In part 1 of this topic, we discussed a dilemma presented by a particular collect as well as a passage of scripture, John 14:15-16. Both of these somehow leave us with the following dilemma:  “Oh God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding. But if I don’t…

A particular collect points out a dilemma I want to discuss. Allow me to share it with you: “O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding. Pour into our hearts such love toward you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may…

In Part 1 of this series, we talked about Jesus’ invitation to “all who are thirsty.” But before we can come and drink at the well of the Spirit, before God can touch us in the deep places, we must open our hearts. Otherwise, it is possible to create such an ordered life that we…

Just prior to the Feast of Pentecost that we celebrate each year, Jesus said some extraordinary words. It happened during the Feast of Booths, which is roughly correspondent with our Thanksgiving.  ‘If Any One Thirst’ It’s an ingathering. It’s harvest. It’s celebration. People come from all over the Mediterranean to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Anybody…

‘Though I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow’ One of the things that has held me together as someone in the ordained ministry is colleagues, both formal and informal relationships that allow me to check in and who check in with me: “How are you doing? How can I be praying for you?” as…

Over and over again, God has turned my mourning into dancing. That’s one reason I identify with the psalmist who says these exact words in Psalm 30:  Oh Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks…

Not long ago, I was sending an email to a friend of mine. He is a young Reformed minister, and for him, the whole occasion of Maundy Thursday is foreign – at least to his branch of that tradition. So I sent him an email describing a little bit about what we would normally do…

The church seems to attract recovering perfectionists. And in fact, we almost play to that audience, for both good and ill. For good, if we proclaim a gospel that allows the perfectionist to relax and soak into the presence of God: his unaided, unconditional, completely free love that he pours out on us in his…

On June 14, we gave thanks for the life of Basil the Great. Basil is called “the Great” because of the importance and the revolutionary nature of his teaching. Basil had initially planned to go into law. He came from a very well-to-do family in Cappadocia, present-day Turkey. But at 28, his younger brother unexpectedly,…

This series is for all those who are called to service in the church – in other words, every Christian. I’m addressing deacons, but these truths will benefit any follower of Christ. God is raising up men and women who are willing to serve him all over the world. When you’re ordained, part of the…