Entering the Catholic Church for the very first time

When I was a boy in the Northwestern Kansas small town of Colby (population 6,000), we lived near the Catholic Church.  I was raised in a Protestant church (a congregation that was part of the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.  Interestingly, the Christian Churches take the Lord's supper every Sunday. One of my earliest memoriesContinue reading "Entering the Catholic Church for the very first time"

Study Break/Sabbatical/Rejuvenation

This summer my Pastor-to-Pastor Board is giving me a summer sabbatical/study break. It's my first one, and Jennifer and I will spend our time in Phoenix, AZ, where I have enrolled in Phoenix Seminary for the summer session.  In mid-June I will participate in a 3-day retreat at the Casa, a Franciscan retreat center in Paradise ValleyContinue reading "Study Break/Sabbatical/Rejuvenation"

“Go Tell Peter, and the other disciples” and, Tell Me too!

When my daughter was a student at Anderson University, she lived in an apartment very near Second Chance Baptist Church in Anderson, Indiana.  I loved walking by that church.  It always stopped me in my tracks and made me realize, "Every day I wake up is another chance." This weekend I am preaching a sermonContinue reading "“Go Tell Peter, and the other disciples” and, Tell Me too!"

There is indeed a fountain filled with blood

When I was growing up in church in northwestern Kansas, we often sang William Cowper's "There is a Fountain filled with blood."  Cowper was a well-known British poet  and writer of hymns who struggled mightily with severe depression, and worse.  After one of his serious spells of "insanity," he recovered and wrote the words toContinue reading "There is indeed a fountain filled with blood"

Jesus understood the love of a parent & the love for a parent

One of the 7 last words (or phrases) of Christ is found in John 19:26-27: When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. It's interesting to ponder how inContinue reading "Jesus understood the love of a parent & the love for a parent"

In our brokenness we praise him — the louder and longer the better!

Lent is a good time to think about brokenness, and I have been. It is a good time to praise God in our brokenness, and I have been. Those of us who received ashes on our foreheads (The imposition of ashes) on Ash Wednesday heard the words, "From dust you came and to dust youContinue reading "In our brokenness we praise him — the louder and longer the better!"