After the Mugging
There's an old saying—actually I'm not sure how old it is—but it is a saying, and it goes: A conservative is just a liberal who got mugged. Now I know that half of you reading this are already traveling down
Momentary Meaning
Off to the mountains last week. All the pieces were in place: rented house at Big Bear Lake for four days, my wife Marian, our fourteen year old son, and his grandparents. Our son is one of the quietest kids you’ll
Zero Sum and Abundance
In our modern western economy, our understanding of life itself revolves around zero sum, legality, and scarcity. On the other hand in God’s economy, Jesus is painting a very different picture of his and our Father constantly throughout the Bible. When
Sharing Meaning
Communication is such a fragile thing. Often an exhausting thing. How close do we ever get to saying what we really mean? Or hearing what was really meant? Conversations, like wrestlers circling each other on the mat, moving in closer with
A Submarine Moment
An image sticks with me. Sitting in a group discussing the importance of presence in our lives, we talked about how rarely our thoughts are actually filled with only what we’re doing at the moment—who we’re with. I ask each person
Manufactured Moments
I got an email from a good friend who wrote, “Some days I am worried about the future of our finances, my relationships, my kids, or the health of those I love. Other days I am just content to have
A Political Jesus
Is Jesus a liberal or conservative? I’ve read many commentators and scholars over the years who see in Jesus a political ideology or social cause. Whether liberal or conservative, no surprise they generally see him on their side of the spectrum
Redefining Pointless
So I’m on my way in to an event at our church. We’ve got a well-known guest musician coming in, there are additional details to deal with, I’m running late, and nearly out of gas. Not a good combination. Of course
Here Be Dragons
I played football the first two years of high school. Well, I was on the team…didn’t play much. But for what I lacked in ability on the field I tried to compensate with what I could do well: study. I
White Bag
I spoke at the funeral of a friend today. Military service at the national cemetery at Miramar. Crisp white naval uniforms folding the flag, taps from a lone distant bugle, fighter jets overhead, thanks from a grateful nation. Watching family
