There is a story about the time when a Scotsman demonstrated the new game of golf to then US President Ulysses Grant. Carefully placing the ball on the tee, he took a mighty swing. The club hit the ground and scattered dirt all over the President while the ball sat still on the tee. Again […]
I have an old Peanuts comic that my friend Monte Marshal cut out for me. In the first slide, Linus is standing outside – very still, eyes closed. Lucy approaches, staring at him. Linus says “Stand real still and feel the warm sun on your back…” As she continues to look at him, he asks, […]
You may remember at the end of the book of Job, God takes his three friends to task for their false accusations and for the way they failed to help Job during a time of tremendous duress. God then commands them to go make a sacrifice of repentance. At the same time, God also commands […]
Rev. Herb Meza was my pastor for many years. At a time when I was struggling with the idea of the resurrection, I heard him pose some simple questions in a sermon. He asked, “How did we get from the upper room to Westminster Abbey? How did we get from the disciples singing a simple […]
Last spring, as Covid first set in and our church had to close its doors, I was reminded that Easter did not begin with churches filled with people – accompanied by choirs and joyful organ music. It began with an empty tomb, a few scared disciples, and a tomb emptied of death. It began even […]
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul promises us that nothing in life or in death can separate us from God’s love. And, he shares with us that God intends to restore and renew all of creation, everything, including you and me. Then, in chapter 12, he shifts the emphasis, and writes: “I […]
Jim Elliot was a missionary who was murdered by a tribe of Auca Indians in Ecuador in the late1950’s. In the wake of his death, Jim’s widow, Elisabeth Elliot, sensed God calling her to move back to Ecuador to continue Jim’s work among the Aucas. In spite of all her fears and possible resentment, she […]
There’s an apocryphal story about traveling salesman who spent much of his time on the road battling loneliness. One year his daughter gave him a little gift to help with his homesickness. It had black beady eyes, a red bow tie and orange feet. It was a stuffed penguin that stood about five inches tall. […]
The apostle Paul wrote about God’s will for us very succinctly in his first letter to the Thessalonians (5:16-18), “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I used to really struggle with this. I used wonder how I could rejoice […]
Norman Rockwell has a painting titled “Lift Up Thine Eyes.” Shown in his painting is the magnificent entrance to an urban cathedral. Vaulted high above its carved gothic doors are statues of the prophets, apostles, and martyrs. Right in the center is Jesus, sitting on a throne at the right hand of God. On the […]
