Light of Light
“The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” -Matthew 4:16 At the beginning of his ministry Jesus echoed these words prophesied by Isaiah 700 years earlier. In them Jesus proclaimed the…
We Need a Shepherd
There seems to be no lack of opinion among our fellow citizens as to what is the best way forward for our society if the recent presidential campaign is any indication. Most of us are exhausted from the back and forth that took place for many months leading up to…
People Are Not Machines
“In desperate times we are tempted to go for the quick answer and the efficient solution. But the quick answer is almost always the oversimplified answer, leaving out all the complexities of actual truth; the efficient solution is almost always the depersonalized solution, for persons take a lot of time…
Living in the Face of Suffering
“Grace must wound before it can heal.” –Flannery O’Connor Suffering is inevitable. It isn’t a simple question as to whether suffering will come, but multiple questions. Why? What form will suffering take? When will suffering come and how long will suffering last? The suffering can come from outside of…
Parenting
We live in a world in which popular culture enjoys many avenues for influencing our children. Television, movies, and the internet not only entertain but also convey a constant array of messages as to what the world considers normal and desirable. Cell phones and social media fuel a network of…
Depression
Life is often challenging and at times seems particularly overwhelming. Circumstances such as financial strain, job stress, disappointment or loss in close relationships can lead to discouragement. When anxiety and hopelessness begin to paralyze you, driving you inward and compromising your capacity to attend to responsibilities and relationships, it is…
Externalism
“People can think correctly and behave rightly and worship politely and still live badly–live anemically, live individualistically self-enclosed lives, live bored and insipid and trivial lives.” -Eugene Peterson
Rethinking Love
Marriage is a gift from God and as such is inherently good–even when we don’t do it so well. It is good because it originates in the goodness of God. That is important to remember when we find ourselves disappointed and prone to being critical, distant, and withholding. When this…
Counseling and Wisdom
As far as helping methods go it is easier to sell so-called expertise, methods, and quick fixes. We tend to want ready answers, thus cookie-cutter wisdom, but wisdom cannot be packaged. It is not wooden or simplistic. More often than not real change requires significant shifts in perspective and motivation;…
Stillness
“We work hard and play hard not because we are more industrious or more playful than our ancestors but because we dare not stop lest in the stillness we are overwhelmed by the sound of our own anxieties and fears.” -Peter J. Gomes in his introduction to Tillich’s The Courage To…