In our time, we have a keen awareness of lurking darkness as close as family secrets and as distant as tribal genocide across the globe. As we approach Christmas and read...

Elizabeth is surprised that the child within her leaps for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice. Elizabeth’s greeting in return surprises Mary. Elizabeth, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” confirms Gabriel’s...

Micah speaks of little Bethlehem suddenly becoming great. The greatness will come about not because Bethlehem suddenly grows, develops a great advertising campaign, or is discovered to be the center of...

Regulations for sacrifices and offerings fill the Old Testament. How can the author of Hebrews say, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired”? The Bible I am reading lists Psalm 40:6...

What does God want? As Christmas approaches, we can easily focus on what we want. Some of us may compile “Wish Lists” for others to purchase for us. Even when we...

Serving as a guest minister in a congregation one Sunday, I closed the service with the blessing from Numbers 6:24-26: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his...

In a communications class in college, my professor made a comment that has stayed with me for nearly thirty years now: “News happens where we place reporters.” She did not mean...

Walking into the sanctuary one Sunday morning, I was stopped in my tracks when I saw the face of an old friend. We had not seen each other in ten years....

During Advent, we often find ourselves thinking warm and comforting thoughts about Christmas and babies and manger scenes and carols. Some of us think warm thoughts about families gathering to celebrate...

One of our sons works for the US State Department, and his position requires him—and his family—to move somewhere in the world every two years. Their current post is in the...