October 20th, 2015 
The parables of Jesus often disturb our equilibrium, and stretch the boundaries of our common perceptions. Such is the parable in Matthew 25:14-30. A master goes away on a long journey and entrusts his property to three servants. To one he gives five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to their ability. The first two servants begin to work at once, multiplying what they’ve been given. The …
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October 13th, 2015 
Think of your favorite movie, or your favorite novel. Is it one without struggle, defeat, a mid-course crisis? Not likely. The greatest movies of all time, the blockbusters, fill the screen with nail-biting tension, heart-ripping agony, the devastation of war, a lover’s betrayal, impossible odds, and utter despair. What pulls us into the movie is not the pain, but the overcoming of adversity, the denouement of redemption, the villain conquered, good defeating evil. …
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October 7th, 2015 
In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples on a mission without him. He gives them specific instructions, “take no money or extra tunic, etc.” It’s one thing to follow Jesus around and watch him preach and perform miracles; it’s quite another to go out in his name and do the same. Jesus doesn’t sugar-coat this challenging mission. He warns them that opposition awaits them, “All men will hate you because …
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September 29th, 2015 
Nothing stings quite like the pain of regret. We’ve all made poor choices that have hurt us deeply. We’ve also wounded others and we live with those regrets. Hasty decisions have changed the course of our lives for the worse. We regret opportunities that we let slip away.
These memories haunt us, and immobilize us. Nagging thoughts replay in our minds: “Oh I wish I hadn’t done that.” “My life would be …
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September 8th, 2015 
General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), a decorated five-star general who served our country in WW1, WW2 and Korea, wrote this prayer for his only son.
In honor of my son Austin’s 29th birthday this week, I reprint it for you, with Austin’s picture at the bottom.
Build me a son, oh Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one …
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