Saturday, March 2, 2019 | Reflections
Last week I organized receipts for all of last year’s charitable contributions as requested by our accountant. Some worry that the higher standard deduction will decrease financial giving to nonprofit institutions. But this concern raises an important question: Do we...
Friday, March 1, 2019 | Reflections
My heart sinks when I read this verse. Perfect? Me? Then I remember that I don’t think Jesus means being 100 percent error-free. The New English Bible’s translation of this verse says: “There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father’s goodness knows...
Thursday, February 28, 2019 | Reflections
Among the many difficult tasks facing medical doctors is talking with patients about changes they need to make in order to become healthier. We do not like being told what to do, and we are easily offended. But good doctors care more about healing than they do about...
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 | General Convention
[27 de febrero de 2019] En un espíritu de bienvenida y reconciliación con la Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba (ECC), La Iglesia Episcopal anunció hoy el lanzamiento de Juntos de Nuevo: Campaña de Pensiones de Cuba, que tiene como objetivo recaudar fondos para proporcionar...
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 | Reflections
Jesus’ words about the need for reconciliation to take place before public worship are not unique. The prophets repeatedly call for true inward righteousness instead of merely outward expressions of worship. Paul repeats this same warning in 1 Corinthians 11. The...
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 | Reflections
The story of Ruth is one we need to hear today. We see virtue on display in Ruth, a Gentile refugee woman living the life of a widow in the ancient Near East. The love story we read about—not the one between Ruth and Boaz but one of family love—is centered on Ruth and...
Monday, February 25, 2019 | Reflections
The number twelve is important. The children of Israel are organized into twelve tribes. Jesus symbolically chooses twelve of his disciples to become the pillars in an emerging community of faith, but now only eleven are left. So the disciples find a few qualified...
Sunday, February 24, 2019 | Reflections
One day after my fourth-grade flag football practice, Dad made a comment that stuck with me. “This family isn’t known for being good at sports.” He wasn’t saying it to be mean, but it was a hard comment to shake. I couldn’t help but wonder, “If I don’t come from an...
Saturday, February 23, 2019 | Reflections
On February 14, 1990, the Voyager I space probe photographed Earth from more than six billion kilometers away. This iconic image is known as the Pale Blue Dot, showing Earth as the tiniest of dots in a single beam of light. Astronomer Carl Sagan gave a moving lecture...
Friday, February 22, 2019 | Reflections
We live in a culture of instant gratification. Most of the time what can be had now is chosen over what can be had later. Our immediate desires overshadow the needs of others. We see this on a global scale. When we are honest, we also see this on a personal scale. You...
Thursday, February 21, 2019 | Reflections
A trap has been set for Jesus in our gospel passage today. He asks those setting the trap to show him a coin. As we have come to expect, Jesus’ answer about taxes is brilliant. The coin in question bears the image and title of the emperor. The coin, therefore, belongs...
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 | Reflections
Early religious expressions usually contained elements of sacrificial worship. Successful crops required making an offering to the appropriate god and waiting to see if it was accepted in the form of a bountiful harvest. If the harvest was good, the same offering was...
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 | Reflections
Following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, many of us were introduced to a new safety mantra: If you see something, say something. There is another way to use this phrase, one that humans of all backgrounds have affirmed throughout the centuries. When you see...
Monday, February 18, 2019 | Reflections
This bit of Psalm 89 always reminds me of Jesus and his disciples in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. The sea is calm, and since Jesus has been busy teaching and healing, he takes a nap. As the wind picks up and the waves begin to swell, fear sets in. The disciples...
Sunday, February 17, 2019 | Reflections
Noah is a fascinating biblical character tasked with building a giant boat in preparation for a massive flood—one no one else sees coming. Imagine living near Noah when he is beginning to gather materials for the ark. What do you say to a man attempting a project of...
