Reflections

The Heavy Burden of Being Full of Yourself

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Paul's invitation into a healthy humility in this week's second lesson from Philippians has got me thinking about what happens when humility is not lived out.

We Know Better Than This

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

I attend a forum on the experiences of LGBTQ folks in the church, and I breathe a sigh of relief, saying "Wow, we've come a long way!"

What the Creed Leaves Out

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

For me, the Apostles' Creed is disappointing in its focus simply on the origins of Jesus and his death and resurrection.

Awake to What Is New

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

I like what Estelle Frankel has to say today:

The Courage to Admit We’re In Over Our Heads

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

It strikes me that when we feel caught or when we have a sense of inadequacy we often get reactive or angry.

When the System Is Sick

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

On a couple of occasions I have been involved in what are called "interventions," gatherings that are intended to force people to see the truth of their lives.

Have we lost the Sabbath?

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

One of the things that I value from my growing up years is the commitment of my parents to regular participation in worship.

Chaos will not reign forever

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The world is feeling quite chaotic right now.

It's simply not Christianity

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

As I watch what is going on in our culture, I am convinced more than ever that the church needs to do a better job of talking about the death of Jesus and its meaning.

Ten thoughts for the new year

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

I suspect that sometimes we overplay the significance of the new year, but I sense that the arrival of the new year can mean important change.

God is forever visiting the world

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

It’s not unusual when you experience life being put back together again (which is what happening in Psalm 22) that you think that what you have discovered to reorient your life everyone else should discover.

Too hard, too vulnerable

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

As I am preparing for our class on revenge, addiction, and forgiveness, I am confronting some material on why people hang on to the anger that feeds their need for revenge.

Both/And

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

I have always wanted to add my contribution to addressing the great divide in our country.

Addictive revenge

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

The insights from "The Science of Revenge" (James Kimmel) are so helpful for understanding modern America and our current political environment.

Living abundantly

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In our adult faith formation class we have been talking about life based on scarcity versus life lived based on abundance.

Unhealthy wealth

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

There was an excellent story about the Tech billionaires today on NPR.

Interesting stuff to ponder

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

James Kimmel in "The Science of Revenge" reveals studies that have been done which demonstrate that male and female brains react differently to observing pain being inflicted on people.

Our role to play

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

When I first moved to Muskegon, I noted a strong emphasis among the religious community on a particular view of providence.

Of boys and men

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Last week I made a post highlighting the struggle we as a culture are having with men and boys.

Anti-Christian rhetoric

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:26:00 GMT

The Jesus story has been my preoccupation for most of my life.

The significance of knowledge

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 14:24:00 GMT

St. Paul in his wonderful poetry in 1 Corinthians 13 speaks of knowledge as something that is not as important as love.

Cancel culture? No thank you...

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:21:00 GMT

The cancel culture that we are experiencing right now is very unsettling.

Stop the Reactivity

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:19:00 GMT

What happened to Charlie Kirk yesterday was despicable.

Thinking communally

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:17:00 GMT

The desire of the Surgeon General in Florida to eliminate vaccine mandates is phenomenally disturbing.

The Power of Vocabulary

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:58:00 GMT

The Bible tells us that the Word brought creation into being. God spoke the word and creation happened.

Fear Sells

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 13:56:00 GMT

Law and order sells. It has in American history.

Empty worship

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 15:24:00 GMT

“The world has two ways of getting rid of Jesus. The first is by crucifying him; the second is by worshiping him without following him.” (I love this quote from Harry Emerson Fosdick that Ellen Schoepf has included in her sermon for this week.)

The not-rightness of life

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:21:00 GMT

I have been thinking about the Christian notion of "sin" lately.

Modern false idols

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 15:17:00 GMT

If you read the Bible, you will discover that the primary problem for human beings is not immorality, but idolatry, making that which isn't ultimate ultimate.

Not if, but when

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:14:00 GMT

The Lutheran perspective on the faith is known for its dialogue between "being set free from" and "being set free for."

Hospitality of the heart

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:12:00 GMT

It’s not that the food and the hospitality don’t matter. Of course, they do.

