In the days leading up to Hurricane Isaias, people throughout the Gulf Coast region flocked to grocery stores to buy bottled water, milk, toilet paper, and canned goods. The impulse to stockpile in the face of crisis reveals a type of fear that grips many of...
As some of our churches plan Harvest Parties for the children as an alternative to Halloween, the children are already planning their costumes. There will be tiny vampires, witches with pointy black hats, fairy princesses with magic wands, and little pumpkins in strollers who are...
Throughout the scriptures, God does not promise that nothing bad is coming. Quite the opposite. For example, the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah assumes there will be overwhelming waters and consuming fire. The promise isn't that these things won't happen. It's: "When...
Turn out the light Blow out the candle too Don't fear the night coming I'm right beside you Turn out the light Close your tired eyes Don't fear the night coming I'm right here by your side… … Diamonds in the mine got plenty to shine about I keep my diamonds down in the...
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 In my prayers, I often find myself saying, “You are the only one worthy of worship, you are the only one worthy of praise, you are the only one worthy...
Ritual is woven into the life of faith. We gather, pray, proclaim, listen, share meals, tell sacred stories, serve our neighbors, and return to the practices that remind us who we are and to whom we belong. Yet ritual can be misunderstood. It may be dismissed...
For many of us, the idea of routines and rituals gets a bad rap. We often equate them with vain repetitions that culminate in boredom and leave us unmoved and uninspired. But there are plenty of rituals and routines that allow for centering, continuity, and...
In 2013, after eleven years serving as a college professor who preached occasionally, I took on the dual role of professor and pastor. Previously, when I served as a guest teacher for Sunday School and Bible Study, I had always done so from a standing...
“Yeah, there’s no one else my age at church,” shrugs the 28-year-old with resignation. Justin grew up at Saint Elizabeth’s, Honolulu, back when his brother led the lively youth group. He’s still here. But most — well, maybe all — of the kids he knew a...