Those who are spared must not simply rejoice in their seeming “chosenness,” but must use every resource to alleviate the suffering of others. Guilt may not be the best source of motivation, but if it spurs compassion, it is constructive.
God works; we work
Trusting that God is at work empowering humans to work for the good of all is reassuring. It also prompts courageous action. While it is common to think that we are waiting on God, actually both God and others are waiting on us.
Finding wonder and foreboding in the pathway of a total eclipse
Our experience of a total eclipse should illumine a spirit of contemplation as we marvel at God’s handiwork and the perdurance of an expanding universe. It also urges us to find ever more constructive ways to hold both science and faith in our heart. Holding them together makes for an informed sense of wonder.
God’s invitation to life
God’s invitation is nothing less than a beckoning to receive what God alone can provide: grace. Grace receives us as we are and renews the human spirit. Grace reminds us of who we are created to be and supplies the enervating work of the Spirit that we might fully live.
Can the Church and the minister afford each other?
Our times call for fresh thinking on the economics of ministry, which is a constellation of issues. Educational debt, ministry compensation, rising health care costs, diminished congregations and a culture of credit all conspire to make the question “can the church and the ministry afford each other” more challenging.
What is sown in the heart
A trip to the cardiologist is rarely routine. Usually a precipitating episode or a prior procedure prompts the appointment, and we are eager to receive a reassuring assessment. We know that the condition of the heart determines our health, and…
After ‘The Conversation,’ will my church stay together?
My congregation is having “The Conversation.” For the past 18 months we have been in a discernment process to determine if we would become a “welcoming and affirming” church. In particular, we have focused on what the church’s policy will…
A spiritual performance review
It’s time for performance reviews in my school. The provost reviews the faculty and academic staff; I review the leadership team and my executive assistant; and other leaders review the work of their teams. We have sent out questions and…
Alive in the heat of the Holy Spirit
Preaching through Lent and Eastertide is a daunting task, and pastors give their best energies to understanding the remarkable ways in which God has reset the whole horizon for humanity through the testing, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the…