“If you boys don’t start behaving, I’m coming down there!” So my father had loudly promised one evening when I was young.  And my father kept his promises. Always. Growing up, I had both an older and a younger brother–there was a span of about 6-7 years on both sides. Which is to say that, prior to […]

Read More Advent, simply explained

For some of us, being with family over Thanksgiving and Christmas is an enjoyable and even energizing experience. But for many of us, even when we truly care for our family (be it the in-laws or our own), spending time with them over the holidays can be extremely challenging. In fact, it can bring out […]

Read More Loving difficult family members over the holidays

Like most people, I’ve got everyone from close friends to little known contacts and acquaintances as ‘friends’ on Facebook (and other social media). I truly enjoy when they share their opinions.  And in the days leading up to election day (and in the days since) many of them have taken the risk of sharing their opinions, frustrations, hopes, […]

Read More Before posting your opinion on Facebook, do this first.

Given the chaos and confusion of this election season, it may be helpful to pause briefly and ask ourselves a few clarifying questions, as we go to the polls next Tuesday. 1.  What was I expecting–and why? Wisdom is about understanding what the world is really like.  Scripture (and, therefore, not surprisingly, history) shows that rulers are, with a […]

Read More A few clarifying questions to consider before we vote

At lunch time two 7th-grade girls happened to walk into their school’s cafeteria at the same time.  While going through the line to get food, they each scanned the lunch tables, hoping to find a good place to sit.  They each spotted the same person, a popular cheerleader, sitting at the head of a table that was already […]

Read More The genius of Jesus’ ethic: selfish selflessness