Empathy is just loving one’s neighbor. It is feeling their circumstances. It is seeing their dignity and sacred worth in the midst of life’s ups and downs. It is not a sin. It is a gift from God. One cannot be too loving of another. Consider the child at school who’s learning the ABCs in a different language. Mom and Dad fled violence back home, … Continue reading The Miracle of Empathy
I am using John Wesley’s Holy Club examen questions to examine my own life. 22) Is Christ real to me? Yes. Mostly. I believe mostly in the man Jesus. A good man. A godly man. I’m not sure about the divinity piece. That might be something I just don’t understand. I’m intrigued by the notion that God would take human form. I know it was … Continue reading Wesleyan Examen 031125
At New Years, I did the thing I always do: I set a very ambitious program of self-improvement. A reading schedule, a writing goal, a walking routine, a strength-training regimen, etc. Last week, I found the chart I created to track it all. I have failed at most of it. So for Lent, I just decided to focus on one thing: reducing my phone usage. … Continue reading Reducing Phone Usage: My Lent Challenge
Luke 9:28-36 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which … Continue reading Bible Leads: Transfiguration: Luke 9:28-36
I love the benediction for a Wedding in the United Methodist Book of Worship. Bear witness to the love of God in this world,so that those to whom love is a strangerwill find in you generous friends. That might be the essence of the faith at this point: who God is, how we’re supposed to be, a poignant take on the human dilemma, and what … Continue reading Wedded to God
I am using John Wesley’s Holy Club examen questions to examine my own life. 2) Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate? Honesty is one’s truthfulness to oneself. You deserve to know the truth about yourself. Truth sets us free. Sometimes the process is lengthy. With truthfulness to ourselves, we can see the truly unpleasant things within us: the … Continue reading Wesleyan Examen 011825
I am using John Wesley’s Holy Club examen questions to examine my own life. 1) Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite? I cannot even imagine ending my day with such a question. Isn’t the answer always ‘yes’. I don’t like to think of myself as a hypocrite. Few … Continue reading Wesleyan Examen 010225
This summer, I was invited to apply for an open position on our local school board. An elected official resigned her position, three of us applied for the position and were interviewed. I was selected over two other excellent candidates. Since then, I have jumped into the dense world of public school systems. Dense because I knew it was complex…but I didn’t really know how … Continue reading My First 100 Days: Highlights and Challenges as a Beginner on the local school board
Luke 1:5-20 5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and … Continue reading Bible Leads: Luke 1:5-20: Zechariah
