II Kings chapter five tells the story of Naaman, the commander of King Aram’s army who had leprosy. Some biblical scholars espouse that if this Syrian warrior did not have leprosy, he would never have turned to God. This may—or may not—be true. I cannot speak for Naaman. I can,...

Maybe it was a difficult conversation. Maybe it was that party where so-and-so would be there. Maybe it was studying for an exam, or the deadline for paying taxes (they’re due, by the way). We’ve all avoided something, including our avoidance to serving to God. Of course, no one uses...

You’ve asked the question. I have asked the question. At some point in their lives, even the past and present saints among us have stopped to ask, “Where is God?” When our world is suddenly rattled with upset, troubling news or heartbreak, the question rises. Here are three other questions...

Here’s a trend you may have noticed. TV news stations spotlight positive news. To offset the great amount of negative or heartbreaking news, many stations end their 30-minute segments with something upbeat or affirming. When watching some of these inspiring stories, a great question can arise. “Why would a stranger...

I hope an eyebrow raises with what I’m about to say. Maybe professional clergy should not be paid. Sure, we have to eat, and yes, we need a new vacuum cleaner every decade or so (I say this because mine just died), but the gifts we receive when we are...

Jesus asks, “But who do you say that I am?” The question in Matthew 16:15 is much deeper than it appears. Jesus does not ask His disciples who they think He is. He doesn’t ask what they believe Him to be. Jesus asks who He is to them. The question...

The choice is ours. We can choose to be right, hold our ground, and argue until we are the last one standing, or we can choose to acknowledge another’s point of view (which, of course, can be totally wrong!), extend grace, flexibility, and live in peace. Speaking to relationships, my...

Heartbreak hit yesterday. Its aftershocks will affect us all, regardless of where you do (or do not) sit religiously. On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, the United Methodist Church (UMC) actually did not unite. The mainline denomination fractured over the role of LGBTQ+ people in the denomination. At a special conference...

Loving your anger may sound weird, like you’re fanning a really bad—or even a dangerous—flame, but the love of your anger can be the most challenging words that can be a change agent not only for the Christian but also the world. Jesus calls us to love our enemies and...

When most of us hear Jesus’ command “to love your neighbor as yourself,” we place emphasis on the first part of the command—the “loving our neighbors” part. But what is this love of self? Is Jesus talking about the pop psychology we hear from Hollywood where egocentric practices, self-importance, and...