Getting Back on the Horse
The window of my study at the church looks right out at the entrance to our parking lot. It connects us to a two lane country highway that is fairly busy. Our location is just outside of town and not…
Meaningless
The book of Ecclesiastes is dangerous. Ancient Rabbis worried that, even though they believed it to be inspired scripture, the book could be misinterpreted and “cause an inclination to heresy.” Christians disagree on how to interpret passages of scripture, of…
Suffering and Fate
There’s a phrase that has been rattling around in my head for about a year: He suffered the same fate as us. It has come to shape the way I make decisions, especially difficult ones. Jesus did not save us…
The Absurdity of the Minivan
“It’s not the years; it’s the miles.” Except, of course, when it’s both. Plus a third thing: it’s also a Plymouth. 270,000 miles in over ten years is a miracle, but for what? Her fate is unaltered. You’re supposed to…
A Quote: Philosophy and Suicide
“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy.” What a way to start a book! The is from Albert…
The Monk’s 12 Step Program
Humility is one of those very difficult virtues to develop. What do we do to become more humble? What actions can we take? We hear more about being humbled–or even humiliated–than about humbling ourselves. My good friend Megan is quite…
Faith and Healing
In Acts 3, Peter and John heal a crippled beggar and later attribute the healing to faith in Jesus’ name. This raises all sorts of questions, especially in our culture this one: How can I get the same thing? How…
Lenten Question 3: “Are you able to drink this cup?”
The 1950’s were great. In fact, probably the high point of human society. Of the many wonders of the decade, the advent of mass produced home appliances has to rank pretty highly. They revolutionized home life by making mundane tasks…
Lenten Question 2: “What do you want me to do for you?”
I stood in the hallway nervous, but pretending not to be. Inside, voices planned a psychological test–would the boy sit in the hard chair or the soft chair? Even at the age of 16, I was pretty sure they were…
Lenten Question 1: “Why do you call me good?”
Jesus asks an interesting question in Mark chapter ten, which I have never fully considered: “Why do you call me good?” He’s getting ready to go on a trip, and this rich man runs to him and kneels down, desperately…
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