hope
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How Long Must We Wait?
During this season of Advent, I cannot help but wonder how long God expects us to wait for His presence. The people of Israel lived in a ridiculously lengthy period of Advent, as they waited for hundreds of years… Continue reading
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And This Shall Be a Sign unto You
We are born to look for signs. Our culture is full of signals to indicate which way to turn, what career to follow, and even what to buy a significant other. One cannot walk ten steps without encountering different… Continue reading
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John’s Call to a Changed Life
“Change your hearts and Lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!” (Matt. 3:2 CEB). We see that John’s version of baptism (small “b” because it is not a sacrament) appears different than what Christianity came to know. John called… Continue reading
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Making a Fresh Start
The last post I shared was in early summer. After 10+ years of writing blogs, I needed a break from the mundane. At first, I felt guilty about stopping, but gradually I realized that respites offer a time of… Continue reading
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Where Do We Go from Here?
I cannot help but think of the Jewish refugees reentering the land flowing with milk and honey after the exile. Jerusalem lay in ruins, and the first temple no longer existed. The word trauma seems to be an appropriate… Continue reading
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What Does the Lord Require of You?
“He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 CEB). Nowadays, we lack kindness in our world. Whatever happened to… Continue reading
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Not Enough Paper to Go Around
“But there are also many other things Jesus did; and if they were all to be recorded, I don’t think the whole world could contain the books that would have to be written!” (John 21:25 CJSB). As the Gospel of John… Continue reading
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God Speaks Even in Our Exile
We finished the Book of Daniel yesterday, and something hit me over the head for the first time. This is not my first time reading the text, yet the message revealed to me is quite clear. Why have I missed… Continue reading
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Advent and I
As the congregation of my church stood singing carols and decorating the Chrismon tree, I couldn’t help but give thanks for the customs that are part of my United Methodist heritage. I learned my earliest religious instruction in a tradition… Continue reading
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The Best Necklace in the Whole World
I was eleven years old, and my mission in life was to by my mother the best birthday gift possible. Her birthday was coming up, and I was desperate. My grandparents took me to a shopping mall in Houston, and I was… Continue reading
From a Pastor's Point of View 