What comes between you and your children?  Before you answer, consider this: I am about to head out to my children’s preschool spring program.  I am excited to see my own children perform, as well as all the other children. But what will our children see?  Too often, as I observe, the above picture represents […]

Advice from a letter by Adam Clarke to a young man contemplating the ministry — and why I think it’s good advice.

Chaplains have at least two distinct professional identities. They are unarmed members of the Profession of Arms, but they are also “religious ministry professionals” in accordance with their endorsing bodies’ understanding of that role. All Army chaplains come in to … Continue reading →

^{1 Kings 19:11-13
11} The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

I absolutely hate it when people refer to natural disasters as “Acts of God”. People have died, others are injured and traumatized, homes are totally destroyed…and who is to blame? Would you say God decided to destroy a good portion of Moore, OK and anyone who got in the way? Why? Spite? Anger? Vengance?  No, you will not find God in this mighty wind anymore than Elijah did. This is no one’s fault. It’s weather, and any scientist can explain what happens to cause storms such as these. 

No, God did not cause it, but He is there:
In those searching the buildings for the missing, hoping to find them alive,
In those who gently and reverently carry the dead,
In the hospital staff tending the wounded,
In those who sit at the side of those whose hearts are broken,
In those who keep calling until they reach those they love,
In those parents who struggle to assure their children that they are safe,
In the people around the world who send their prayers , their love and their money to
people they will never meet.

God did not cause the wind. He wasn’t in the wind. He is in those people who see suffering and choose to act out of love, compassion and justice…in the hope of a better world to come.

 Yes we all have dealt with some toxic people in our lives.   I was asked this week what did I mean by Toxic people.  Here are a few characteristics: Negative & Abusive Demanding & Selfish Manipulative  & Arrogant Critical &Judgmental Charming yet deceptive Bossy & dominating Drama Kings or Queens Educated Fools or Know-it all …

 Yes we all have dealt with some toxic people in our lives.   I was asked this week what did I mean by Toxic people.  Here are a few characteristics: Negative & Abusive Demanding & Selfish Manipulative  & Arrogant Critical &Judgmental Charming yet deceptive Bossy & dominating Drama Kings or Queens Educated Fools or Know-it all …

You can read all the manuals on prayer and listen to other people pray, but until you begin to pray yourself you will never understand prayer.  It’s like riding a bicycle or swimming: You learn by doing.  – Luis Palau#3226

On a Sunday evening in 1976, I went from being inside my mother’s womb with a straw stuck to my belly to breathing oxygen. I arrived on May 23rd with…

My initial concern is that we are reading this passage as we look toward Trinity Sunday. So, aren’t we supposed to identify Wisdom in Proverbs with the Holy Spirit in our theology? Or, does Wisdom in Proverbs connected to the second person of the Trini…

  “Just Breathe” (May 19, 2013 – Pentecost) Just as in Hebrew and Greek, our English word for “spirit” is linked to words for breathing. Can we take some time to simply breathe in the Spirit and let that in-spire and move us? (Acts 2:1-21)