Category Archives: Devotionals

One Reason I Don’t Want To Be Like Jesus

There are many reasons I don’t want to be like Jesus, but one of the main reasons is Jesus, according to the gospels, spent a lot of time right smack dab in the middle of suffering people.  How depressing. I … Continue reading

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At The End Of The Day We All Die (Ash Wednesday Reflection)

For a lot of reasons people don’t like each other. This person said one thing.  Another individual said something in response.  Feelings are hurt. People take sides. One fuss.  Another fuss. People talk about what happened for a long time. Some … Continue reading

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Feeling A Bit Queasy About Psalm 23

Psalm 23 offers rest.  I’ll take some of that. Psalm 23 offers consolation.  Put me down for some of that too. Psalm 23 offers protection.  I don’t see people of God getting protected from much of anything but if God … Continue reading

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People Like You Get The Hell On My Nerves

Let me break this to you gently and slowly:  YOU GET ON PEOPLE’S NERVES. We all do.  We get on the nerves of people who love us, work with us, go to church with us. Truth be known, if we … Continue reading

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Is God Really With Us? (Isaiah 43:2)

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. One … Continue reading

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Rewriting the Epiphany Story

Sometimes it may be helpful to rewrite a biblical narrative.  Let’s rewrite the Epiphany story and see what happens. The Magi travel from afar.  We all know about the difficulties of travel, particularly long trips.  And some of us travel … Continue reading

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Words On A Birthday Cake (Advent Beginnings)

Words on a birthday cake – not “Happy Birthday”, not “Over the Hill and Still Kicking”, not “Nifty at Fifty”, not “May the Force Be With You” (if a Star Wars fan), not “A birthday is just the first day … Continue reading

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“My father kicked me when I was in my mother’s womb” – An Advent Reflection

Advent: days, hours, minutes, seconds, timeless moments in which we recognize what is already here and what is yet to come. I wonder, though, about those who haven’t been able to experience first hand, through no fault of their own, … Continue reading

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Is There A Birth In Your Future?

Is there a birth, some newness, just around the corner for you?  Perhaps the new birth involves an exodus. Ilana Pardes in the Biography of Ancient Israel :  National Narratives in the Bible notes that Israel’s miraculous birth took place with … Continue reading

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Sweet Revenge On A Bully (Please make note of my 7th grade MVP football trophy)

My wife likes to point out (frequently) that the athletic accomplishments I note all seem to be from the seventh grade, the grade in which I was deemed MVP of a 1-5 football team.  (I got a trophy, but they … Continue reading

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