Back in March, when most of us first learned of the severity of the current pandemic, concern naturally mounted. Nationwide, as the virus spread and sick patients began entering hospitals in ever larger numbers, we worried if our healthcare system could adequately care for them. Next came news of furloughs […]
At a bioparc in Valencia, Spain, a mother zebra was exhausted after giving birth to the colt that she had carried for the previous 13 months. In captivity, her newborn had no predators from which to flee. But, instinct is a powerful force. And as soon as he entered the […]
Choosing the Way Malachi 3:1-4,6-7 and Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-15 As one of the creators of both Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry. But he’s not the only writer, actor, or comedian in the family. His daughter, Cazzie, has followed in his […]
Fulfilling God’s Plan Ephesians 2:4-10 and Matthew 28:16-20 Some moments are steeped in such significance that they become ingrained in our collective consciousness. We remember with joy the formal declarations marking the end of lengthy wars, and the pride that fills our being when witnessing a moonwalk. Yet, together, we […]
To Be a Blessing Revelation 7:9-12, 16-17 and Matthew 5:1-12 In 1992, Eric Clapton recorded an album for the MTV Unplugged series. Among the acoustic tracks featured there was a blues standard called “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.” Originally released by Jimmy Cox in 1923, it tells […]
Genuine Romans 12:9-18,21 Yesterday morning, shortly before Pastor Jon called to ask if I could fill in today, I listened to a video recording from Sister Joan Chittister of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. In the video, she gave us a few questions for reflection, based on the Rule that […]
God Has a Plan for Us Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 and Micah 6:6-8 “When Britain went to war against the United States in 1812, many Choctaw warriors served in the American army of Andrew Jackson.” [1] Less than two decades later, when Jackson became president, that alliance amounted to little. In […]
Reflecting on Our Past and Envisioning Our Future 1 Thessalonians 1:1-6a and Philippians 4:1-9 Leaders are able “by words or deeds to polarize the congregation, destroying the one soul, one mind, one body.” [1] In Philippians, Paul addresses the existence of conflict directly “because he expects the church to help […]
Worldwide Ephesians 4:1-6 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 We begin our lives as children – needy, vulnerable, and dependent. It is then that we craft a vision of the ideal adult role model. We imagine one who is mature, responsible, capable, and wise. And with these virtues in mind, we strive […]
A Question of Authority Philippians 2:1-11 and Matthew 21:23-32 “Confirmation bias is the tendency to take in only data that confirms a prior conviction and to discount information that does not conform to what we already believe.” [1] In other words, “When a person receives new information that contradicts a […]