Cheeseburger, fries and a hot fudge sundae in the lobby of her nursing home. Some of her favorites for Mother’s Day dinner. We ate in silence for a few moments.  We would ask a question, only to get a blank…

Yesterday was my birthday. Like many others have  been, I was astonished at the volume of Happy Birthday greetings that came my way. One in particular would get the award for “Came the Farthest.”  Matt is serving our country in…

 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”  —Romans 12:15 Our recent United Methodist General Conference is history. From April 24 -May 4, thanks to the live stream from Tampa, and on Twitter and Facebook, our every-four-year meeting…

“For God so loved the world” is how Jesus started his summary. Those six words are the opening of John 3:16. Probably the best simple version of The Gospel of Christ, and it starts like that. God.  Loved. The world.…

My phone buzzed at just the right time today. My friend, a very active member of a church I’ve served,  called to tell me about her book. “And I’d like to quote you at very end of my book.” She’s…

Sometimes it’s the little luxuries that make the day. Today the aroma of coffee reminded me of that. Taking time to savor the flavor became important. Gratitude was sweeter to stir in than sugar or any kind of substitute. What’s…

I fell, shattering my ankle. Had many new “learning opportunities” with that. Some will yield lessons for years to come. There are other things you’d rather not hear about.  At least I hope that’s true, because I don’t want to…

Easter, Resurrection, New Life —all those things we sing about and talk about and wonder about— they really do matter. One of my favorite promises is from our old friend St. Paul, If anyone is in Christ, the new creation…

He was speaking to British troops, but those words apply to us. They were in the midst of the Second World War, but those words apply to us. We are on this side of that first Easter, and those words…

True  story.  (The best ones always are.) We were about to eat lunch. The person praying was labeled Special Needs. As soon as the Amen was said, I was fumbling for my pocket notebook to write down that prayer. “Thank…