“What do you want?” There are so many different ways to read the words of that question. It can be spoken in the tone of a parent asking a precious child what would bless them, or with the drone of a bored cashier who would rather not be bothered. It is the terse expression of an annoyed coworker, or the heartfelt request of someone who […]
Kindness is a wonderful thing. It is great to receive and equally wonderful to give. It can multiply the joyous times of life and bring the light of hope into the darkest seasons. My devotions recently led me to a wonderful reflection on kindness in the form of a story from the ancient Christians: Abba Moses was asked to travel to another community to pass […]
What does God want for Christmas? It may sound like a strange question, but it may be the most important one we answer in this season. As we approach the holiday, many of us are scurrying to make all of the necessary preparations for our family and friends. There is food to buy, decorations to find and hang, and, of course, presents to buy. In […]
What happened to civility? I know we are overburdened and rushed for time. I understand that we are working to make ends meet and worried about the current economic forecast. I recognize that we have opinions and passions, but when did it become acceptable to subjugate the way we respect and treat others in order to make ourselves and our agenda the only thing that matters. […]
Have you ever pondered what it means to, “give thanks?” We frequently use that expression to refer to offering a prayer before we eat our meal. Numerous times, I’ve been asked to, “say grace,” or, “return thanks,” before we share in a meal. I imagine that this afternoon, as we gather with friends to enjoy the Thanksgiving meal, I may be called upon to offer […]
Have you ever come face to face with a truth about yourself that wasn’t pretty? Moments like these are never particularly enjoyable, but many times they can be very valuable times. Yesterday, while shopping at a local store, I had the opportunity to visit with a couple of friends. We were busy sharing laughs and a few stories, when one of my friends asked the […]
Last night our church held its annual Fall Festival for our children and their families and friends. This year we began with “Trunk or Treat” where families decorated the trunks of their cars and vans and then stood by them to hand out candy as the children made their way around a part of the parking lot sectioned off for the event. The children had a […]