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What do you need to leave behind?
Homily for the 30th Sunday: Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mk 10:46-52) That’s quite a question from Jesus: What do you want me to do for you? The blind Bartimaeus answered, “I want to see.” If Jesus were to ask you the same question, how would you answer: What do you want me to do for you? Think about that answer for a minute or two while I talk about the question. The question reveals a few things about how Jesus relates to us. First of all, the question…
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The Lord Spoke to Job in a Storm
My heart reaches out to the people in Western North Carolina. The devastation is unlike anything I’ve seen. I feel a deep emotional connection to the places that Helene has destroyed. Even The Flowering Bridge of Lake Lure I wrote about in June (The Best Way to Cross to the Other Side) is gone. It was one of the most cherished trips I made this year.
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A surprising invitation into some new waters
Sometimes God wants us to take the first step.
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How to keep from sinking
In a fallen world, how do we keep from sinking into chaos?
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Trust in God’s Impossible Option
Stuck? Trust God to find a way.
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Taking off the Armor
What armor are you wearing that no longer fits?
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Who’s in your throne room?
Once upon a time, there was a kingdom. In the kingdom was a castle. Inside the castle was one large room. Inside the room was a throne. Sitting on the throne was a man, very much like every other man only more gentle, more peaceable, more thoughtful, and more humble than other men. The people called him Adonai. The man didn’t say much, but people were assured by his quiet presence. They felt his protection and care as a shepherd has for his sheep. The days went by and the people lived simply, yet with great peace in their hearts and peace with one another. One morning a man wandered…
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Practice Makes Perfect
Exactly what do we need to practice? Faith. Jesus didn't send the twelve on a mission with nothing because their faith was perfected, but because they needed to shore up what was lacking.
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Mary’s Lessons on Fear…
The angel Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid.” Mary heeded this angelic command. Throughout the rest the Annunciation narrative, she models three good ways to deal with fear
