If we were to ever hear Jesus say things that seems totally unreasonable today would be the day. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you”. Those don’t seem very reasonable to me. Come on Jesus! Life is already hard enough. You...

The Beatitudes we just heard in Luke's Gospel contrasts how in life there are two different paths we can take. There is the path that leads to blessings and there is the path that leads to woes. The choice is ours. I don’t know about you, but I have stories about...

The psalmist bids us to proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations, and they are marvelous indeed!  The first chapter of John’s Gospel begins by waxing eloquent about the eternal Word of God who became flesh.  Became one of us, so that we might become one with...

It was the early 1970s in a small town deep in the heart of Teas. A star high school football player who has a bit of the rebel decides to grow his hair long. So,  sure enough, by the end of summer his long locks are now peeking out from under his football helmet. The...

Legendary rock star Jim Morrison of the Doors died tragically young in Paris at the age of 27 on July 27, 1971. Interestingly enough two other rock star legends of that era, Jancie Joplin and Jimmy Hendrix also died at the age of 27, and all of them within two years...

Today we mark the Fourth Sunday of Advent.  The Advent wreath is fully lit; the poinsettias have arrived (though they are hidden until Christmas Eve).  Most of our Christmas shopping is done, and the anticipation of children, especially, for Christmas is high.  I...

People tell me how busy they think I am. I don’t think I’m that busy. Sure, I keep busy during the day but at the end of the day all I have to do is to feed Arlo and answer a few emails. So compared to some of you I’m really not that busy. Take for instance parents,...

In a small village there lived a holy man known for his wisdom and peace. One day a young woman in the village was found to be pregnant and the villagers quickly blamed the holy man, claiming that he was the father. They were irate and rushed to confront the holy man...

The other day I was taking with a Lutheran pastor who is now a hospital Chaplain. He told me, “One thing I've learned as a hospital chaplain is how to be with people in a way that they really feel listened to. And if I’d done that when I was in the parish, I would...

Today is the feast of Christ the Kiing. In John 18 we hear Pilate’s conversation with Jesus. “They say you are a king. Is that true? Jesus responds, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom were of this world my followers would be fighting to save me.”...