Listen to "The Stranger ..read more

Listen to "The Stranger ..read more

Listen to "The Stranger ..read more

One of my favorite Bible stories is set right after Easter. It takes place between two disciples of Jesus who are traveling on foot to the next town over. They are walking in the long, dark shadow of the crucifixion, disappointed at witnessing their long-expected Savior, executed by Rome alongside common criminals. There is no resistance. No public outcry. No army of the Lord’s angels sent to deliver Him. The Roman war machine rolls on, without so much as a bump in the road. These men have lost hope.  The story occurs right after the discovery of the empty tomb, where the broken body of J ..read more

As Easter approaches, a humble Lenten calendar inspires a couple of thoughts. But they are not what you might imagine. The calendar suggests this: “Pray or meditate on the Stations of the Cross and ask Jesus to teach you how to humbly accept the crosses you bear.”  The Stations of the Cross is a Catholic Practice defined as “a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers.” The faithful pray in front of each of the 14 images, or stations, that line the walls of a Catholic church, such as Jesus carrying his cross and bein ..read more

Listen to "In the Garden ..read more

There are many ways to achieve healing in this life. Some folks access it through a skillful back massage and a long soak. Others find it on their knees in prayer or through earbuds listening to music. I believe all healing has one divine source. Put another way, there is divinity in the hands of the masseuse as well as the surgeon, in the voice of the preacher and the rock and roller; in the wisdom, love and patience that dwells in an educator’s classroom or a parent’s heart. The following Scripture is a story from John 5. It tells of a crippled man who seeks healing but can’t attain it, unti ..read more

Listen: "Coming Back to You ..read more

This bit from the last Uplift resonated with a few folks: “We can miss God in our lives if we aren’t paying attention. Or more to the point, if other priorities are getting all of our attention.” Today, as we find ourselves halfway through Lent, it seems like a good time to reconsider our priorities, as well as the power of sacrifice, and if you’ll indulge me, a little Hank Williams. The tune that’s got ahold of me today is Hank’s classic "Move it on Over." In the story, we find the singer banished to the doghouse, most likely for tying one on. He’s nudging his canine buddy to “move it on over ..read more

Listen: "40 Days ..read more