• Leaving The Garden of Guilt and Shame

    “They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”  ~~ Genesis 3:8  None of us have ever grown up in the Garden of Eden: we grew…


  • Why Do The Righteous Suffer?

    “When I looked for good, then evil came unto me;   and when I waited for light, there came darkness.” ~~ Job 30:26 Easter morning may not be bright and sunny; at least the Weathermen aren’t predicting that this weekend. However, for Christians today, we can celebrate because we know the rest of the story. That…


  • Doing Battle With The Dragon

    “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, 
but the victory belongs to the Lord.”  ~~ Proverbs 21:31  As I journeyed with my group along the Silk Road on the fourth day of our pilgrimage, we saw the twin peaked volcano Mount Erciyes, on which St. George of Cappadocia was said to have slain…


  • The Fairy Nativity: A Simple Christmas

    “There are winds created for vengeance and in their anger they can dislodge mountains. On the day of reckoning they will pour out their strength and calm the anger of their Maker.” ~~ Ecclesiasticus 39: 28  Seventeen days and counting to Christmas: Grey Thursday, Black Friday and the Great Christmas Sales are upon us. Wal-Mart…


  • Money Can’t Buy Art

    “But where shall wisdom be found? …It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price.” ~~ Job 28:12, 15 The recent national elections for President, Senate and House seats cost around $6 billion dollars. At the end of all this storm and fury, the Republicans still hold the House,…


  • Death by China: Wesley and Barnum Meet Dr. Who

    Overheard: PT Barnum & the Rev. John Wesley on the Movie “Death by China” Citizens of 1880 and 1760 usually don’t have the opportunity to visit over coffee, unless Dr. Who activates his telephone booth or we use the research tools available to us to bring their ideas together in the same space. “Free Books”…


  • Gifts for Everybody!

    “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” ~~ 1 Cor 12:4-6 In my actively practicing carboholic years, I loved going to the mall…


  • Hard Work, Community & Individual Success

    “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”          ~~ 1 Corinthians 12:7 “If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” President Obama lit up the ratio and TV talk shows a while back with this statement because 60% of Americans…


  • People, Politics, and Mute Buttons

    “Indeed, there have to be factions among you,  for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.” ~~ 1 Cor 11:19  Red State, Blue State. Latest polling numbers. Romney chooses Ryan—Breaking news! Pick Bump, Attack Dog, Spin Doctors, and Campaign Ads. I’m already warming up my remote and I long ago quit watching…


  • Going Onto Beautiful

    “Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.”                                               ~~ 1 Corinthians 9:25 The 30th Olympics has opened in London complete with fireworks,…