Joy
When the Bible and prayer book speak of worshipping joyfully or just joy, they agree that joy most fully happens in response to God. And, it most reliably occurs when we are being and offering our full selves. The backdrop for this can be silence, service, spoken word...
Opening
God wants to do a new thing, call it an opening. This is how God operates: Death into life. A slave revolt in Egypt. Our God makes a way out of no way. Many feel that life has become a gerbil wheel-exertion with little progress at great cost. God wants more for us and...
Stirred
James Bond likes his martinis “shaken, not stirred.” But, according to St. Paul, God likes God’s people stirred, not shaken. We are stirred by the fact that we’re partners with God in God’s righteous purposes. Stirred that we have been given the good news that God is...
Testimony
“You are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.” A beautiful fact is on display in this simple sentence. Just as the disciples were with Jesus from the beginnings of his ministry, so Jesus has been with us from our beginnings. God in God’s genius...
Holy
The thing about God’s love is that it persuades. Gently, but clearly. Not controlling but accompanying. God’s love isn’t bought off by our charms. God’s love isn’t impressed by accomplishments. God’s love suffers through our egos’ need to recite our virtues until we...
Cry
“With my whole heart I cry…” for: Atatiana Jefferson, Botham Shem Jean, Anthony Hill, Terence Crutcher, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Walter Scott, Eric Harris, Jemel Roberson, Jimmy Atchison, DeAndre Ballard, Robert Lawrene White, Ramarley Graham, Manuel...
City
“Seek the peace of the city. Pray for peace in the city. Your peace is tied up in the peace of the city.” This is what God told Jeremiah. There’s no real well-being until well-being reaches all segments of the population. This idea runs counter to our gated community...
Just Gift
God gave Timothy many gifts. The gift of a mother and grandmother who passed on their sincere faith to him. The gift of clarity: “God did not give us a spirit of fear.” And the gifts of power, love and self-discipline. Also translated as ability, love and sanity....