More than enough

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:10:00 GMT

The other day I was among a large crowd of people, some of whom were wearing message T-shirts.

The human need for justification

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 15:08:00 GMT

I used to think that people's political choices were primarily about matters of ideology: big government vs. small government; law and order vs. civil liberties.

The best pastors are the best people

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 21:22:00 GMT

I always suggested to intern pastors that they consider the insights of Gary Harbaugh that the best pastors are the best people, which means that pastors need to pay attention to their own issues, their own psychology.

Violence + violence = more violence

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 21:10:00 GMT

It is easy to start wars.

Bad theology leads to bad politics

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 21:13:00 GMT

I am known for saying that bad Biblical work often leads to bad theology and bad politics.

Fifth-grade spats

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:17:00 GMT

As we watch Trump and Musk engage in their fifth-grade spats, I can't help but think of Luke's story about Herod and Pilate.

Science and faith are friends!

Thu, 01 May 2025 18:15:00 GMT

I had a great conversation with a scientist the other day.

Embrace the imperfection

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:13:00 GMT

Wow! Could I relate to what I just read from Richard Rohr.

What is reality?

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 18:11:00 GMT

It strikes me that sometimes the task in life is to live consistently with what is reality.

Let's make a deal

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 18:09:00 GMT

I have been reflecting on the notion that life is a matter of making deals.

Victimization

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:47:00 GMT

From both left and right, we hear talk of victimization.

The faith of a child

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:41:00 GMT

Today in the children's sermon I was talking about the patience of God.

Learn by doing

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:39:00 GMT

I like these words from Karen Gonzalez today:

WE, not me

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 01:35:00 GMT

The turn inward frequently feels like the right move.

Grace moments

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:46:00 GMT

There are moments in life that often put things in perspective, "grace moments," I like to call them--moments that somehow remind us that grace is fundamentally the reality in which we bathe ourselves.

Mediocre faith

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 17:44:00 GMT

I love this quote from John Ortberg:

Too much knowledge?

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 17:42:00 GMT

The Genesis story about the first man and first woman is becoming increasingly meaningful to me, not as something that happened once upon a time, but something that happens all the time.

Truth Telling

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 15:26:00 GMT

One of the criticisms lobbed at us religious people is that we can be judgmental.

Love demands it

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:28:00 GMT

This weekend in worship we start a multi-week experience with the prophet Jeremiah.

The denial of the negative

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:30:00 GMT

Back in the eighties, one of my favorite thinkers Douglas John Hall, argued that one of the biggest struggles for Western civilization (particularly the United States and Canada) is the denial of the negative.

What do we do about shame and despair?

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 17:25:00 GMT

As I am preparing for our adult faith formation class on Sunday (9:30), I am struggling with shame and guilt.

Giving into love

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 17:20:00 GMT

Being on the edge of the new year, many of us are pondering what kind of surgery we want to perform on ourselves next year.

True meaning of faith

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:23:00 GMT

David Brooks is brilliant in a recent NY Times article:

Order and Disorder

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 22:33:00 GMT

For some odd reason, maybe it was too much food or good conversation on Thanksgiving, I woke up Friday thinking about order and disorder, Genesis one and Genesis two and three.

Practice Makes Permanent

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 22:30:00 GMT

When Ellen Cutting-Schoepf was our music director she would frequently say, "Practice doesn't make perfect; it makes permanent."

America First?

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:20:00 GMT

The "America First" mantra makes sense on an intuitive level, for it appeals to the natural self-centeredness within us, which is why it garners votes and receives uproarious applause at rallies.

Repent vs. deflect

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 18:19:00 GMT

Observation of the dialogue (or lack thereof) during and after the recent election has got me focusing on deflection and its cousin projection.

Living liturgy

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 18:17:00 GMT

I happen to be a Lutheran Christian who values the liturgy of the church and is amazed by the way that the liturgy and appointed Biblical words speak into our situation so frequently, even when, frankly, the liturgy knows very little of our situation.

Bad theology = bad politics

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 17:16:00 GMT

I frequently say that bad theology produces bad politics.

