Yesterday was All Saints Day. Admittedly, this is a day created by the church of the past to offer a more Christian focus for celebrating the transition from October to November. It never quite eclipsed the celebration of Halloween, but it did add an important day of remembrance to the church calendar. When the Bible refers to “saints” it is clearly a reference to all […]
I received a note on Facebook yesterday from a young woman we met on our last trip to Brazil. It was great to reconnect after two years. It is wonderful how technology allows us to keep connected over great distance. What struck me most in her note, was her word of thanks for the bag of marshmallows we left with her family. It brought back […]
Blessings arrive in the most amazing places. Sometimes, they are big gifts from God that meet significant needs in our lives, while other times, they are little acts of kindness that remind us that we are loved and appreciated. Last night, we picked up our son from his mission work to bring him home for the weekend. He is celebrating a significant birthday and wanted […]
The beginning of a new year brings opportunities to dream new dreams, to discover new visions and to take important steps toward fulfilling your destiny. The pause we create as we say goodbye to the old year and embrace what lies ahead, gives us time to listen to the voice of the Spirit and respond to the heart of God. This is the time to […]
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 […]
If you have ever been called upon to stand beside a good friend during the loss of someone they loved, then you know what an awesome gift and responsibility it is. As a pastor, I receive many opportunities to share this journey with members of my church family and others who need someone to help them through this challenging part of their journey. During these […]
Yesterday, we were invited to watch football with friends. It was a special invitation because it was a Pittsburgh Steeler game and we were with a group of friends who recently moved here from Pittsburgh. It is the type of invitation you dream about when you are from the ‘Burgh and living somewhere else, and when the invitation comes from good friends it is all […]