Tag Archives: faith

Baptized into Love

The way the story goes in my family history, it was my grandmother who first noticed. My dad’s mom raised five boys on the southside of Indianapolis, in a two-bedroom home so she got pretty good at paying attention. But it was my grandmother who first noticed that as I graduated from the chaos ofContinue reading “Baptized into Love”

Healing and Hurt

One of my favorite things about our language is a turn of phrase or idioms; I love the way they short-hand common experiences and provide a level of familiarity. I love these turns of phrases, because they fast track our communication. Recently, I looked into the origins of one of my most often used idioms:Continue reading “Healing and Hurt”

What Do We Lack?

       Maybe I’m projecting my own awkwardness on all of you, but I’m keenly aware of two things this morning. First, I’ve stolen the opening line from last week’s sermon. Preaching about Mark’s account of Jesus’ diatribe on divorce is no easy task, and I am grateful for Father Steve’s skill in preaching the truthContinue reading “What Do We Lack?”

At What Cost And To What End?

       It may be no surprise that when I was in elementary school, I was what was known as a “teacher’s pet,” because teachers generally liked my attention to detail, obsessive rule following, and my general quiet nature. Public speaking and preaching is part of my job now, but for most of my childhood andContinue reading “At What Cost And To What End?”

God’s Rest and Healing

       Throughout my life, I can reflect back on the ways in which I have been privileged to have many different teachers and how many of my most important lessons in life have come from unexpected places. One continual, and perhaps surprising teacher, is a well-known painter from whom I learned that, “there are noContinue reading “God’s Rest and Healing”

Uncomfortable Places

       The lessons one learns on the Camino span the gamut of complex, soul-deep lessons that take years to unpack and obvious ones like learning to be careful about how much stuff you carry in your pack. You tend to take a rain jacket and one change of clothes, the shoes you walk in, andContinue reading “Uncomfortable Places”

Pokeweed and the Kingdom of God

This sermon can be listened to here. One of the most powerful things I have ever seen in my life was watching Tibetan Buddhist Monks slowly tap colored sand out to paint a giant ten-foot by ten-foot mandala at the Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2015. Each timeContinue reading “Pokeweed and the Kingdom of God”

Do Not Loose Heart

In the south rose window of the Chartres Cathedral in France about 60 miles from Paris, there is a particularly unique depiction of the writers of the four Gospels from the early 13th Century. Below the giant circle rose window are five lancet style-stained glass windows, with Christ being in the center, and flanking himContinue reading “Do Not Loose Heart”