Enough with the hand wringing. Enough with the despair. Enough waiting for someone else to have enough faith ... Enough to change the world ... Enough ... Enough waiting on Republicans or Democrats or Independents. Enough waiting on public opinion. Enough complaining and waiting and procrastinating as governments do ... What they do best ... And worst ... Wait and do nothing ... Or worse ... Enough passive hope and more active hoping. Enough finger-pointing, shouting down, name-calling ... Enough! Today, the little faith we have is what we bring to our active cry. That little faith says the impossible... Continue reading

No one is going to come along with you until you start moving. Now one is going to see it, get it, or understand it until you live it and demonstrate it. Do not wait for a vote of your peers or critics to start living a life of faith, compassion, or obedience to God. If you are going to follow Jesus, it will be a counter cultural move. Do not expect applause or ease. Do expect to be called names -- it does not matter which ones. You may be called a "liberal" by some or a "fundy" by... Continue reading

Lord of this morning, Light of this day, Master of the darkness that daily dies, God of night and light and all that is, I come ... Empty handed, I come. I bring to the morning and the day, nothing, Nothing, Nothing, but me ...myself .... my self, Undone, unfettered, unconditionally empty. I come. Our Father .... My loved one's Father .... Ours ... Father of my dearest friends and most adamant enemies if I have any .... Ours ... Father of the nations scattered, Father of the stranger ... Ours .... Hallowed be Thy Name. Holy, holy, holy, Lord,... Continue reading

You failed yesterday or this morning. Good not that you did, but that you know it. We all do well and sometimes blow it. You lost some hours, perhaps even more. Now its time to dust it off; its time to soar. You have wings & you can rise. You have this moment; you have new skies. Continue reading

People say "God is watching" as if it were a reality from which to recoil in utter dread, as if it were a threat. I do not recoil. I take it as a promise. I am ever aware that God is watching my every success, failure, strength, and flaw. It causes pauses of reverential fear, but it is of the sort that brings weight and glory to every moment, even the moments of frivolity and folly that come so often. Grace. Mercy. Peace. These are the comforts and joys of His knowing gaze, watchful eye, and guiding hand. He sees... Continue reading

unsplash-logoRamdan Authentic And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost… - Luke 15:6 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost… - Luke 15:9 … Let us eat and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. - Luke 15:23b-24 “Although my memory's fading, I... Continue reading

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple." – Psalm 27:4 The Greeks had a curious concept of beauty. It had to do with the relationship between the common word for beauty and the word for hour. Something truly beautiful had come to its hour much as the fruit is most fragrant and delectable at the hour of its ripeness. David understood that the beauty of... Continue reading

unsplash-logoAlex Sorto No one is going to come along with you until you start moving. No one is going to see it, get it, or understand it until you live it and demonstrate it. Do not wait for a vote of your peers or critics to start living a life of faith, compassion, or obedience to God. If you are going to follow Jesus, it will be a counter cultural move. Do not expect applause or ease. Do expect to be called names -- it does not matter which ones. You may be called a "liberal" by some or a... Continue reading

If I ever write a book of profound thoughts, it will be a collection of deep thinking collected in unlikely places like the thought that passed through my hollow, shallow brain one day in the locker room at the gym. Mark it down as "words to live by." "If you are wearing high top shoes and your pants are long enough, it really does not matter what color your socks are." Now, take that to the bank. Continue reading

unsplash-logoNina Strehl We cannot love our neighbors as ourselves if we refuse to take the effort to see the world through our neighbors' eyes or try to imagine life in his or her skin. We cannot love our neighbor without learning to sing the songs of lament and the entire book of Lamentations. We cannot love our neighbor by telling him or her what he or she should be or not be feeling. We cannot love our neighbor without tears. We cannot love our neighbor by having an answer for every word our neighbor speaks in fear or frustration. We... Continue reading

unsplash-logoCasey Robertson The world has always been indifferent and often hostile to the values of those who center their core convictions in the prophetic and merciful Word of God. That will continue and so will our mandate to speak truth to power, stand with the oppressed, be misunderstood, be in a minority, and be faithful to truth. No political system represents us, We are sojourners, We are peculiar people. We pray for our leaders and pray with hope that hearts and policies can be shaped by truth. We also must hold every system accountable for justice in unpopular causes and... Continue reading

