Thirty years ago, my spiritual director taught me to pray the psalms. The psalms teach us to pray and bring the truth of our lives to God, including the emotions and...

Memory of God’s works takes different roles in our faith. Sometimes we recall the past to remind ourselves that God remains with us. I sat with a friend who was suffering...

The only stories we can tell truthfully are our own. Our stories look different to others than they do to us. Perspectives, experiences, and hopes shape the way we tell our...

An ambassador is never off duty. Whether inconvenienced, flustered, or frustrated, ambassadors must remember that they represent more than themselves. Their words and actions reflect on the one for whom they...

In 12-step groups, the community rejoices over each sign of progress, no matter how small. One day of sobriety is better than no days. One week of acknowledging powerlessness is better...

The once ubiquitous “All Are Welcome” sign has become disdained in many church circles. It is not that churches do not wish to welcome all people. The tension is between the...

Some stories are so familiar that it is easy to miss the details right in front of us. Cultural studies of the Prodigal Son narrative from Luke 15 have shown that...

Surely the “disgrace of Egypt” belongs to Egypt. The shame of having enslaved other persons and having them escape, the embarrassment to Egypt’s gods—this should be ascribed to the Pharaoh and...

Wow! God being angry? I often struggle when contemplating a loving Creator who is capable of such an emotion. Anger is incredibly powerful and tempting to hold on to. But many...

The theology of place is shown in Jesus’ leaving his hometown of Nazareth in Galilee and journeying through Samaria down into the region where John is baptizing followers. Jesus hears a...