“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples.” (Luke 2.30-31) Somewhere there is a story about a young boy who went on a camping trip with his dad to the Adirondacks Mountains in New York. For a good part of the excursion, they decided to hire… Continue reading Seek the Good

“He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.” (Matthew 4.13) A favorite gospel song of small children, learned in Sunday school or in Bible camps or at home, is “This Little Light of Mine.” Written sometime in the 1920's, the simple stanzas, filled with… Continue reading “And the Light Was Good”

“The reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” (John 1.31) Back in the day, when settlers moved to the Great Plains to start a new life, they were allowed by the Homestead Act of 1862 to claim 160 acres of land as their own, so long… Continue reading Not Complicated Stuff

“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

"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

"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

“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

“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”

“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

“For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24.42) A “Dennis the Menace” comic from years back shows Dennis sitting on Santa’s lap. Other kids are waiting their turn, while Dennis’ mother is on the side, surely wondering what he is about to say to Santa, since she knows better… Continue reading Stop and Think