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On Ash Wednesday young funeral director Caleb Wilde wrote: “It is good to remember that the works of our hands will not last forever. That our kingdoms will fail. That America will one day be no more.  That our bodies will die.  That our jobs, our business, our children, our name, our political ideals andContinueContinue reading “It’s good to remember…”

This evening at an Ash Wednesday service at the First Presbyterian Church in Champaign, IL, I received ashes on my forehead from my friend Pastor Chuck Carlson. After receiving ashes I returned to my pew and sat quietly for 15 minutes, thinking about  how ashes remind us of our own mortality and are a symbol ofContinueContinue reading “Questions for an Ash Wednesday evening”

“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18 Have you ever met someone who used attack responses when they were more interested in winning a conflict than in preserving a relationship? —–Sometimes I want to have the last word.  Period.  Ever met someone like that?  They are so fun to beContinueContinue reading “For Lent how about giving up having to have the last word!”

Make this sober statement by His Grace Bishop Angaelos on the murder of 21Coptic Christians — 21 from his very own tribe — part of your Ash Wednesday reading …It is with deep feelings of sorrow and pain that we received confirmation earlier this evening of the brutal murder of Coptic Christians in Libya atContinueContinue reading “A solemn Ash Wednesday “reading” from Coptic Bishop Angaelos”

Maybe the toughest question to ask someone, in the words of writer Ken Sande, is …“How did you experience me?” Here’s what I think this question is saying: “I’m a human.  I’m practicing being transparent and vulnerable.  I fear I may really have blown a few things when we talked.  Please tell me how IContinueContinue reading “One of the toughest questions to ask others…”

My Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette column today argues that it doesn’t do you much good to worry very much about what people think about you.

Two of my soul mates weigh in with their thoughts on Valentine’s Day …Sarah TheBarge gives a Double-Dog Valentine’s Day Dare, especially, if, say, you are single.  But the double-dog dare works, of course, if you are married or single.And Pastor John Pippo argues brilliantly and succinctly that God’s solution to our “love problem” isContinueContinue reading “Valentine’s Day is, well, maybe not exactly what you think”

When I am trying to help a person discern what he really wants, I want him to sit quietly for a minute in the presence of God and ask, “What do I want, right this minute?”If the person can recognize it, I ask him to jot it down.Then I ask him to look at whatContinueContinue reading “My discernment; God’s call…”