Claimed, gathered and sent

What do you think about Ben Witherington's understanding of spiritual formation? A Normal Christian Life---- Part One - Ben Witherington on the Bible and Culture

This is the message I shared this morning with the congregation of Grace Lutheran Church . The gospel text is Matthew 11:2-11.             As a child, do you remember how excited you were by Christmas? Do you remember wishing and hoping for that special present? At your house were the packages piling up under the tree over the days leading up to the holiday. Maybe your family had nothing under the tree when you went to bed Christmas Eve. But, when you got up on Christmas morning, there were all these glorious gifts. It’s so much fun to receive presents isn’t it?             How excited you may have been--tearing off the wrapping paper, wondering what is inside, hoping it was something you had asked for. You finally get to the gift and………………………………….it’s a pair of pajamas or socks or underwear. It isn’t the gadget you hoped for. It isn’t the music you wanted. It isn’t really ANYTHING YOU WANTED. And it wasn’t what you expected. You’re a little or maybe a lot disappointed.            

I have found these reflections, prayers, and questions to be very helpful. Thank you to Christine of Abbey of the Arts for this moving course. Monk in the World - Day 7 of 7

Monk in the World - Day 6 of 7

This speaks profoundly to my heart and I hope to yours as well. A Place for Prayer: a prayer of longing and praise

This particular devotional piece reminds me of some of what I've heard from my spiritual director. Monk in the World - Day 4 of 7

This is the message I shared with the people of Zion Lutheran Church, Baker, WV this morning. The text is Romans 15:4-13.              Hope…it’s a word we hear a lot. What does it mean? I hope it doesn’t snow. I hope I win the lottery. I hope I pass this exam. The Jewish people’s hope was in a messiah that was to come. When friends struggle with impossibly painful, awful situations, when asked if things will ever be any better, they may respond, “I hope so.” But biblical hope is more than crossing our fingers and wishing. The hope Paul speaks of in today’s reading from Romans is that “of Christian expectation…hope that faith affords” (BDAG). Hope is “to put one’s confidence in someone or something” (BDAG). And that someone or something is God.             What Paul says here begins with hope. It ends with hope. It’s like a shelf full of books with bookends. They are named hope. And the books the shelf contains are full of hope as well. Hope is at the beginning of Paul’s writing, ho