A Bigger Mind

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:14:00 GMT

We, in our adult faith formation class on Sunday, were dealing with Richard Rohr's notion that Advent invites us into a bigger mind.

Life-Giving Public Gatherings

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 16:40:00 GMT

Tonight Bev and I heard an excellent concert by Edye Evans-Hyde.

False Order

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 16:35:00 GMT

When I arrived in Muskegon 28 years ago I encountered some people who were quite doctrinaire in their approach to faith and religious life.

Doomed to Repeat History?

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 16:32:00 GMT

I just read an interesting article by David Corn titled "Memory Hole" that speaks of the role that amnesia plays in our individual and especially our corporate lives.

__________ is the Opposite of Faith

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:30:00 GMT

We had quite the conversation in new members' class tonight about certainty and uncertainty.

A Moment of Hesitation

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:15:00 GMT

Once again this morning, I was reminded of the wisdom of Richard Rohr that "we don't see things as they are but as we are."

Not Goin' To The Chapel

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 23:54:00 GMT

Clearly, one of the big changes in my work over the past thirty years is that I don't do many weddings anymore.

When Did Reading Become So Hard?

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 23:51:00 GMT

I know that we live in a world of memes, tweets (sorry for the old language), and cliches.

The Good Life

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 23:50:00 GMT

The good life is a life that we ingest, that we take into ourselves, that we munch on, that we chomp on.

Take The High Road

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 23:49:00 GMT

The portion of Psalm 34 that is the appointed Psalm for this weekend gets real practical: "Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

Less Is More

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 23:47:00 GMT

Cleaning the garage can be salvific, especially when such cleaning involves purging.

Good Leaders

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:09:00 GMT

As a leader, I often think of what good leadership looks like, an issue that certainly applies to our current presidential election.

Climate Change

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 17:08:00 GMT

There is no straight line from climate change to individual storms.

Thoughts in Greece

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:05:00 GMT

Being in Greece makes me think a lot about the ancient, the contemporary, tradition, ritual, and relevance.

Exvangicals

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:59:00 GMT

While traveling through Greece, I have been finishing "Exvangelicals" a book about the exit from Evangelicalism, particularly since the Trump presidency.

Fear Politics

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:57:00 GMT

I must register a protest against the politics of fear.

Grievances

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 16:47:00 GMT

I am looking forward to reading Frank Bruni's "Age of Grievance."

Big Picture Perspectives

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 15:29:00 GMT

Graduation season always gets me thinking about the seeds we have planted in our children's lives.

Knowing the Truth

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:28:00 GMT

One of the most fascinating and haunting aspects of Jesus' approach to life is that he almost never found a need to defend himself.

The Power of Gathering

Wed, 22 May 2024 15:24:00 GMT

Today we gathered to remember a member of our congregation.

Biblical interpretation

Thu, 09 May 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Listening to a sermon this morning got me thinking about how people (preachers and non-preachers alike) treat the Bible.

Death of another kind

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 04:00:00 GMT

On several occasions people said to me that my job must be so hard because I frequently have to deal with death.

Too entertained

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Several decades back Neil Postman in "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business" argued that you and I are living in a culture preoccupied with entertainment and that such a preoccupation has dramatically changed journalism, education, politics, and maybe even church life.

Information vs. wisdom

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

I think when the Internet arrived on the scene we thought that it was going to democratically provide information to people everywhere.

The transforming power of community

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Yesterday a woman came to me after worship and told me with tears in her eyes that being a part of our community of faith has radically transformed her life.

The good old days...

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT

I will admit that I am prone to giving into the temptation of nostalgia.

Will you be my friend?

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The issue of friends in American culture is no small matter.

Lean in to the melancholy

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Fall, for me, and for many I am sure, brings with it a sense of melancholy.

Generosity

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

I just had an experience that makes me realize how generosity of spirit and resources creates an energy that flows and flows into further generosity.

Just a Bunch of Hypocrites

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The Body of Christ is composed of broken people, sinners.

It's All Sacred

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Yesterday I was interviewed by a young NPR reporter about our solar project.

Suffering....what's the point?

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Now I will agree that suffering does teach us a lot, that the result of suffering can indeed, as Paul says, be endurance and endurance can help create character.

