I once saw a saying that really spoke to me: “Be like Jesus; rebuke the storm, and if it persists, walk on it.” How many times have storms taken control of our lives?
We Need the Hope of Christmas Now
December 7, 2022 by
Simply and directly, our world is not what it should be. And the Advent and Christmas season offer the expectancy of what should be.
How Will They Remember You When You’re Gone?
November 2, 2022 by
This past week, I conducted a celebration of life service at a beloved church I serve. The packed sanctuary was a reminder to all who were present of this church member’s caring spirit.
Worshiping During the Week
September 6, 2022 by
I want to tell you about my friend Ethan. I met Ethan at the church I serve. Ethan is a man about town; everyone knows when Ethan is around, and he makes sure of it.
Stay Grounded in Faith
July 5, 2022 by
The other day I went fly-fishing with a clergy colleague, Vern Collins, and a bishop with a reputation, Will Willimon. We went down to Boone Fork River to fish the waters surrounding Watauga County and found ourselves lost to the outside world.
How Will They Remember You When You’re Gone?
June 22, 2022 by
This past week, I conducted a celebration of life service at a beloved church I serve. The packed sanctuary was a reminder to all who were present of this church member’s caring spirit.
Interview: Theologian and Thinker Diana Butler Bass
April 19, 2022 by
Diana Butler Bass is a well-known Protestant theologian and scholar. She has written nine books and has preached and lectured in small churches and in the National Cathedral.
Lent Is a Time to Adjust
March 8, 2022 by
The church year has brought us to Lent, the time of penitence and self-reflection before Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I once heard it said that you can’t have Easter without Lent; how could you know the joy of the mountaintop without the realities of the valley?
Education Is a Faith Issue
August 3, 2021 by
School starts back soon, and my friend Molly Wright visited Stephanie and me in Boone this week. She has been a dear friend since high school, when she was the cool senior who gave me (the lowly freshman) rides home in her Jeep Cherokee.
A Column Turned Prayer for Ascension Sunday
May 11, 2021 by
God of the true church, we acknowledge that we know these songs we sing too well, some of them even by heart.
Lent Is a Time to Adjust
March 17, 2021 by
I once heard it said that you can’t have Easter without Lent; how could you know the joy of the mountaintop without the realities of the valley?
An Open Letter to My Mental Illness
May 18, 2016 by
I suffer from a mental illness. At times, it can be crippling and debilitating. I just spent some time in the hospital dealing with my illness. One of the doctors knew I was a divinity student and Christian minister and asked me, “Have you lost your faith?”
Theology, Humor Must Co-exist
October 27, 2015 by
I once heard Dr. Stanley Hauerwas, esteemed professor at Duke University, say the following: “I think it’s probably true that you shouldn’t trust a theologian who doesn’t have a good sense of humor. Theology and humor must co-exist.”