I’ve heard it said that there are no atheists in foxholes. Whether or not that expression is literally true, I take this to mean that, in the face of imminent death, everybody wants something to hold onto. Even those who have a philosophical aversion to the idea of God may catch themselves in a moment of crisis …
One of my favorite childhood movies is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. (The 1971 version, not that Johnny Depp nonsense.) I love the film on a variety of levels, from its silliness and imaginative flair, to the way it not-so-subtly critiques the evils of greed, consumerism, narcissism and arrogance. Over the course of the …
It’s easy to underestimate the value of trust in my daily life. For example, I generally feel secure in the quality of the food I buy. This relieves me from a huge amount of worry and second-guessing when I sit down for a meal. I trust that those who produce and package my food take …
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1 I let my heart be troubled a lot. I get caught up in disagreements with friends, worries about work, and disturbing news in politics and world events. All sorts of events in my life send me into damage control …
Then Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:38a What must it have been like for Mary that night when the angel showed up, telling her that God has chosen her, a virgin, to give birth to the Messiah? It’s an exciting …
I am fascinated by the often dysfunctional relationship between God and Israel. In Exodus, God appears, seemingly out of nowhere, and provides the Hebrew people with a hope and a future. For reasons known only to God, the Lord chooses an insignificant group of Egyptian slaves and promises to guide them to freedom, peace and …
For a long time, I lived a life of avoidance. I sought refuge in my own ideals, in travel, and in all sorts of electronic media. Yet, in all my searching, I never encountered anything that could answer the deep hunger within me. I never found that perfect place or ideal community that I imagined. …