Patriotism or Needy Bravado?

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The other morning I drove up alongside a pick-up truck that had two huge metal poles attached to it with massive flags hanging from them.

Disciplines of Lent

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 01:52:00 GMT

Last night at my confirmation class, one of our very bright girls asked me how I felt about giving up something for Lent.

Daily Rituals

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 01:48:00 GMT

Bev and I for all of our married life have had a commitment to eating dinner together.

Too Squeaky Clean?

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 01:53:00 GMT

I listened to a fascinating interview with a nationally known allergist yesterday on NPR who was asked why there seems to be such an increase in food allergies these days.

Connectedness

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 01:55:00 GMT

There was an interesting report on NPR today about the changes in the brain that occur when we connect with people.

Place Matters

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 18:00:00 GMT

The Psalm appointed for this weekend speaks of the glory of the temple.

Grave Thoughts

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 18:03:00 GMT

Today I found myself filled with deep emotion while I was praying as we let the ashes of a deceased man go into the creation out of which he came.

Winning Isn't Everything

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 18:06:00 GMT

Sometimes it takes big, unsettling national occurrences for us to get in touch with the idols that often are trying to run the show in our personal and corporate lives.

Reflections on life and death

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT

An experience today with a person in a nursing home whose life should have come to an end a while ago got me thinking about how we sometimes turn life itself into a god.

Sin Boldly

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT

I think one of the great blessings of the Lutheran tradition is Luther's "sin boldly" injunction.

Freedom?

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT

Sometimes what people call freedom is really not freedom at all.

Character Development

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT

A lot of folks seem to think that the good ethical life is a matter of making the right yes or no decision.

Trinity=Relationship

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT

The glory of the Trinity is the glory of relationship.

Sermon Musings

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT

We shouldn’t be surprised when we or others withdraw. Life is hard...

Wisdom from Richard Rohr

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT

"The great wisdom traditions are trying to teach us that grief isn’t something from which to run...

The Trip, the Trek, the Expedition

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT

What if 'getting' Jesus is not so much about what you get after you die, but the trip, the trek, the expedition that you are on together now.

Getting over ourselves is hard

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT

"Don't tell me what to do"-- I've heard it uttered many times. I probably have spoken it on many occasions.

The intimacy of true Christian community is such a gift

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT

I can't fathom being in a more privileged job than the one I live out on a daily basis.

Anxiety Often Over the Fear of Not Enough

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT

So much of our lives are marked by a sense of lack, by fear over not having enough.

I wonder what Amos would think...?

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT

I have to wonder what the prophet Amos, from whom we received one of our recent first lessons, would say to the news that Jeff Bezos took a private journey into outer space.

"This is good. This is enough. In fact, this is all I need."

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT

I found this quite helpful from Richard Rohr today: "Being fully present to the soul of all things allows us to say, 'This is good. This is enough. In fact, this is all I need.'"

Get Vaccinated.

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT

This is for you who are younger (let's say, under 50).

Don't tell Grandma

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT

Last week Liam and I did something twice that we both agreed should be kept from Grandma. (She is more cautious than I.)

Liturgy Reflection #12 - The Great Thanksgiving

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Following the offering, we in our worship service speak some of the most ancient words of our liturgy. These words are called the "Great Thanksgiving."

Liturgy Reflection #11 - Offering

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

In our worship, the offering follows the peace.

Liturgy Reflection #10 - Passing the Peace

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

After we pray as a community to God, we then share the peace.

Liturgy Reflection #9 - Prayers of the People

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

After the Apostles' Creed, we sometimes speak in worship, we move to the prayers of the people.

Liturgy Reflection #8 - The Creed

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

After the sermon in our worship service, there is a hymn and then we speak the Apostles' Creed (sometimes, not always).

Liturgy Reflection #7 - The Sermon

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Following the Biblical readings in our worship service comes the sermon.

Liturgy Reflection #6 - Biblical Readings

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Following the prayer of the day, the Biblical readings are shared in our worship. There are up to four of them.

