There is a story in the book of 1 Kings (19:9-16) about the prophet Elijah. Elijah has just confronted King Ahab, and he is running for his life… He is worn out and he feels alone. And it is here, while sleeping in a cave, that God meets him. The scripture tells us that as […]
I have heard that former Boston Red Sox Hall-of-Fame third baseman Wade Boggs hated Yankee Stadium, not because of the Yankees; but because of one particular Yankee fan. There was a man who had a box seat close to the field, and whenever the Red Sox were in town, he would shout obscenities and insults […]
A pastor was trying to explain to a Sunday school class that God is all around us. “God is everywhere!,” said the pastor. “Everywhere?” asked one little boy. “Everywhere!” answered the pastor. The boy went home and told his mother, “God is everywhere! The pastor said so.” “Yes, I know,” replied the mother. The little […]
I once saw a collection of questions to be used for spiritual direction. They were all questions that Jesus asked people in the gospels. Like any good teacher, Jesus employed good questions as teaching tools. The idea is this: Take just one question and live with it for a few days. Think about it. Meditate […]
Yesterday, we reflected on Paul’s encouragement to the Romans (12:2): “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds…: How do we do that? Well, a few thoughts. Many years ago now, a good friend suggested I find a good counselor and get into therapy. It was a […]
Yesterday, I shared a passage from the book of Romans, chapter 12, “I appeal to you brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice…” Paul continues, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern […]
In his letter to the Romans, chapter 12, the Apostle Paul writes, “I appeal to you… brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice…” In Paul’s day, most religions including Judaism would offer burnt animal sacrifices: goats, birds, bulls. From a clergy standpoint, I am so glad […]
Today, I am deeply grateful for those of you who have supported the Dial Hope Foundation with a financial donation. So many people benefit from your giving! Francis de Sales was one of the most revered saints of French history. Back in his day, there was a bishop who planned to write a biography of […]
In an old Peanuts comic, Snoopy’s brother Spike who lives in the desert, is sitting with his back against a cactus. He’s writing a letter, “At night the sun goes down, and the stars come out; and then in the morning the sun comes up again. It’s so exciting to live in the desert.” I […]
Sometime back I heard a woman speak about a trying time in her life – years when everything seemed to fall apart. During that time she lost a husband and a job. Through all of this, she hung on to a promise in the book of Joel, where after a terrible drought and plague God […]
