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There are many good reasons to have a national holiday to honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. As a clarion voice in a time of civil revolution, he shaped our conversations around race and justice. As a political activist, he promoted a nonviolent approach to protest and forced action by those who were in power. As a speaker, he painted with his words a wondrous…

Yesterday was a busy day. The choir led the 11am worship service with the Christmas Cantata they’ve been working on for months. We assembled later to share a meal together and to be amused and touched and lifted by the Pageant put on by our young people (and some very patient volunteers). It was a great day, and I bet if you were there you enjoyed it all, too. But if…

Since we’re talking a lot about music this Advent season, let me mention one of my personal favorite songs of the season. A few years ago, someone mentioned in jest a duet of Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing a version of Little Drummer Boy. Initially, I laughed because in what version of history would that ever happen? It turns out that it’s this version of history…

I probably ought to just write an article about the new sermon series. Or I could write something about Advent coming up. But I’m not going to. On Sunday, a church, First Baptist Church, in Sutherland Springs, Texas was attacked by a young man with a high-powered, semiautomatic, assault-style rifle. At least 26 people are dead. They were in worship, just like we were on…

I’ve spoken before of my fondness for Halloween. It’s a Christian holiday at its core – connected to All Saints’ Day when we remember our sisters and brothers who have passed beyond the veil before us. I will be speaking about that subject more this Sunday. But for this article, since we’re all friends here, I thought it might be fun to consider the more commonplace…

Easter, I have found, is a hard holiday for most of us. I mean, it’s good and we all look forward to it. We buy new clothes, hide eggs, make a special dinner, and go to church for a rousing day reminding us of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But then… what? Back to normal? Peter tried. After the resurrection of Jesus and meeting him in the upper room, Peter goes…

I don’t know how it happened, but we’re almost through Lent! Odd as it may seem for a season of fasting, withdrawal, and introspection, I’ve been mightily encouraged by this season together. I have been overjoyed to hear reports from members of our NightLife groups who have found connections in their time together, both with one another and with God. Fasting can be like…

Lent is just about upon us. It’s a season before Easter that is meant to prepare us for Easter morning. Traditionally, it has consisted of some sort of fasting, and that is totally contrary to who we are. Many pastors (including this one) have mistakenly claimed that fasting is contrary to modern society, with our emphasis on consumption, commercialism, and instant…

My oldest daughter has raised her level enough to start making me pause in conversation. It used to be that I could get by with answering simple questions about colors or direction or who the is band on the radio (Led Zeppelin, sweetheart – thanks be to God) or what the word “reveal” means. You can just answer those kinds of questions. They’re facts – just the facts,…

     It’s been quite a week! I was officially installed as the pastor a week ago Sunday and in the following week, we lost two faithful, strong women in our church family. I’m reminded of the Gospel of Mark. Mark, of the four writers, is incredibly brief. Everything happens “immediately” after something else. The effect is a sort of rollercoaster where major events are…