The blog hog

  Years ago, I received word that my Christmas Eve service was a little too gritty. Those weren’t Mindy’s exact words (and I’m using Mindy as her name here), but this thoughtful, faithful person made her point clearly: she wanted a blissful, beautiful Christmas complete with carols and candlelight. She…

  It is what we do. It may even be what we do best. We lean on each other. As we walk right into Thanksgiving and what some seek as a razzle dazzle Christmas that follows, we realize some of our relationships are good and some of our relationships are,…

  This four-part column series began last week when I shared that listening is a way to help others feel thankful. This week I suggest that learning is the second way to help others feel thankful at this time of year. When it comes to learning, Ben Franklin once said,…

  You’ll have opportunities to learn how to be thankful during this month that centers around Thanksgiving. How to help others be thankful at this time of the year may be something else entirely, and this is what I present in this four-part series. Each week in November, I’ll speak…

  Costumes. Yes. Candy. Yes. Giving back at this time of the year. What? Think about it. In the tradition of a child at the door with a bag open to receive, it’s possible to do the reverse. The child (or adult) can give something back. Surprise! Or maybe it…

  We say the following. I’m going to get fit, avoid stress, make better choices, or improve my relationships with my family. I’m going to knock off that bad habit. I am going to change. And then. Yeah. No change. Sometimes, maybe change comes outside of us. Jesus changes water…

  Three go-get-‘em verbs are ask, seek, and knock. We regularly hear about asking, seeking and knocking from life coaches and other well-intended, self-improvement minded, let’s-get-you-moving people. These three verbs also come from Jesus in two scriptures that are almost identical—Matthew 7 and Luke 11. In both texts, Jesus speaks…

  Someone you know isn’t deeply in love with Jesus. In fact, your someone (who could be you) might say dismissively, tersely, or painfully, “Jesus? Oh, we’re not on speaking terms right now.” This is half true. And I’ll get to this. First, however, English Pre-Raphaelite artist William Holman Hunt…

  Metaphor and imagery are musts when it comes to gaining the most from scripture. The strong visuals we create in our minds help us live into our faith not just beautifully but specifically. This is the case in Psalm 24, a lesser rehearsed yet powerful writing that immediately follows…

  Look at your schedule. What’s that? You’re saying it’s full? Too full? If you are blessed with less (or almost nothing to do) on a to do list for even a day or two, consider how your time is spent. Is it peaceful? If you’re rushing about, how is…