He’s Alive

From our side of history, the Easter story is so clear.  But, If I’d been there, I probably would have doubted, too. (The following conversations are my paraphrase of scriptures quoted in the book of Mark.)  “When we get to Jerusalem,” Jesus told his...

Easter, Passover, and Dolly Parton.

Can you imagine the first Passover? The Death Angel flying through the land, taking every firstborn male from the cattle in the pen to the son of Pharaoh in the palace. Mothers crying. Fathers cursing. And, the eldest son of every Hebrew family quivering in a corner...

What I’m Getting for Lent

Yes, I know. People give up things for Lent. We get things at Christmas. (Although, ’tis better to give, as they say.)  I don’t attend a liturgical church (such as the one led by our dear Father Mike.) Our congregation doesn’t observe a formal Lenten...

Cyrus and the Bathroom Conversation

Aunt Frankie says if you visit with people long enough, every conversation ends up in the bathroom. She must be right, because our entire nation ended up there this weekend. Who uses which bathroom, and who has the right to make that decision are suddenly complex...

Why I Pray

I came of age in my faith at a time when the popular kids were into something we called Name-it-and-Claim-it! Or Blab-it-and-Grab-it. The theology went like this: If you want a cadillac and big house, you just start declaring, out loud, that God should give you those...