Consider the juxtaposition between "tired old ideas" and "fresh new thinking." It is often true that "tired and old" refers to what was once fresh and new and is rather ancient, rooted, and thus, "radical" from radix, but has became trite and life-less through repetition, loss of "rootedness," institutionalization, and "spirit-leak." It also becomes dulled around the edges and distorted by our own misuse of language and loss of conviction Likewise, what is fresh and new may refer to the ancient truths that are coming alive in a new way, a return to the roots/radix of centered truth, breathed-upon by... Continue reading

"After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haun't for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the... Continue reading

The wisdom and knowledge of the crowd can question the motives behind the dissemination of disinformation. The crowd can be activated as brokers of truth. They can mine primary sources. They can verify. They can stake their own credibility. They can hold pundits, politicians, policy makers, power-brokers, and people in power accountable for what they say. Continue reading

In days when the cacophony of voices screeches arrogance, hate, vain competition, false priorities, God speaks calm and balance to our souls. "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." - Psalm 73:2-3, (ESV) Continue reading

Starting tomorrow, folks are going to have to start having face-to-face conversations, negotiations, and commitments to productive and cooperative governing - no matter who wins. Continue reading

"All things are your servants." All things ... all people ... all ideas ... all truths ... all atomic relationships and realities ... every universe of energy, matter, or thought .... everything ... all things. Continue reading

We see no relationship, in our addictive blindness, between our persistent choices and our consistent consequences. We swim in the river of denial cursing the God of heaven rather than changing our course to float with the flow of grace. How odd. " ... People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds." - Revelation 16:10-11 (ESV) Continue reading

There is great power in a moment well done. Moments create momentum without being obvious or ostentatious. Momentous moments motion us over and envelop us like a cloud and then ... Pass over. Missing moments is a mournful sorrow. Magnificent moments multiply in some invisible space called influence, but ... Muddling moments may move us on to the next and the next and the next ... Move in and with the moment or meddle with the muck. Lots of luck with that ... Rather, just be in that moment and be what you are intended to be for you ...... Continue reading

It was October 31, 2012. I had been at church for our annual carnival and had returned to my office in another part of town. It was then that I noticed I did not have my phone. I tweeted: "My phone was stolen today and I finally realized I had a tracker on on. So we rode around town for a while tonight and I even knocked on one door where it was located, but it was not there and moved. So, I'll have to cancel the service tomorrow. I may be able to get delayed voice mails. We shall... Continue reading

"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever." Continue reading

You might not like my choices. Exercise your freedom. Exercise your responsibility. Don't let anyone deter you. Vote! If you are dissatisfied, angry, disturbed, troubled, anxious about the future, and pricked in your conscience, you can change things. Only you can change things. Too many people have put their lives on the line for this right. Please do not neglect it. Continue reading

Come away ... today. Just snuggle, rock, relax. Rock away your cares. Find a space, a place of grace Away from layers and layers of dares To do this and be that ... Rock, rock, rock and let the prayers Of the moment and the memories of moments And the prayers of others form a cushion for Your soul and rock in the arms of One who Loves you as you are and Invites you to make yourself at home. And now, for some "rock" music. Rock-a-bye Baby! Continue reading

Jesus does not need our flattery. Hear and obey. It is that simple. It is the way of blessedness. It is the path of peace. It is the Jesus way. Continue reading

Hearts full of love and laughter and life... Songs prompting our best and repose Awaits, rest we suppose, But life, more life, more love beckons us And love alone is what reckons us Believers ... full of love and laughter and life. Shine! Continue reading