a good way to spend an evening

A couple of weeks ago, my brother left a message on my cell phone: “I just finished a book you have to read. You’ll love it. It’s called Blue Like Jazz.” Since recommending reading is not one of his usual things, I went and bought the book. He’s right. It’s good. I’m reading it slowly…

Today marks a week since I joined the gym. When it comes to exercise, I can think of at least fourteen other things I would rather do than walk or run or do sit-ups. But I am about three and a half months away from my completing my fiftieth year on the planet and I…

Since our senior pastor is on vacation, I’ve preached three of the last four weeks. Since the Lectionary in August can’t seem to get away from “bread” passages, I’ve preached from some of my favorite scenes in the gospels. This week I realized I had created an inadvertent sermon miniseries on some of the miracles…

“Do you want to get well?” The whole story swings on that sentence. The story I’m speaking of is Jesus’ encounter with the man at the pool at Bethesda. Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with…

There was much about today’s worship that moved me. We observed World Communion Sunday and our meal was accompanied by some amazing music, which is what I want to share tonight. Three women at church covered a song by the Wailin’ Jennys called “One Voice.” I had not heard it before. It is as fine…