Liturgy Reflection #5 - Prayer

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

In our worship, following the hymn of praise, the presiding minister invites the congregation to prayer.

Liturgy Reflection #4 - Hymn of Praise

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

After the pensive, angst-ridden Kyrie, our worship gives way to the Hymn of Praise.

Liturgy Reflection #3 - Kyrie

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

After the Confession and the Opening Greeting in our worship service comes the Kyrie. It is the most angst-ridden portion of our liturgy.

Liturgy Reflection #2 - Confession

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Often, but not always, we start our worship with a confession.

Liturgy Reflection #1 - Opening Greeting

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

I made a commitment to myself to use Facebook as a means for reflecting on the liturgy of the church that I love so much.

Comfort, Comfort My People

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT

"Comfort, comfort, my people. My broken people. My hurt people. My traumatized people.

Narcissism

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Our national life demonstrates that narcissism (its garden variety and that which is more of an emotional and mental disorder) has consequences, sometimes serious consequences.

Lighten our Darkness - Is Optimism downplaying the Negative?

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Back in the early eighties, I read Douglas John Hall's book "Lighten our Darkness," a book that changed my life and my view of our culture. Hall argues that North America (the United States, most clearly) lives out of "official optimism."

We start Advent this Sunday...

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT

We start Advent this Sunday...

Truth Decay

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT

I heard a term yesterday that gets at what I worry so deeply about for our common life: "truth decay."

To be Human...

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT

To be human is to long for the bigger, the transcendent. People will seek that in one way or another.

Trust

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT

As I am preparing for my new class on "Living in Apocalyptic Days," I am becoming increasingly aware of the sacred trust that I have been given as a pastoral leader.

Melancholy

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Maybe it's the old-time country music I am listening to--the kind that made me into a country fan. Maybe it's the leaves falling from the trees. Maybe it's the intense feelings of joy and sadness (and mostly love and affection) that I was experiencing at worship today. But melancholy is washing over me.

Pandemic Reflections

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT

There's much about the pandemic that is absolutely horrible. And frankly, that horribleness can't go away any time too soon.

Created in the image of God

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT

I needed my bike ride on the trail today. The leaves, in their marvelous diversity, are creating a beautiful painting. That beauty so overwhelmed the ugliness I witnessed last night.

Mask Up!

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT

This may seem weird to you. But there is something energizing for me when I watch people put on their masks as they enter stores. It's as if we are in this together, as if together we are fighting an enemy.

Moving Beyond Purity

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT

This past weekend, Jesus through the Gospel of Matthew confronted us with the limits of purity. Most religion and most politics begins in purity. That's normal.

The Big Lake

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT

The Big Lake was an experience this morning for me of numinosity as I rode by it on my bike. She was a little worked up. But most significantly, she was covered in a blanket of fog. The fog made her particularly mysterious.

The Death Penalty

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT

The first federal execution in 17 years occurred yesterday in Indiana. A man who, it appears, killed a whole family in some kind of white supremacist plot was executed.

The Meaning of Life?

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT

We Lutherans (or at least this Lutheran) would put it this way. We do well not to be preoccupied with finding the meaning of life but allowing the meaning of life to find us...

In true love, scarcity does not reign; abundance does

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT

After my first son Micah was born I was filled with such great love that I wondered if I could ever feel that intensity of love again. And then we adopted Jacob. And yes, the love returned and expanded.

Discovering Enchantment

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Today at our Great Thinkers class David Brooks spoke of enchantment as that which helps us discover beauty in the midst of the storm. To discover enchantment is to be discovered by grace.

Our Return to In-Person Worship

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT

We are ready now to announce that First will begin hosting in-person worship starting the first week of July. (And I say this recognizing that this decision may be altered if the data in the State warrants it.) We are committed to making these experiences as safe as we can make them. We will be unable to eliminate all risks, but we will do our best to reduce risk. You will be the major players in making sure that our gatherings are safe.

Reopening our Church -- What to Expect

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT

The experience of quarantine seems to be going on and on. Who would have thought that when we began the quarantine that by June we still would be hunkering down at home? Perhaps by the time you read this, the governor will have rescinded the stay-at-home order.