Tag Archives: love
Jesus told a story about a man who traveled from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was attacked by robbers and severely beaten, almost to death. A priest saw him lying on the ground and walked to the other side. A Levite religious leader came along and avoided the man as well. A Samaritan saw how badly beaten the man was and administered first aid to him. He put the man on his donkey and paid to have him taken care of…..
Today is Father’s Day, and I’m thinking of my dad as a minister of thirty years. He knew how to take a Bible passage and make it understandable to all of his congregations. Once a congregation understood how caring and knowledgeable my dad was, the membership of his congregations always grew. Along with my mother, the duo became a powerhouse of Christian love and grace. My brother and I were always a part of their successful ministerial career. My dad’s…..
As I was watering my new grass areas and my flowers this morning, I sensed the presence of God in my gardens. He was admiring His creations, but He had a troubled look on His face. He has asked us to take care of the world He gave us; somehow, I feel He’s disappointed in us. We seem to use the gifts He has given us for so many other reasons than what He wanted them used for. In our…..
My mother was such a blessing to our family and to the world. She waited on so many things in her life, but she grew more courageous and strong by the waiting. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14) Even in death, my mother’s courage and strength have continued to guide my voice, hands, feet, heart, and eyes. Her love of life and all of…..
I can’t believe it’s been fifty years since our high school graduation, fifty years since I said, “Good-bye,” to Tom, Mike, and Larry, as they headed off to boot camp, fifty years since I got the news of their deaths in that small country called Vietnam. I was so naive to think they wouldn’t be scarred by that terrible war or that they would breathe their last, painful breaths in one of America’s most divisive wars ever fought. As the…..
In John 21: 1-19, Jesus said to Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” Peter replied, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” A second time, Jesus said to Peter, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Tend my sheep.” A third time, Jesus said to Peter, “Do you love me?” Hurt, Peter replied, “Lord you know everything; you know that I love you.” …..
“Why do you look up at the skies? We have seen the Lord and He is risen!,” said some of the disciples. Thomas said, “I do not believe He is alive. I will not believe until I see the holes in His hands and His side and can place my finger in those holes.” Then Christ appeared before them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Thomas saw Christ and placed his finger in the holes of His master’s hands and…..
The quiet. The darkness. The solemn intonations of the minister. It was so quiet that you heard the breathing of the person next to you. The choral pieces were somber and slow. The scene was set to see and feel Christ on the cross. At the front of the sanctuary, a solitary tenor voice intoned, “God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever shall believe in Him should have eternal life. God did not send…..
At the center of the burned-out cathedral was a cross and an altar, untouched by the flames of a construction site accident. I was doing my chores around the house when the news broke across my television. Tears brimmed my eyes when I realized I would never be able to visit this special holy place in its original form. I felt numb knowing the Cathedral of Notre Dame would never really be the same, even as millions of people began…..
After so many snow storms this winter, the peace of pure white snow has worn off. The weather people say we’ve had over 30 feet of snow this year. I’m so anxious for spring and seeing my crocuses top out of the snow. There’s almost 5 feet of snow over their tiny heads. Despite the dramatically colder, snowy winter, there is a hint of spring, a re-birth of all the colors in God’s rainbow, hidden in small temperature rises. What…..