As perhaps most of you know, the most important college football game of the year will be happening this weekend. As typical, I can make a connection between the most mundane things of life and the things of the spiritual world. And of course, God is a Bruin.And as well all know, football is only … Continue reading The Big Game and the BIG Game of Life

It is sad but true. So many pastors get into their profession because of a deep seated, yet unmet need to be noticed by others. I found this to be painfully true this past weekend. We were attempting to take our family Christmas card photo, when we were harassed by a beachcombing sudo-transient, who alleged … Continue reading The Secret Struggles of Pastors

Over the past 11 months that I have been blogging, I have often stopped to wonder if this whole blogging thing makes any difference. I still wonder about it. I also wonder about hair loss. And whether I make a difference.In my mind, perhaps the best thing about this medium is the way in which … Continue reading Bush, Bono, Tim, and Inside Work

Just a moment between finishing the sausage, apple, and sage stuffing recipe and moving on to icing the Killer Chocolate Cake.This is our national day of Thanksgiving. It bears remembering where this day came from, and where we are all going. Tonight at the table, I will share the following with my family - the … Continue reading A Day of Thanksgiving

We think we know it all. Read this.

This is my friend Mike, pastor of Canal Street Presbyterian church in New Orleans. That is his home to his left, which survived largely undamaged, if you don't count mold. I have mentioned Mike here a number of times. I got a voice mail from Mike just the other day, as he was in New … Continue reading Remembering Canal Street Church

Pictured to the left is the "No Nombres", my 11-year old daughter's AYSO soccer team. No Nombres translated from Spanish is "No Namers"; the girls thought this would be a funny name. Sorry for the blurry photo, my cell phone can only do so much. This is a great bunch of young ladies.Today was the … Continue reading Heather, Coach Scott, and the Agony of Defeat

It has been a long time since a short film trailer captivated my heart like this. Watch it. I have ordered the rough cut DVD, and might invite friends over to watch it.It is coming. The film is due out in about a year, as the film makers will be returning to Sudan/Uganda to finish … Continue reading The Invisible Children

On Tuesday afternoon in DC, I cheated. I took the afternoon off from my seminars and went to the National Gallery of Art. And I was interested to learn anew how our world has evolved; its something to think about.Rest on the Flight into Egypt, David Gerard, 1510, Bruges The gallery is arranged in such … Continue reading Walking Forward Through Time

If we believe that God inhabits all of Creation, interesting things can happen. Now, I am naturally an introvert, but I mostly compensate in life by at least acting like I am extroverted. In short, I fake it. Extroverts are energized by being with people; I am energized only to a point. After that point, … Continue reading The Pulpit in an Unexpected Place