A poem — Time passes while many make their plans for it. Getting ready to live but not living. Time marches on turning the days of our lives into memories. Another summer. Gone. Another Christmas. Another birthday. Time may charge a hefty price for the wasting of it. …

David’s story shows how we can defeat our own Goliaths — The battle was anything but even: on one side towered Goliath, a huge brute of a man, a merciless killer, trained in warfare and well-armed. On the other side, David, a young lad, unskilled in battle, his only weapon a slingshot. Despite this, David mocked Goliath: “This very day the…

Why are there not more people in the Bible that are called God’s friends? — Several times in the Bible, Abraham is called the friend of God. God, Himself says, “…Abraham, My friend.” (Isaiah 41:8, NRSV) I can’t find where anyone else, in the Old Testament at least, is called the friend of God. I don’t wish to infer there was no one else who…

How do you keep from tripping and falling when the ground around you is littered with the debris of your life? — “My life is almost over. My plans are destroyed. And so are the longings of my heart.” (Job 17:11, NIrV) How quickly life can change. One day, Job was kicking back, a wealthy family man, life was good. The next, his wealth and his children were gone. …

A simple act that can lead to a life-giving encounter — In the middle of David’s song of thanks (1 Chronicles 16) he tells his listeners to “remember.” “Remember the wonderful works He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered.” (1 Chronicles 16:12, NRSV) In the Hebrew tradition, to remember is to “make present.” In remembering the works God…

Why can’t we call all men our brother, and why must we always fight one another? There’s plenty for everyone all that we need yet many go without because of our greed. Love for ourselves our comfort and security make us look the other way and pretend we don’t see …

The choice that could lead to a new world of wonder and possibility — When sudden change and uncertainty strike, I need to resist the natural urge toward anxiety and fear. I must believe that fear need not dominate. I must believe that even in times of unknowing and instability, there is another way of living, another shaping of life that is possible. In…

Growing a faith that sustains us through the storms. — “Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink…

Contemporary psalms and prayers series — Lord, it’s dark outside I can’t see what is ahead what changes await how life will be touched. And I wonder how will we live, pay our bills and what if we get sick? We’re so easily given to fear. Anxiety probes the edges of our minds, capturing our hopes, draining our strength. But this I know, that…