“And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3.17) Fifty years ago, the gifted writer Chaim Potok wrote a book called, “The Promise,” a story that revolves around several young Jewish people, each of whom must make a choice about the direction he… Continue reading A Promise
Blame the Magi
We should put the blame where it belongs. The three kings are the ones to blame for the commercialization of Christmas. While their intentions may have been good, the results are less than stellar, no pun intended. As the annual holiday approaches each year, sales starting earlier and earlier, with stores putting snowmen and stockings… Continue reading Blame the Magi
Smiley Face
She’s the happiest girl in the whole USA. Maybe not the girl Donna Fargo made famous in her 1972 hit song by the same title, but the carhop at the Sonic Drive-In that I see on Sunday afternoons. As I pull next to the digital menu at Sonic, push the red button on the intercom,… Continue reading Smiley Face
The Grand Reversal
"When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem." (Matthew 2.1) In the book he wrote, former President Jimmy Carter tells a story about his mother, Lillian Carter, more affectionately dubbed “Miss Lillian” by the press during his presidency. It was Inauguration… Continue reading The Grand Reversal
In Praise of the Unholy Family
"Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt." (Matthew 2.14) In my Grandma’s old and worn prayer book, the edges tattered and soiled from her fingers turning the pages, she inserted special prayers that she liked, the prayer book ending up being twice its original size, with holy… Continue reading In Praise of the Unholy Family
Let Us Go To Bethlehem
“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem" these shepherds said, one to the other, solitaries in the night watch, when the silence they knew so well--a monotonous quiet like too many other nights spent on the hillside, watchful even as their heads drooped to their chests from the deep-down tiredness of the long day behind them,… Continue reading Let Us Go To Bethlehem
The Second Disciple
“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” (Matthew 1.24) Back in the day, I usually ended up playing Joseph in the school Christmas programs. As I recall, getting the part of Joseph didn’t cause the same buzz for us boys as… Continue reading The Second Disciple
“Love is Action, Jack”
“Go and tell John what you hear and see.” (Matthew 11.4) Years back, wanting to draw the distinction between words and actions, a writer offered this example. He explained how a person could tell his friend all day long about how his grandma’s recipe for cookies was so great. But, as the writer said, until… Continue reading “Love is Action, Jack”
Boy in the Popeye Shirt
I watched the little boy wiggle and waggle, as all four-year-old boys do in church and near everywhere else, no fear of God anywhere on his mind, but more afraid of missing out on the sunlight that was straining to break through the stained-glass windows, a mind trying to do the impossible math of how… Continue reading Boy in the Popeye Shirt
Rants From the Jordan
“John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent,’ for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3.1) Prophets don’t have a wide circle of friends. There are good reasons for it. They never know when to shut up. That alienates people. They’re never satisfied with things as they are.… Continue reading Rants From the Jordan
Sunday Brunch 