Summertime Blues

Have you ever tried to explain where Yucca Valley is? I recently took study leave to attend the Joe Engle Institute of Preaching in New Jersey. Whenever I met someone, they would look at my name badge and ask me where Yoo-ka” Valley was. The first few times I said things like “not far from … Continue reading »

The Safety Dance

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. — John 10:10 (nrsv) Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; … in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and … Continue reading »

Fallout from the Early Easter

The Revised Common Lectionary apparently didn’t realize how early Easter could fall. This week is the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time. I keep finding resources that assume the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time must have fallen in February and the first Sunday in May after Pentecost is the 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

A Spiritual gift i don’t think about much

I saw something new in Judges 14:5-6: The spirit of the LORD rushed on him, and he tore the lion apart barehanded as one might tear apart a kid. I realized I have tended to think of the Spirit of the Lord as conferring gifts and abilities that are, well, “spiritual.” I haven’t usually thought … Continue reading »

Horrifying

This makes me sick: A homeless man searching for cans in a Rancho Cucamonga parking lot Dumpster made a startling find Sunday morning: a 5-pound baby girl. The newborn was naked, her umbilical cord still attached, and stuffed in a plastic Target bag full of discarded mail. She was not crying. She felt cold — … Continue reading »

First Entry

Hey. I’ve set up a blog for the church website. Let’s see where we go from here. Update: and now I’m able to access it from my blogging tool.