7/29/2022

6/30/2022

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. -Genesis 1:1

When we take on an ordained position in the church, we take a vow to “pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.” I must confess as summer approaches, I find myself still full of love and (most days) capable of intelligence. It’s my energy and imagination I find need more attention.

6/1/2022

As I write this devotional, I am at the hospital waiting for more responses to know what is happening and the reason I am here. It has been seven days since I came here because of a swollen leg. I have a lot of pain and difficulty walking. A lot of blood tests are done every day. One of my arms is swollen because of all the pinching and IV fluids. Every day, a cadre of doctors stop by to check on me. Even though there are no concrete test results, I feel cared for and loved because these doctors and nurses, each one of them, say my name.

4/29/2022

During the Season of Lent, I preached a sermon series based on the epistles assigned in the Revised Common Lectionary. This was a bit of a Lenten discipline for me. Usually, I preach on the assigned gospel readings from the lectionary as we journey with Jesus through his earthly ministry to Jerusalem and the cross. Preaching the epistles during Lent proved to be a challenge. Still, I persevered and discovered some encouraging and hopeful words and ideas that resonated with me and gave me the energy to press on.

3/30/2022

At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him. (Mark 1:12-13 CEB)

2/25/2022

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (The Message)
Look at what I’ve done for you today: I’ve placed in front of you
Life and Good
Death and Evil.

1/27/2022

Every year, many of us reflect on the past, and commit to make resolutions for the future. Frequently, those resolutions involved better stewardship … of our time, our health, our finances, our family commitments, our spiritual growth.

1/6/2022

Getting out of bed is an act of faith –
for the widow with husband lost to COVID,
for the single father, bone tired, already working two jobs,
for the pastor whipsawed by so many demands.

12/6/2021

Most conversations I’m having with colleagues these days go something like this.

Me: “How are you?”

Colleague: (shrugs) “Doing ok.”

Me: “Yeah?”

Colleague: “I’m proud of the way the congregation has weathered all the last year and a half have thrown at us. (Sighs) But I’m exhausted.”

11/3/2021

9/30/2021

9/2/2021