This morning I had a text at 7am. A pastor I counsel needed to talk. To say the least 2020 was a hard year for him. By 8am we were talking, as we have many times. He's really a great guy, and I did my best to encourage him. What I came to understand overContinue reading "2020 was a tough year for some prominent Christian leaders"

The desert Fathers were full of wisdom. In the last few years, I have given my bookshelves a break by giving away 1600 books, mostly books of theology and practical ministry. In my most recent purging last fall in preparation to paint my office, I parted company with books containing wisdom from the Desert MothersContinue reading "Letting the desert fathers and mothers speak as the new year begins"

Almost every week it seems I meet with someone who is caught in what writer Frederick Buechner calls the paradox of the human condition: More than anything, we hunger to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often what we also fear more than anything else. I've fought with that my entireContinue reading "The paradox of the human condition"

I have been thinking about the angelic appearances in the Christmas story, particularly the angels who appeared to Joseph in 4 separate dreams. Of course, Mary was not dreaming when the angel Gabriel appeared to her in person! She may have thought she was dreaming, but this angelic appearance was up close and personal! IContinue reading "Joseph gets the message loud & clear"

This past summer my siblings and I stood in the Hoxie, Kansas, cemetery and buried my mom’s ashes next to where my dad and grandparents are laid to rest. After a funeral luncheon and most everyone had left, I drove by my old elementary school, sat in my car and thought back to a DecemberContinue reading "A Christmas prayer from Psalm 51"

The other day in Walgreens I heard a woman singing. “O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, how lovely are thy branches.” I stopped and listened as she sang while pushing her cart. It took me back to my elementary school days when I learned "O Tannenbaum," as "O Christmas Tree." Recently I came across a German writerContinue reading "Rewriting “Oh Christmas Tree” (O Tannenbaum)"

As we celebrate Advent and prepare for Jesus’ coming, my missionary friend Carolyn says we actually are looking for a 3-fold coming as we move toward Christmas. Jesus as a baby. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” John 1Jesus as the returning King of Kings and Lord of Lords. “Surely I amContinue reading "Opening the door of our heart"