The Hands of Jesus
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told (Jesus) about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her, and she waited…
Read MoreThe Desert Fathers and Mothers
Ever since I was a novice, I have been fascinated by the Desert Fathers of the early Church. Only later did I learn there were Desert Mothers too. Between the…
Read MoreHidden Women of the Gospels
What happened to the daughter of Herodias after she received the head of John the Baptist on a platter? Did she ever dance again? Did the blind man, Bartimaeus, have…
Read MoreOn the Stagecoach of Life, What Kind of Ticket Are You Holding?
In his book, World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers, William Bausch tells this little-known fact about riding in a stagecoach in the Old West. The stagecoach had three kinds…
Read MoreWhat’s New?
In T. H. White’s book, The Once and Future King, Merlin the magician offers this advice to a despondent King Arthur: “The best thing for being sad is to learn…
Read MoreChristmas: A Celebration of Smallness
Christmas is a celebration of smallness. It proclaims small is beautiful… the lowly is honorable… the ordinary is extraordinary. Just look at the major characters of the Christmas story. First,…
Read MoreGood Prayer Is Incarnational
Several years ago I was asked to give a talk about some of the qualities of good prayer. One quality I spoke about was this: Good prayer is incarnational. I…
Read MoreThe Wit and Wisdom of Humanity
In my collection of quotations, I have a whole section on proverbs. In addition, I have many quotes under “humor.” Today I’d like to share some of these brief maxims…
Read MoreAdvent Reflection: The Virtue of Slowing Down
Theologian Doris Donnelly calls Advent “the most difficult season.” She writes, “For all the high drama that surrounds Advent, the truth is we have a hard time getting involved in…
Read MorePrayer of Thanksgiving for All the Seasons of Life
Eternal God, O Timeless One, You tell us: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). We thank you for all the…
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