Journal

trans·gres·sion noun an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense. in·iq·ui·ty noun immoral or grossly unfair behavior. Reflecting on Psalm 51, I understand the psalmist’s plea and why s/he appeals to God’s mercy. I know that before s/he could confess, before s/he could even approach God, s/he had to […]

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God. 1 John 4:7 When my boys were young and sibling affection crumbled into mortal combat, I’d occasionally give them a “script” to say to each other. It was usually so formal, so exaggerated, that laughter ended their hostilities. This summer, when my grown son […]

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1 John 3:18  Part 2. Marriage as Worship. Welcome in Marriage takes work. A marriage that is welcoming takes practice. Marriage, the blessed arrangement takes work. We’ve heard plenty of wedding warnings about how much work it is. There are plenty […]

….you shall be my witnesses…..Acts 1:8 Part 3. Marriage as Witness. Witness to a Life. My parents grew up in the same neighborhood. There is one story I heard, I don’t know if it’s true but if it isn’t it should be. My dad was 4 years old and mom was 6 when her younger […]

I always thought it was just a schedule and demand issue, or my season of life. But one of my mentors says that Hurry, Restlessness, and Sleeplessness are indicators of an uneasy Soul. These are symptoms of what are decidedly NOT the Jesus Way, truth, or Life. It takes faith, and trust, to be unhurried, […]

My parents still live in the house I grew up in, on the 3+ acres at the outskirts of our small hometown. I must have been about 3 or 4 years old when our dad built a tall oversize swingset for my four sisters and me on a large grassy space behind the house from […]

Is it possible to be truthful without falling into legalism? Or is honesty always the best policy? When is it not even a good idea to be honest? Just asking those questions exposes an underlying narrative that though a lie may be an abomination to God it is a very ready help in time of […]

I was sitting this morning with the post-resurrection scenes in John 20 with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and especially with Thomas when I was surprised by the gospel writer (John) interrupting his gripping narrative. If it were a movie, there would be a freeze-frame with this voice-over: “Now Jesus did many other signs in […]