Gracious God, take our minds and think through them; take our hands and work through them; take our hearts and set them on fire. Amen.     My son Zachary was born during spring break of my second year of seminary.  When he was 3 months old I had a crisis of faith. You see, he went in for his second…

As we enter this Lent, may we Pause, Reflect, Pray. Amen.   We have entered Lent.  Ash Wednesday reminded us that we are dust, and to dust we will return.  We were invited into observing this holy season by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Some of us have accordingly given things up for these 40 days.  Others have instead…

As we enter this Lent, may we Pause, Reflect, Pray. Amen.   It has been said that on Ash Wednesday, Christians attend their own funerals.  It is no mistake that this liturgy in which we partake leads us to contemplate our own mortality.  We will soon be marked with ashes and admonished with these words: Remember that you are dust, and to…

  Gracious God, take our minds and think through them; take our hands and work through them; take our hearts and set them on fire. Amen.     Today we are on the mountaintop with Jesus and his closest friends. What happened up there is a mystery.  It’s no mistake Jesus’ transfigured appearance evokes Moses’ shining face when in the presence of…