At the Intersection of Theology, Nature, and the Arts
Gratitude. Thankfulness. Focusing on the positives in our lives, rather than—what we might think of as—the negatives. I have a couple of stories to share, but we begin first with Philippians, chapter 4, where we read: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to …
A Voice in the Wind: Another Route Audio How does the Lord speak to us? How do we discern the voice of God? Some time ago, an acquaintance suggested I read, A Voice in the Wind, by Francine Rivers. I located a copy and dug in. Now I’m not usually attracted to much Christian fiction, …
Psalm 42; Philippians 4 Max Lucado, in the Anxious for Nothing Bible Study, offers two words that served as the inspiration for the following message. "Contingent Contentment" is the kind of thinking that starts with the "I'll be happy when...," "I'll be happy if..." I'll be content when I marry. I'll be happy when I …
Continue reading "Contingent Contentment or Contentment in Christ?"
On this Easter, so often celebrated with delicate bunnies and fragile eggs, I want to speak instead of Resurrection Day and the powerful, power-filled Jesus, the Risen Prophet-King, the Roaring Lion, the Holy Lord of Lords. My dear friend, Tom Graffagnino, in his brilliant—and all too timely—treatise on the troubled No Border Land that is …
Continue reading "Reflections on Resurrection in the Time of COVID-19"
Over the course of my days, my life has intersected again and again with the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham and ministries to which he was connected and/or had founded. In 1982, my marriage was falling apart and I was falling apart. Friends, who'd been praying for me for some time, invited me to attend the …
Type “mean-spirited memes” into your search line and nearly a million “results” will appear. I reached a point yesterday when I had just had enough of all of the gotchas, gibes and jabs being thrown across the political spectrum. So I added my comment to a string under a friend’s post of Trump’s misstatement that …
Continue reading "Go Play By Yourself: Friendships, Shutdowns and Quark"
The article to which I'm linking here reminded me, in the midst of all the MeToos, to celebrate and give thanks for all the "good men" who have used their strength to stand between me and those who would have harmed me. Good men who put themselves at great physical risk to protect me or …
Continue reading "Celebrating and Giving Thanks for All the “Good Men”"
I am often asked for recommendations of devotional materials. Topping my list is Devotional Classics. (I've mentioned DC elsewhere on this site but want to reemphasize it and a couple of others today). I've used this book in my seminary and church-based classes on spiritual formation and development in the disciplines of the faith. I have …
“The greatest problems of our time are not technological, for these we handle fairly well. They are not even political or economic, because the difficulties in these areas, glaring as they may be, are largely derivative. The greatest problems are moral and spiritual, and unless we can make some progress in these realms, we may …
Continue reading "Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth"
Luke 11:33-36 Richard Rolle (1290-1349) writes, in his The Fire of Love, about the spiritual flame that feeds the soul: “I cannot tell you how surprised I was the first time I felt my heart begin to warm. It was real warmth, too, not imaginary, and it felt as if it were actually on fire. …
DFG Hailson 