When I was six years old, I drew a picture of a painter and a painting. On it I wrote, “I wot to be a artist.” A few years ago, when my parents moved out of their house, they gave me all my childhood papers. I threw many straight into the recycling bin, but IContinue reading “The Art and Athleticism of Preaching”
Author Archives: joyofthejourney
Lesson and Carols: Rose Edition
Prelude Introduction Roses exude a sweet perfume and dazzle the eye with their intricate layers of petals. This Sunday we will reflect on the rose as a symbol within the Christian tradition. What do roses teach us about God? Mary, mother of Jesus, is traditionally associated with roses. In the Catholic tradition, people use theContinue reading “Lesson and Carols: Rose Edition”
A Sleight of Heart
Mark 13:1-8 Look! Magician Nate Staniforth displays a five-rupee cointo a stranger on the streets of India. Nate shows the five-rupee coin andthen closes his hand over it. With a magical sleight of hand,Nate maneuvers the coin within his fingers. When he opens up his hand,the coin is gone. It has vanished. Ahmed, the strangerContinue reading “A Sleight of Heart”
November Roses
This Friday, I drove to the Arnold Arboretum to see their roses. As I travel, I vividly imagine the encounter: the smell of the ‘Ausblush’ rose, the neon pink of the ‘Chuckles’ rose, the delicate yellow petals of the ‘Julia Child’ rose. I have followed these flower friends since their first bloom in June. (SeeContinue reading “November Roses”
Simplicity
How do we get to the joy of the journey? Sometimes, it feels like joy is covered over by so much stuff. This week I have been listening to the song “Greed” by Sweet Honey in the Rock. (Listen here.) They sing, “Greed is sneaky / Hard to detect in myself / I see it so clearly in everybody else.” Greed is sneaky.Continue reading “Simplicity”
Listen!
Mark 12:28-34 (Watch the video here.) Listen, Israel. Listen, Israel:Our God is the one God,and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your being, and with all your strength. These are the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-9,also known as the shema. It’s called the shema because in Hebrew the text starts,Shema, Yisrael! Which is Listen,Continue reading “Listen!”
Made It to the PA Appalachian Trail!
At 3:30 p.m. on Friday, I crossed over the Delaware Water Gap on the Appalachian Trail (AT) and made it to the Pennsylvania AT! On November 23, 2018, I first began hiking the New Jersey Appalachian Trail. Composed of 72 miles, it took only five hikes to finish it. My NJ AT finale began overContinue reading “Made It to the PA Appalachian Trail! “
Show Me Mercy!
Mark 10:46-52 I was chatting with another pastor recently,and I asked her: What is the purpose of a sermon? She replied,“The purpose of a sermon is to create an experience of God.” Ooooo. Isn’t this the purpose of all church life? To bring us into an experience of God.The holy. That sense of something more.Continue reading “Show Me Mercy!”
Lift from the Core
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a James writes,If you are wise and understand God’s ways,prove it by living an honorable life,doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. James conveys to uswhat is at the coreof the Christian lifestyle:humility. Another translation reads,Show by your good life that your works are donewith gentleness born of wisdom. DrawContinue reading “Lift from the Core”
In Case of Emergency
I once saw a statue of a four-year old girl encased in glass untouched by loving hands, falling leaves, or friendly squirrels. Untouched by weather, she remained a perfect marble statue. Likewise, my loved ones live in glass display cases. Through computer screens, I see them. Through devices, I hear them. Through keyboard pads, weContinue reading “In Case of Emergency”
Joy of the Journey 