question, because most people gave the same answers — and those that did not were usually trying to prove something. Like most things in a fundamentalist faith,…

Without a doubt, we have reached that time of year when creation puts on her costume of autumnal vibrancy. And what a treat it is to watch trees and bushes and plants change from the greens and browns of summer into saturated hues that belong in spring’s delicate blossoms rather than the mighty oak. And…

You never quite know what is in store for you when the Holy Spirit is driving the bus. This week there was a need that we were able to meet (in part) with the William Wallace fund. The person was distraught, grieving, and feeling deeply alone. I cannot recall how many times they said “I…

Amidst the wanton corruption and falsehoods that have been shaping the American consciousness for some time now, I continue to think on what it means to be a follower of “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). • How do we engage with others for whom truth is so malleable? • How do…

“Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:21 NRSVue) So sings Miriam, after the waters of the parted sea crash back onto the dry land that the fleeing Israelites had just crossed, drowning the pursuing Egyptian armies. As recorded, her song is much…

Recently, someone asked me about the Latin phrase that sometimes appears at the bottom of my emails: “solvitur ambulando.” As they noted, it was clearly a phrase with meaning to me, or else I would not use it: so what did it mean to me? The phrase itself can be translated “it is solved by…

If you’ve been around my office in the last weeks, you may have noticed amidst the chaos a particularly old book. Its brown leather binding is mottled with age and wear, and it has a trio of rubber bands gently holding the cover to the book block. Even to someone who doesn’t know books, this…

Among other things, today is the anniversary of the most profound prayer I ever heard given voice. In 2001 I was a college student. My alarm went off at 8:30, and I went and showered. My roommate was still sleeping when I returned, so I kept the volume down when I turned on the TV…

This week, two legends died — and their deaths have prompted many (including myself) to think again about how we live. The first of these was the incomparable Dolly Parton. And while there is always much to say about Dolly, what is particularly striking in the wake of her death was summed up in one post…

It had rained overnight, yet again. As I sat on the porch, the morning light stretched beneath branches and dappled the ground. The sky grew more blue by the minute. Then the downpour started — large drops; heavy rain. It only lasted about 10 seconds, but even more remarkable than the short duration was its…