Amos Wilder wrote, “be instructed at the null point, the zero breeds new algebra.” Wilder was commending the very nature of God. When things come down to the zero, when there’s suffering and “fiery ordeals” as St. Peter would say, if we can linger long enough nurtured...
Think in terms of readiness and response when it comes to following Jesus. St. Peter certainly does. Here is St. Peter’s checklist: “Be eager to do what is right though it may cause you trouble. Sanctify Christ as Lord.” Don’t just believe in him, set him apart, make...
Jesus said, “in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” In the face of grief and loss, Jesus does an amazing thing, He chooses to grow, reach and include rather than, shrink, be small and afraid. He chooses to see that we’re all siblings and that God is a...
“It is true to say that we stand at an intersection of life and livelihood; of fear and of faith. So then it is right for us to lead the state of Georgia in humbling ourselves and reaching out to God in prayer. But, while we know prayer is necessary, we also...
It was his grandmother’s faith and hands that inspired him, he said. Probably his salt of the earth upbringing in Slab Fork West, Virginia too. Whatever it was, I thank God for his soulful poetry that sang Jesus’ vision of neighborliness into our souls. His words sure...
“And so, we are fortunate this year to proclaim an Easter that stands on the shoulders of two thousand Easters. Knowing that each Easter past was a defiant response to the two thousand years of Good Fridays we’ve suffered. Each Easter supplied by the inexhaustible...
Good Friday is about God deciding to be God in a very particular way. God doesn’t use God’s Almighty-ness to rescue Jesus from fearful clergy, betraying friends, cruel soldiers or even the lynching tree. Rather than rescue and spare, God more often shows up in...
Before Jesus asked his friends to find a donkey to lead his poor peoples palm branch parade, he stood at an intersection. It’s the same intersection we find ourselves at now. This intersection has four corners and each corner has a name: faith, fear, trust and...
Do you know the story about Ezekiel and the dry bones? The Spirit of God showed Ezekiel a vast valley full of dry bones. Then God asked Ezekiel if he thought the bones could live. Ezekiel answers as we would, “Only you know God.” But God told Ezekiel to speak life to...
By definition a virus infects and brings disease. You could say then, Covid-19 is an enemy! Psalm 23 has a word for us when confronted by an enemy. The poem reminds us that, “…in the presence of an enemy a table is set for us.” The presence of an enemy is not...